Using a dpdt switch as on/off?

[haakok]

Hi, I have a 500k pot with a push/pull switch. Can I use the push pull switch as an on/off toggle, in the same way as a spdt switch?

Thanks for answering

[Minion]

Yes you can but be ware of the currect going through the switch...Most pots that have a switch built in will not handle huge currecnt , so it would not be good for an AC Power switch but would be ok for a low voltage DC power switch or a signal switch ...

Cheers

[unclejed613]

or.... use the switch to drive a power relay. switches on the back of pots are usually rated at 3 amps, which is ok for a preamp power switch, but not for a power amp

[VictoriaGuy]

As others have said, you need to check the voltage and current rating on the switch. Most switches can switch a lot more current if it is AC.
If your switch is rated at 3A 250V, you can switch on AC power for an amp that draws more than 500Watts from the 220 v mains. This is a large amp by my standards.

On the other hand, the same switch probably couldn't control the DC power to a good-sized chipamp before exceeding the current rating on DC.

For heavy loads, switching a relay is the way to go, as stated above.

Cheers
John

[haakok]

Thanks for the answers!

Actually I was thinking of making a feedback looper pedal and use the push/pull on the pot to toggle the feedback on/off- instead of having to use the spst switch.

I'm a rookie when it comes to how the switches and all actually function. The switch on the back of the pot has six lugs. Which ones should I solder the wire to in the on/off configuration?

[VictoriaGuy]

Originally posted by haakok
The switch on the back of the pot has six lugs. Which ones should I solder the wire to in the on/off configuration?

Get a multimeter and check for connections/continuity (ie zero resistance) beween the lugs in the two different switch positions.
Make a sketch on paper. You will learn more this way.
Also, there are no 'rules' for switch contacts, so most folks check switches this way before using. You will be in good company.

If you don't have a multimeter (yet) you can rig up a battery and small light/LED to use for testing.

Cheers
John

[unclejed613]

you'll have to figure that out with an ohmmeter or a continuity tester. most pull switches on pots are SPST, rarely DPST. if you have a DPDT, you're going to have to figure it out, as that's a rare one. if it's a slide switch it makes figuring out easy. my first thought was it was a round can on the back of the pot with the lugs mounted on the back of the can. i've seen those in SPST and DPST. as i've been typing, though, it occurred to me the only simple way to do a DPDT was to mount a standard slide switch on the back of the pot. if that's the case, then you have two rows of 3 pins. the middle pin of each row will probably be the common, and the outside ones are the contacts, OR you have 2 rows of pins, two pins close together and one is offset from the other two (ALPS does this) where the offset pin is the common and the two close together are the contacts. make a drawing of the switch pins and check them with a meter or continuity tester and mark on your drawing which ones are making contact in which position of the switch.