Collin's Lab: Switches

Easily overlooked, but elemental to electronics hardware, the manually operated switch is the simplest of electromechanical devices -- and likely the most familiar. While the most basic switch is ... well, quite basic -- there's a crazy-huge variety of switch types & sizes available to the electronics maker nowadays. Those new to the soldering & schematics scene will surely benefit from an introduction to some of the terms and formats relevant to various switch species.
Find more at the Maker Shed: makershed.com

[@ometopi]

Best electronics explanations on KZbin! Better than electronics classes!

[@Siege2Sage]

Our college instructors never really taught us the HANDS ON approach to electronics. They relied heavily on discussions, topics from books, print outs and lectures. In short, I really don't know much of the bulk of electronics, that is, until I started watching this guy. Thank you sir :D

[@Bobo-ox7fj]

That'll be because they had no understanding of the material they were supposed to teach, like most teachers in modern times. Partially through incompetence and partially by way of trying to sound more intelligent, they teach subjects in the most obtuse way possible, so you come away thinking they know everything and you're a moron, when in fact they know nothing (but you may still be a moron)

[@tuxrandom]

In Germany DIP switches are sometimes called mouse pianos

[@moomilkboy]

im a computer engineering major and your labs make much more sense than my professors

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

I'm an Electronics Technician, and I really think these videos Collin makes should be used to explain electronics to anyone that wants to trully understand it, without burning many braincells in the process...

[@frunomaol5069]

Thanks for explaining the different types of switches. Excellent.

[@Fekillix]

Collin you're a true maker, keep up the good work! Teach us the basics like Relays!

[@HavokTheorem]

Thanks collin, this video reminded me of why i'm still subscribed to this channel.

[@cleekersneaker]

These are my favorite 10 year old videos on this website.

[@OzzySepulveda]

Really don't know why am watching this, BUT I learned something helpful from this.

[@jvon3885]

So if there is anyone out there.....I took apart two keyboards. I'm a noob here. I mean that's why I'm here. To me the future is stay at home electrical engineers. So the keyboard. Hacking it......I want to do something but don't know what. I look at the guts and think.....something can be done. But what? Maybe something automated. Something cylindrical in nature and hollow, with valves that produce something. The exterior could be some kind of barreling system that has little fingers that ultimately could be coded to be programmed to fire each contact at a specific time. This obviously is not very practical but it could be used to create some kind of vortex. It function like a rotary device. Anyways I like the videos. As a novice electrical engineer and hard pressed to get a loan to get books your channel has indeed helped me along.

[@Ar7ific1al]

The only reason makemagazine has my subscription: Collin's Lab.

[@moosefarms]

i love switches. always pulling apart old electronics for switches, motors, and gears.

[@IustinianP]

THIS IS THE BEST VIDEO ON COLLIN I'VE EVER SEEN!

[@Natesvids1]

you need to make collin's lab videos more often. i like them so much!!!!!!

[@silntdoogood]

Dip switches are fun... wire them to each other in a random order, and made a code to turn the device on. I recently replaced the back-light of an LCD screen with one that needs externally powered. I jumped it off my computer's power connection, but I may use my coffee maker switch on it. I've been waiting for a worthy project for the rocker switch that is labeled "warm" on one position and "brew" on the other. It needs a good home.

[@baller123122]

I wish Collin was my electricity course professor, the way he explains things is so easy to understand, listening to my professor trying to explain things just gives me a headache -____-

[@GrumpyTy34er]

This is a very informative video talking about some different switch types.

[@nathanallan1]

switches are definitely a necessary part of things, and I love me some rotary switches.

[@coppercorsair1020]

Who would win, Collin's Lab or Cody's Lab?

[@TheR971]

I think it's safe to say Cody would win. I mean he has guns and explosives. And mercury. So much mercury.

[@BenJamminKraftbc]

and hair :o

[@chibikawaiichris]

You prove that things are as only as complicated as you make them.

[@cvmotorob]

Thanks this helped me with a project. im new to the ebedded electronics world and needed to know a few things about switches.... :)

[@HeliosWorksAV]

Two things come to mind when watching these videos. The electronic know-how of Forrest Mims, and the narrative articulation of Carl Sagan.

[@courageouszombie]

i just built a guitar killswitch using that red DPDT switch he showed and a momentary footswitch :D thanks collin!

[@Fbiman93]

I feel so much smarter now. Thank you Collin. You're the best! :)

[@RyanJensenEE]

When collin stopped making videos, I stopped being so enthusiastic about make :( bring collin back!

[@remowo_]

collin you're the man...man! please inspire us some more. i love your videos.

[@maurerpe]

@JacobLukeWood The tactile momentary switches would work with 2 terminals, but they usually have 4. The two left terminals are always connected and the two right are always connected. Pushing the switch connects the right pair to the left pair. The advantage of the four terminals is that 4 terminals provide better support when mounted to a printed circuit board. If they only had two terminals, they would be more likely to twist, slide, or hinge when you pressed them.

[@Greeneyehawk13]

I really liked the parts about remote controls and keyboards.

[@wyllmRox]

and rocker switches that totally rock.... and rock back and forth. that's really all they do.

[@maurerpe]

@JacobLukeWood Although some 4 terminal tactile switches are DPST (double pole single throw) which would allow you to control two circuits, most are SPST (single pole single throw). For the SPST they still have 4 terminals, but you only need to use two of them. The other two are really just to help with mounting. Consider digikey part 450-1649-ND. Pin 1 is ALWAYS connected to pin 2 and pin 3 is ALWAYS connected to pin 4. When you press the switch the 1-2 pair is connected to the 3-4 pair.

[@jozzu7085]

Yes! A Collin video, at last. :)

[@snarkyboojum]

Haha - love his tendency to just open everything. Legend.

[@g3rrar1]

awesome! another video by collin. thanks alot!

[@Bobbyshew0825]

this guy is awkwardly funny...i like it! MOAR PLEEEZ!

[@mouldeck]

@anticonny a "killswitch" is a momentary normally closed switch that you can operate with your foot or finger, whitch are mentioned in the video

[@mondays89]

Collin is absolutely awesome!!!! Make Magazine has gone a long way since I first subscribed, in fact, his video was the first one I saw from Make Magazine and the reason I decided to subscribe! If Collin made his own channel, I would subscribe without question.

[@the32bits]

Yess... New episode!

[@grimmer2005]

GREAT videos! Hope to see more!

[@LuekalanunFerdalan]

collin needs his own channel

[@JohnStraussmusic]

Where is Collin these days? Dos he have his own channel?

[@TomsLife9]

+John Strauss He has recent videos on the Adafruit Industries channel

[@heminder]

only Colin Cunningham can make switches an interesting topic! =D

[@DJNewEra1992]

I love your attitude! Great vids!

[@fc2681]

These Videos are great! Keep em comin Collin! Ill watch whatever you put out. Especially anything about DIY MIDI controllers and DIY Synths!

[@sqidz]

I liked the part with the switch!!!

[@Kresjan6]

colins videos are awsome

[@jimmysgameclips]

I think I will do something with switches right now :D Awesome video

[@3pixVideos]

If the electricity is to complex and you want an easy solution, make a timer switch that quickly turns of for like 0.1 sec. and stays on for 2 min, that way it automaticly restarts the clock seamlessly so it. Or A timer switch that will every 2 min, rotate a moter to flick it, but solution 1 is easyer. :)

[@VacolocoSynth]

Well presented (I spotted a gorf sequencer there too).

[@o2me2]

As always, very well done. Thank you.

[@pakedskeezer]

You should totally make a DVD with all your videos and sell them to schools around the wold! :O

[@Sodorii]

I can clearly see you did not want to over complicate stuff. But good work :D

[@g3rrar1]

does the double pole double throw switch creates a parallel association in the circuit?

[@neomoontube]

I love these videos!!!

[@popstore123211]

i have a very small 4-prong momentary switch and it doesnt say positive or negative any help on determining the 2 pos and 2 neg

[@iLoveEatingPie]

I love this guy.

[@xXxM4A1xXx08]

where can i get one of those switches shown @3:44 , a board i have broke and i need to replace that one

[@suprguy]

@ExplosivetipStudios relay is a switch which is toggled by electricity

[@72744037]

What about the power to the switch, i.e .I have a car with 6 volt power windows ,they don't make 6 volt power things nowadays , Could I use a 12 volt switch ,to operate the 6 volt power window? Is there such a thing as 6 volt switches,and 12 volt switches ,thats my real question?

[@crazyhans]

@Jcbproducoes No, they're usually potentiometers.

[@Chimpalimp1001]

I was hoping you would mention debouncing switches and how they are amazing...

[@CampKohler]

DiP = Dual Inline Package (not pin). That's one weird paddle toggle with the OFF position on top. (Google images "switch on off" to see how most switches are labeled.) It must be from Australia, where everything is upside down. :-)

[@bigchad007]

Collin for president!

[@Project-DDE]

Yes a relay is a switch that is controlled by an electromagnet instead of a finger

[@TheKutia]

so is a transistor... :3

[@higgy82]

@makemagazine & @Colin Do you guys allow use of your videos in a classroom environment?

[@sweettooth80]

do you have a vid on how to build the little bord that u was holdin????

[@Tomongdong]

So what are switches and how many types are there?

[@martijnvdkerkhof]

I appreciate your mien.

[@binexec]

@iPlayer2 Potentiometers are variable resisters

[@Inquire98]

"Thank You", thank you very much. I am looking for a sliding switch. Slide the switch pole left or right to engage or transfer power. When sliding switch pole is in the middle (center), switch is off. Do you have or know of ANY sliding switch for breadboards part number? Let me know. I look forward to hearing from you 😎😃😀😎

[@bartleycollin]

I Love tinkering with electronics, i love playing guitar, My name is Collin (with two Ls)

[@Aonexia]

Hey Collin... you did not stick your tongue to the side of your mouth in this video! Com-on Man... That in your signature dude! You rock!!!

[@curlyhair2177]

@iPlayer2 those are variable resistors

[@lanceseidman]

How can I Make a usb cord have a button to kill the connection?

[@macuser7080]

Can you direct me to the data sheet for that 20mm led??

[@SONGSTICKS]

Colin... you're bloody Brilliant !! Thankyou so much for this vid, I'll make good use of this knowledge. I have a question. I recently converted an old Ekco Radio I bought at a bootfair for £3 into a guitar amp which sounds wonderful. It does however seem to have a dodgy Vol pot that keeps cutting the sound til you either turn it off and on again or give it a flick. Is this something that can be repaired or do I need a new switch please? if it was a crackle then spray? but not sure that'd do it

[@chrisxdeboy]

@Benivey2 that's usually not a switch, its actually a variable resistor.

[@davidsfc9]

@iPlayer2 they count as resistors and there's a video about that

[@BriteRavenPictures57]

COLLIN PLEASE MAKE YOUR OWN CHANNEL :D

[@sonicuprising]

Is that Vaco Loco's drum machine you have there Collin?

[@MiniMegaMuffin]

Thank you so much! This was soooo helpful.

[@21BDP21]

@lwierd 1) Look up how power is transferred i.e. ware does the torch switch button have to be to give power and how stuff receives power. 2) Look up logic gates ( AND, OR, NOT, XOR, XNOR, NAND) Wikipedia has a great table of the input out put results wiki/Logic_gate 3) Think of the circuit in real life, draw it out. 4) Now transfer to minecraft. A basic understanding of real life circuitry goes along way in playing with red stone.

[@Pygar2]

I love it! I just wish someone would make a *tiny* keyboard out of the tiny momentary contact switches- if you don't use your keyboard all that much except passwords etc. it would be great to have a one-handed keyboard that takes up essentially no space. Hey, get this and a pico motherboard and put a computer in a file card box! I wouldn't want qwerty-- if it is going to be small as all that a 13 or 14 wide by 8 deep programmable array would be nice. Etched keycaps?

[@Polite_Cat]

potentiometers are variable resistors, not switches. some of them do have an "off" position, but many dont and its not their main function.

[@Ultrasonicgrey]

One thing I need to hack is the wireless remote for my car. It uses the membrane switch but I would rather have standard momentary switches because they're more reliable and harder to press in my pocket.

[@seth364]

You could have shown an opened xbox controller, it features many of the different styles of buttons and switches etc.

[@Jcbproducoes]

what about dimmer's aren't those switches?

[@cocacolafan98]

3:58 thats the switch from the wiimote (the largest one) but black color

[@pietzeekoe]

the unsung hero

[@ufo.architect]

I will make a switch panel, if you get some super strut framing a welder an lots of sheet metal so i can build a saucer frame to put my switches

[@gooseboard2]

i like the information in these videos but i feel like the delivery could be faster and more crisp. maybe more jump cuts?

[@Strothy2]

sooo what about the boleans?

[@late_arvie]

you are awesome. more!!

[@MacDeth]

I liked the video but I had one of thoes "uuuuugh" moments when he broke out the cheesy rocker switch joke.

[@Benivey2]

What about a dimmer switch?

[@thewii552]

this is why i subscribed to make.

[@david99soad]

@deniskenn guess you'll have to study electronics engineering to achieve that... ;) and don't forget the license A and licence B if you want to use your skills and knowledge at home or at work... happy learning XP

[@wilfeatscheese]

@vidm96 Is it called Littlescale ???

[@quenjankosky7348]

lol, at the end it says "music, video, and booleans by collin cunningham.

[@DarkAvatar1313]

@Mrimagangster I don't think Kipkay works with Make anymore, but he has his own channel.