Kvetch Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Hello folks. Im finished my MIDIBOX and am now working on some other small electronics things for my setup. Im trying to find a way to switch an entire serial cable (5 maybe 6 core) in one switch? I dont know if such a thing exists like an advanced toggle switch. Im going to have a serial cable of maybe 5 or six internal wires, and I am looking to be able to switch its connection between 2 other serial cables without having to flip 5 or 6 toggle switches. Heres a crude example of what I mean: So in this example Im trying to switch serial 1 between serials 2 and 3. I can obviosly do this by flipping 5 individual toggles but hope for a more elegant solution. Thanks for any input anyone may have! Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kvetch Posted September 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 I just fount this which I could maybe modify to suit my application: Is there a better way? what is the mechanism for the box above, to swicth between 2 serial cables? Thanks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gomiboy99 Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 These switches are multi-pole rotary switches. It is a standard data switch, they are also available in 25 pin versions too. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kvetch Posted September 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 Excellent thanks! So for my 5 pin serial cable ID be looking for a 5-pole 2 way rotary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kvetch Posted September 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 I was looking up multi-pole rotary switches and the switches are way more expensive than the box ive shown above am I maybe looking at the wrong thing? I thought it would be 5-pole (for the 5 connections in the serial cable) x 2 way, for the A/B position. But these switches are £50 or more whereas the box Ive shown above is only £12. Id rather build the box myself as I want to make some modifications so just the switching mechanism would be great. I was looking at these: 5 pole switches But they are incredibly expensive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultra Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 i don't think you want a rotary switch if you're only switching two devices. they're usually for cycling thru several things. just get a 5 pole on-on rocker or toggle from somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultra Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 perhaps not one of those, since i can only find toggles up to 4 poles on that site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gomiboy99 Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 These serial switch boxes are so cheap, I would buy one just for the switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lylehaze Posted September 17, 2011 Report Share Posted September 17, 2011 I would suggest keeping all grounds connected at all times. Switch the other lines, but keep all grounds connected. LyleHaze Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
technobreath Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 What are u connecting together? Agreeing with lylehaze. Keep grounds together. Might be able to use a 4pole rocker switch then. But its kinda unclear if u need 5 or 6 poles. Another alternative if u have a bit of space available is to set up a relay solution, then u only need one pole switch... You can use a relay that has NO/NC. And set up the number of relays u need. If the relay is energized, it sends the bus to the NO terminals and if not it goes to the NC terminal. I use this solution at work all the time to switch multiple poles with one logic output from a PLC. One specific relay board comes to mind. Noby JS1. It has two sets of NO and NC connections each. U can use three of them and a switch, then you have a 6 pole rocker switch. I only have docu on it Norwegian, so no link. If you are unavailable to get that or other relays, I am able to supply them cheap occasionally. Their control voltage is 10-30vdc. Can each relay can candle 47w, quite a bit, but they are small. I would say about 2x6 cm or so. If I were to build a electro mechanical solutions those are the ones i would use. But most likely I would do a transitor switch kinda design, but that requires some knowlegde about design. Relays and switches is very easy to understand, even for a beginner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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