Use a DPDT Switch or Relay to Change Polarity/Motor Direction

In this video I show how to use a Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) switch or relay as a polarity changer. This could be used for changing the direction of a motor or a linear actuator. This is one of the simpler methods to build something that changes polarity.
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[@HRIservicesllcSturgeonBay]

Great explanation! Drawing it out in the video is what helps simplify it, you turned the relay on in my head which made the correct connection.

[@davidc2349]

the explanation makes sense as long as you know the pin out on the relay. he doesn't explain what they are. He just says connect this corner to that corner. Is the n/c, n/o or the common pin were connecting.

[@chrisoriel4823]

Thanks Eman! Your diagram made everything click for me. I have a DPDT switch on a dump truck to actuate the bed that needs its wiring replaced.

[@ebasguy]

man I love you, finally the fix for using a one way switch

[@JOATMOFA]

Brilliant! I've added a 12V 1channel 433MHz receiver and connected it's output as the input of the DPDT relay. When I press my remote control button it runs clockwise, when I press the button again it reverses direction - the button toggles direction!

[@Remy21289]

Best explanation Ive found on youtube.

[@shaneedwards7513]

Thank you the simple demonstration.

[@madapaperclip422]

Useful video. Thanks for the upload.

[@Eman2000]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ggd5899]

Thanks for sharing the informaion, i have one problem where i want to use the same with two push buttons and with the 8 pin relay. if i want to put 2 push buttons for motor forward and reverse direction , and also want to keep the motor in idle state when i don't want to use, how would be the wiring diagram with two push button's and 8pin Relay.

[@rogerdeane3608]

Can I add that if you wish to use this circuit for leaner actuator you need to connect the limiter switches across the center wires you have crossed over from the top and bottom pins.

[@jgardona]

thanks .you made it simple .

[@ebasguy]

dude you saved my day!

[@paulcomerford556]

I enjoyed your video and it got me thinking of a project I would like to do, but need a little help on what I need to accomplish it? I am trying to modify a winch from a hand held remote to a wireless remote. I have a two channel wireless receiver(Two positives and two negatives) but I am a little confused on what type of relay I need to be able to run and reverse the direction of the winch. Do I need: SPDT, DPDT? Do I need a 5 pin, 6 pin, or 8 pin relay? I plan on running it directly from an outlet so I know I the relay will have to be rated for 110 volts. If anyone can help me understand what I need and how to do it, I would be very greatful.

[@luongmaihunggia]

This is exactly what I need for my circuit, thanks!

[@Eman2000]

No problem, glad you found it useful!

[@zerg6205]

Weird... when I powered the bottom two pins, the switch sounded and the motor stopped... That's what the internet says that a relay does.. Is there something I'm missing?

[@massamsdc3444]

Great stuff, but with two separate SPDT relays you can have an Off/Idle state! so how about having an idle position where there is no motor rotation with a single DPDT? Like you said "briefly" and "avoided" further explanation, without a stop/off/idle state, the gears will break/damage!

[@MechanicForGMCCars]

Sir do you know how can I control pick up coils out put for distributors? I need some thing to control duration of pulses ore the 4 pin gm ignition module Im experimenting lot with engines so I wuld like to build me self variabel controled ignition timing . Im simply useing multipel engine types so I need some thing that does that task . Im even useing dual coils and dual 4 pin gm ignition modules only problem I have only 1 pick up coil so I need to ajust that for ich coil corectly.

[@sshvulnerability]

How would you make this so that the trigger voltage can be arbitrarily inverted (from another controller) and the relay output flips automatically when that happens? (without a switch)

[@allthethings7226]

Its a 4 wire controller black negitive, red pos, white is + when button 1 on remote is pressed and yellow is + when button 2 is pressed

[@raylynch23]

Hey Eman, making a motor gear/track assembly to cover a greenhouse at night with rigid insulation panels (and retract during the day with a timer or light sensor switched in reverse). Are those power leads that you use to touch the relay to make the motor run in reverse? If not, what are those wires running to? Thanks much, great video! :)

[@Eman2000]

Yeah, those are just powering the relay coil. You can get relays that will run on almost any voltage you might want to run it from.

[@CraftwerksMC]

I keep coming across this video and its somewhat useful but I am just curious if anyone can tell me what powers the circuit off when it does not need to run either direction? I'm wanting to use one of these as a way to roll a window up and down in the tailgate of my Blazer. It obviously only needs to run until it is all the way up or down. The primary switch is in the tailgate and the old motor was grounded through the chassis and i am changing to a different type of motor that is direct drive and reverses polarity

[@MohdAidilMdAsrar]

Hi Eman, I am planning to make it have a timer relay over that DPDT switch. So that at certain time, it would be reverse the motor direction. and how is that possible?I really enjoyed your video! Thanks!

[@consaka1]

I want to do the same thing for a small fridge circuit to keep it defrosted.

[@MrVARhythm]

Do some DPDT switches come manufactured already crossed like that? What other application is there besides reversing polarity?

[@stevemessina5974]

Very helpful thank you

[@foreal8691]

Do they make a relay switch that already have the outside cross connection done internally so you don’t have to wire it manually?

[@chevy4x466]

I mean, isn’t that the most obvious question. Shouldn’t it come with just 4 prongs….

[@oregane7247]

Where do I buy this switch? product name? Thank you

[@RoboArc]

Nahhh H bridge has entered the chat 😂

[@GoodGoshJosh]

Hey! So if I want to hook up a timer to this so that I never have to flip a switch. Is it possible to hook up a timer to it? Like a deer feeder timer? Would I need two timers? Or is it just impossible?

[@BGLENN-dp4tx]

Josh, Yes is the answer. Use a DPDT relay and your timer. You didn't mention whether your timer puts out a voltage or is just a switch-type timer. I am going to assume that your timer just makes a connection/i.e. switches a device on/off. So, you would use your timer to control the on/off of the DPDT relay (which then reverses the polarity). I can't imagine why you need to do that, but that's how. If you care to more completely describe what you are trying to do, a far better solution is likely than having wire a timer to a relay then having to wire the relay to "whatever".

[@dpdiver1]

Can I use 2 on off rocker switches to achieve this with 4 linear actuators? I Bought a 5 rocker switch panel for a camping trailer 1 switch runs water pump, 2 run lights, and I'd like to use the other 2 for up and down on linear actuators. Thanks

[@luscent3737]

Question I have a ks2e-m-dc5 relay. I tried what you did but it did not work. Any ideas?

[@alexvelasco23]

Hey Eman very helpful video. One question to what are the green cables connected to? Thanks.

[@mopac1851]

Just a power supply

[@themooselodge-bedfordtx7597]

I want to know if you can use a door jam switch with a DPDT relay?

[@andreseungyeobsong4899]

Thank u!

[@johnschorr7114]

Can u explain how to hook a switch to this I’m going to order the relay I have a switch my build is done with a 3 way switch that is hit with a dowel. It’s for an elevator design small scale. Basic idea motor runs turns a threaded rod moves a bolt and washer up. When it gets to the top the washer moves a teeter totter weighed on one side causing the dowel to come down hit the switch reverse the motor and the washer and bolt move down. Teeter totter falls back pulling dowel up off switch. When the washer gets to bottom it flips switch again on other side and up goes the washer and bolt. Rinse repeat. When finished I’ll post my project on KZbin under schorr studios if you want to see it. Appreciate your video here helps a lot if I can figure out the switch I’m set. Do I have to worry about arc on this when it flips read that it can do that. Doesn’t appear to have the problem on your build

[@Eman2000]

You will want to look into using 3 way switches for lighting. It will work the same way, just replace the light with the coil of the relay. You shouldn't have to worry about arcing for running a small motor.

[@gpro76rmp]

Can you use the same power source for the motor and the relay?

[@Eman2000]

Yes you can.

[@mustafaalshammasi7869]

Great vid! Can you do that with a SSR?

[@assarstromblad3280]

I know I'm late to the party, but don't you need a flyback diode for this to not risk damaging the relay and in that case, how and weher hould that diode be located? I used this method for switching electro magnets and accidently broke some transistors because of voltage spikes generated by the inductance in both the coils in the relay and the electromagnet coils. Help would be greatly appreciated.

[@AztecWarrior69]

No. Your relay is not in danger. It is the a danger to OTHER components, that don't have some protection. As in your transistors. Not the relay. Also some relays already have a diode built in for that. With this you should be more worried about the motor putting out power when you shut it off.

[@assarstromblad3280]

@@AztecWarrior69 Hah, nice 2 years later, but thanks for answering. Used DC motor driver IC's instead of the arduino controlled relays, those had built in protection, were a bit more expensive but worked better in basically every other way. (Used all this to switch electromagnets for a model maglev track)

[@AztecWarrior69]

@assarstromblad3280 yeah as you exclaimed before "late to the party". I used motor drive shields to make something very similar. A set machine. It not only goes in and out with steady constant pressure. With no attached/fixed mounting points to the drive tube, it can rotate a full 360 endlessly. The tube being hollow, delivery of lubricant to/through whatever attachment is made possible through the inner stainless steel tubing. You know how people have tvs coming out of cabinets, well I had my machine coming out of the foot of my custom bed. It was very bulky. LOL.

[@assarstromblad3280]

@@AztecWarrior69 Nice, what did you use it for?

[@AztecWarrior69]

@assarstromblad3280 well how one word misspelled makes a huge difference. Set machine is supposed to be SEX machine. Lol

[@oregane7247]

Is there any way make it auto repeating polarity reversing instead using manual switch ? No servo motor 12vDC

[@vaibhavagarwal2808]

hey have you got the answer???

[@johannwegmann4365]

As simple as Important, I beg to know if a CAP might be reversed by a circuit electronic,in a CC circuit to resonance.Thans,Regards Johann Wegmann

[@Eman2000]

It's a mechanical relay so your not going to get it to oscillate very fast.

[@nitesha8227]

How to connect 27 mhz reciver to relay to change motor directio?

[@sjay1395]

How does one control the timing of the switch? Need to have a timing circuit?

[@Eman2000]

You need to have some kind of circuit to control it. Could be a microcontroller, 555 timer or even a simple toggle switch if you wanted to do it manually.

[@MsBloodyFox]

Thanks a lot!

[@fastrivers812]

If you have to connect the cross posts, why don't they just do that automatically?

[@Eman2000]

You mean like have them come from the factory like that? You actually can buy some that do that. The reason that they don't all do that is so they can be used for other applications.

[@AeroL1909]

What power did you use?

[@Axel-zz2qx]

Thanks!

[@elsinhoap]

Hi there, I really need something similar to it. Where can I find this relay to buy ?Thanks!

[@Eman2000]

Just look up DPDT relay. Even eBay or Amazon would have them. Then just find one that meets your requirements.

[@allthethings7226]

I have a 9-12v remote controlled atv winch controller box. I'm trying to run a dc motor but both outputs are +source voltage. how would I use a dpdt relay to reverse the polarity to run the motor forward and reverse. Thanks

[@elsinhoap]

Trevor Lord mate a DPDT relay works with + and - and without both of them you must look for aomething else. Never heard about any motor with 2 +s

[@allthethings7226]

Any more info or help would be appreciated. Thanks

[@amaleafazil9632]

Are you use speed controller?

[@Eman2000]

Amalea Fazil I'm not.

[@ebasguy]

Ac or dc relay? I would guess DC

[@ajithkutti1175]

Can u say details about relay using

[@Eman2000]

It's just a Double Pole Double Through (DPDT) relay. Mine has a 24v coil but that doesn't really matter.

[@Slammo]

I flunked french and electronics

[@aheckers]

why should i forward this, or like this here video if you don't provide the source for a magical six pin relay? Wish there was a button for 'dumb'

[@Eman2000]

Me too. These things are really common. lmgtfy.com/?t=s&iie=1&q=DPDT+Relay