Noobish question about tactile switches

[blackbox_dev]

This is the first time i've ever worked with tactile switches, so I need some advice on how to use them. Which pins do I connect to? Would a setup like this work or would they always be leaving the circuit closed/open:



Thanks in advance,
-iam7805

[jeffslot]

Hi guys,

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but here is what I think.

I've seen 2 types of switches. Ones with 2 pins & ones with 4 pins.

If your switch has two legs then just hook one up to ground & the other up to the trace (up, down, left, right, start etc) that you want it to control.

If your switch has 4 legs, I believe it is the same, just use two legs that are on opposite sides. Thanks.

Jeff S

[blackbox_dev]

My switch has 4 legs. I want to know if I can use both legs so that I can minimize the amount of perfboard traces I have to cut.

Thanks for the quick response, Jeff. Can I get some more information to confirm what Jeff said?

Thanks,
-iam7805

[jeffslot]

I think that if you switch has 4 legs, you still would only need to wire 1 to ground & 1 to the direction (that would leave two that can be ignored).

(at least that is what I rememeber from my atari proj, back in the day). I hope I'm understanding you correctly.

Jeff

[timmeh87]

somone once said to always hook up two legs that are diagonally opposite. that way you know that you have it right regardless of orientation.

dont you have a miltimeter?

[codeman]

yeah...there is a correct orientation for a 4 pin tact switch. There are two sides where the two pins are tied together...so like tim said, if you always go diagonally you'll be ok. Sometimes there are markings on the bottom to show which sides belong together.

[blackbox_dev]

Ok, I'll do it that way. Thanks guys!

[gannon]

Yep, diagonally is idiot proof...unless whoever made the switch was an idiot and had the leads diagonal of each other continuous...