

Toggle switches are also known as joystick switches and toggle power switches.

They are similar in function to rocker switches, but the latter feature a see-saw shaped button that swings from one position to another and are sometimes classed as a type of rocker switch. Toggle switches are actuators - devices that switch a machine on or off. In each position, it will normally latch into place and remain there until moved back. Toggle switches feature a manually operated hinge, handle or lever mechanism - called a toggle - which moves from one position to another. Then when the contact is moved away again the flow of current is broken, the circuit becomes open and the device is switched off. When the contact is connected, the circuit is closed - live - electrical current can flow through and the attached device will turn on and operate. This is achieved by removing a metal contact from the terminal (endpoint of a circuit) or bringing the two back into contact. Electronic switches provide on-off control for electrical circuits by interrupting the flow of current or allowing it to resume.

This is when the DC motor is shut off.Toggle switches are a type of electronic switch, one of the most basic and widely used electrical components. And pin 3 connects to ground or is left open. Pin 2 connects to the accessory or load which you want to power, which You can see that the power pin (pin 1) receives the incoming power, which in this case is from a 12V battery. The rocker switch from receiving excess power, which could damage or destroy it. Many times with rocker switches, since they are only able to tolerate a certain amount of current, fuses are placed in between the power pin and the power source. When the switch is flipped OFF (to the right), theĭC motor no longer receives power and flips off. When the switch of the rocker switch is flipped to the ON position (to the left), the DC motor turns on and operates. Now let's build an example rocker switch circuit, so that you can see how it works in a real-world practical example. And there is the pin which connects to the ground of the circuit.

There is the pin which connects to the load we are going to power. There is the pin which receives the power. Now these are the 3 pins which establish electrical connection to the circuit we are wiring the rocket switch to. Is the pin that connects to the ground of the circuit. Rocker switch turns on when it's switched on. Is the pin that connects to the load of the circuit, whatever the Is the pin where the rocker switch receives its voltage. This translates into the following model in a real life rocker switch:īelow are the 3 pins that form electrical connection with a circuit, each described with their function in the circuit: Pin 3 is where the switch is either connectedīelow is a pictorial representation of the schematic diagram: Pin 2 is where the accessory that the switch is going to turn on is connected. Pin 1 is where the rocker switch receives the input power. The diagram below represents the schematic diagram for a SPST rocker switch:
ON OFF ON ROCKER SWITCH HOW TO
Now that you have an idea how rocker switches are constructed internally, let's go over the wiring diagram, so that you will now how to connect a rocker switch to a circuit.Īs shown below, rocker switches have 3 electrical connections. The metal bearing snaps down the switch so that it makes contact with one of two sides, depending on which side the switch is flipped to. This allows you to flip a device on or off. It can be turned to one side or turned to the other. This will help you visualize how rocker switches work, so that you can know how to connect them.īelow is the internal construction of a SPST rocker switch:īased on this diagram above of the internal construction of a rocker switch, you can see that it can be in one of two states. We will now go over the wiring diagram of a rocker switch, so that you can know how rocker switches are internally constructed. Rocker Switch Internal Construction Diagram In this article, we will be demonstrating how to connect a SPST rocker switch. Rocker switches are common components in many different types of electronic circuits that allow power to be turned on or off. The rocker switch then can play a role as an on-off switch in the circuit so that it can turn on or turn off different devices in a circuit or the entire circuit itself.
