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A DIP switch is a series of tiny switches fitted into circuit boards. In other words, DIP switches are electric switches that are packaged in a group in a standard dual in-line package (DIP), and an alternative to jumper blocks. In order to configure the device, the jumper has to be removed and placed in separate pins, but with dip switches, system configuration is altered by just changing the switching positions.
Thus, DIP switches are toggle switches with two possible state i.e., on or off, where on and off corresponds to numbers 1 and 0.
Structure
Basically, DIP swiches are configured in such a way that they can be used on a printed circuit board along with other electronic components. In addition, they are mostly used to customize the behavior of an electronic device for specific situations. They were extensively used in older ISA PC cards to select IRQs and memory addresses. However, the new Plug & Play standard developed by Microsoft makes DIP switches obsolete for PC expansion cards too.
Dip switches are classified on the basis of the of actuators they use
- Slide style dip switch
- Rocker style dip switch
- Rotary dip switch
- Piano dip switch
Slide style dip switch
The actuator of this dip switch is of slider type. The switching position is changed by moving the slider.
Rotary dip switch
It consists of a rotary shaft attached to a control knob. The switch is operated by rotating the knob in the desired direction.
Rocker style dip switch
The rocker style dip switch has rockers that change the actuator position. Rockers are raised at one end and lowered at the other end, when they are pressed.
Piano style dip switch
The piano style dip switch has contacts that resemble piano keys. The switch is activated by pressing down the contacts at the top.
Specifications of Dip Switches
AC Voltage Rating
It is the AC voltage at which the dip switch operates efficiently. It is normally expressed in Volts (V).
DC Voltage Rating
It is the DC voltage at which the dip switch operates efficiently. It is normally expressed in Volts (V)
Current Rating
It is the current that the dip switch can withstand. It is normally expressed in Amperes (A).
Insulation Resistance
It is the resistance offered by the insulation material of the electrical contacts to current flow. It is expressed in ohms.
Dielectric Strength
It is the strength of an insulating material to withstand a maximum voltage beyond which the insulating material breaks down. It is expressed in volts per mil.
Response Time
It is the time taken by the contacts to open or close when an input signal is applied. It is expressed in milliseconds (ms).
Operating Force
It is the force required by the contacts to make or break the electrical circuit when they are energized. They are expressed in newtons (N).
Number of Pins
Number of pins denotes the total number of contacts present in the dip switch.
Operating Temperature
It is the temperature at which the dip switch works efficiently. It is measured in degreesCelsius.
Mechanical specifications of Dip switches
Maximum diameter or width
It is the diameter of the main body, excluding the mounting flanges. It is normally expressed in inches (in).
Maximum height or length
It is the height of the main body, excluding the mounting flanges. It is normally expressed in inches (in).
Advantage
The main advantage of DIP switches are that they are quicker to change and there are no loose parts to lose.
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