Voltage When Switch is Off

[Kofi Annan]

Listen-- you want my job? I've got Hamid Karzai, General Musharraf, Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schröder up my butt 24-7. Not to mention, Schröder wants his boombox and his Foreigner 4 tape back, so he's, like, calling my wife and stuff and she's been telling him I'm not home.

You know how much of my time the Arghan Loya Jirga is taking up? They can't even get a real constitution, let alone a reasonable government!

Hey man, you want my job, YOU GOT IT! Its all I can do to relax with some DIY audio...

Anyway, I got a DPST switch, but maybe it was the wrong one since it had two "on" positions. The first "on" position connected terminals 1 and 2, and the second "on" position connected terminals 2 and 3. I'm assuming that this would have caused a problem in that when the live wire was connected, the neutral would be disconnected, and vice versa.

I know I screwed this up, but can anyone tell me how?

Kofi

 

[chipco3434]

Hey, don't ask me why it didn't work. It was a cut & paste. But this one does work...

http://www.decdun.fsnet.co.uk/gaincloneindex.html

 

[jan.didden]

How is the meter mode? AC or DC? Are you sure vit nis not on 'Ohms' mode? Where is it connected in the diagram - to which points? If you take out the switch, does that solve it? Maybe we should approach this with at least a minimum of thinking.

Jan Didden

 

[Kofi Annan]

I'm sure its not in Ohms mode-- its on DC. Also, if I take out the switch it will always be on, so I won't be able to draw any conculsions that way, unless I'm missing what you're saying.

Here's the situation:

Unplugged: No voltage across the rectifiers
Plugged in and turned off: 2V DC across the rectifiers
Plugged in and turned on: 17.5V DC across the rectifiers

Really thinking there's DC coming through the neutral line here.

Again, can anyone comment on the SPDT / DPDT switch issue? I'm not sure I undertstand how to hook this up when there are two "ON" positions for the switch.

Thanks in advance!
Kofi

BTW-- the diyaudio site is not responding so good for me so my responses may be delayed.

 

[chipco3434]

DPST

DP two sets of contacts each having two terminals. The single throw is either on or off. Binary. 1 or 0. You go on, it closes both terminals point sets. It simultaneously closes both contact points enabling both the hot and the neutral. When it's open, both are open.

 

[ir]

your DPST switch has 6 pins yeaH?

stick the power inlet live and nuetral to each of the middle pins

connect the fuse to the top pin on the live side, and stick the remaining transformer wire (assuming of course the fuse goes to the other) to the top contact on the neutral side - i say top contact so that the switch is on when in the down position

a DPST switch will solve this issue as it will cut both lines. you should always use them anyway for added safety

 

[Lugoman]

Does your meter have a continuity tester? If not, set your meter to ohms and put a lead on each of the prongs of the plug (unlpug it from the wall first!). With the switch closed you should get something low. With it open you shouldnt get any reading (or whatever your meter gives for infinity).

 

[Kofi Annan]

Actually, my DPST has only three pins, so I don't think that would work for me. Sounds like I need a DPST with SIX pins, eh?

 

[officeboy]

dual post, single throw = 2 sets of contacts, the "third" is no contact, or else it would be double throw.
4 contacts is what you want to see.

something like the first switch shown here.
http://rocky.digikey.com/WebLib/C&K Components/Web Data/DF Series.pdf

 

[johnnyx]

I think the meter itself is picking up stray fields and showing a reading, even though it is measuring nothing. When the switch is "off", try moving the meter around, and see if the readings change.

 

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

Actually, my DPST has only three pins, so I don't think that would work for me. Sounds like I need a DPST with SIX pins, eh?

If your switch has only three pins then it's a SPDT and you can't switch both sides of the line. A DPST would have 4 pins.

 

[Kofi Annan]

Hello to all and thank you for all your comments and responses. Unfortunately, Kofi Annan will no longer be pursuing DIY audio in order to concentrate on global crisis resolution.

This was a hard decision to make and was based, in part, on the fact that he had the AC receptacle wired the wrong motherfather way.

Once he rewired the receptacle the RIGHT way, everything worked out and he was left only with a feeling of disillusionment and self loathing.

If you see Mr. Annan on television, at the United Nations building or if you read about him in the papers, please take a few moments to curse his ignorant soul for the blight he has inflicted upon the DIY community.

Comments and questions may be directed to the UN Public Relations Department.

Thank you,
Simon L. Bonderfinger-Hume
Personal Secretary for Mr. Kofi Annan

 

[officeboy]

hahah, well glad you got it figured out... it was starting to bother me.

 

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

You're going to work on the global crisis when you can't even do a simple wiring job? Say it isn't so.

 

[Kofi Annan]

While Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolution may seem more complex than remembering that the live wire goes to "L", its success rate will actually be higher as Mr. Annan is less likely to consume 14 Mickey's Big Mouths before attempting to end Middle-Eastern hostilities.