DIP switches seem to be manufactured for soldering to circuit boards and are therefore unsuited to mounting in breadboards for prototyping . Does anyone have a solution to this?
Hi Paul
One way would be to get a DIL socket with long pins like the wire wrap types and plug the DIP switch package into this.
Jaycar have “IC Socket strips with wire wrap pins”. Cut off the required length and use this.
Cheers Bob
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DIP switches are available in longer pin packages, for example:
Soldering standard DIP switches onto matrix board with pin headers is another option, as are I2C DIP Swiches: DIP Switch | NXP Semiconductors
Hi Peter
Those 2 links seem to be standard through hole packages where the pin lengths are marginal for a breadboard . The Omron one could be a minute bit longer but I don’t think so.
These are the ones Paul wants a replacement for.
As I said the only solution I can think of is get wire wrap types or get wire wrap OC sockets and plug the switches into that.
Cheers Bob
PS: Search “Wire wrap IC sockets” at RS Components and you will find 14 of them of different sizes.
Hi Paul
Search “Wire wrap IC socket” at RS Components and you will find 14 of them of different sizes.
Cheers Bob
Hi Paul and everyone
Just had a massive brain bust.
An IC or an IC socket plugs into a breadboard quite happily.
The last DIP switch I saw had exactly the same pins
So why won’t your DIP switch plug in.
You have got a dodgy DIP switch with odd pins
OR
You have got a dodgy el cheapo breadboard
Genius. Must have had a brain snap not to realise that before. Time I went to bed for some rest methinks.
Cheers and apologies to all Bob
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Not always. Here is an example of a socket that has very thin pins oriented across the width of the fitting, unlike an IC. This might be what you were thinking of. They fit a breadboard correctly, but are very loose and work their way out on the slightest provocation, even with a quality board. I looked through my collection of DIP switches and couldn’t find one the same, but as the thickness and orientation of the pins is dictated by the design of the switch contacts (or in this case, the socket contacts) it is quite possible that a DIP switch could have pins like this, and be similarly unreliable.
Of course, if it has problem with a breadboard socket it’s going to have the same problem with any other similar header socket. The only way it will work reliably is if it’s soldered.
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Hi Jeff
And any one interested.
You are right. There would seem to be IC sockets and sockets. I only have a couple of 14 pin ones on hand. Neither have pins as in your pic. However would you believe one has short thin circular pins which would only be good for soldering and the other has pins the same as an IC which is quite happy in my Wish board.
Re the DIP switch. I only have one on hand which has the same pins as an IC which once again is happy in my Wish board. They probably do exist with the short thin pins.
I tend not to use these much as I don’t believe they are designed for use as a “switch” insofar as constantly being operated in general use. I think they are more like a “set once and forget” sort of use as in address setting and that sort of thing.
If I need such a thing while breadboarding experimenting I find a few short links in the breadboard seem more reliable. Then if I finally need a switch I will use one but mostly at that stage a couple of soldered links or tracks end up being the go for permanency.
Cheers Bob
Hi @Paul276262, Welcome to the Forums!!!
The others have covered this pretty well. Lots of good solutions out there.
I quite like this solution as it doesn’t require anything extra to make it work.
There are also DIP Switch options that are breadboard compatible as well that you can use for the prototyping stage.
Hi Aaron
“fits great into a breadboard but be careful as the connections can be quite loose.”
Note “as the connections can be quite loose.”
I don’t quite believe I am reading this.
And you are selling these and implying they are “breadboard compatible”
Leave me out of it.
Cheers Bob
Hi @Robert93820,
The pin spacing is the same as a breadboard so the pins do fit.
The reason that the disclaimer is there is the pins are short and it isn’t secure in some breadboards.
I grabbed one off the shelf and checked on a few breadboards we have around the office and it was secure in 4 out of 5 different ones I tried.
I would say that it “fits into a breadboard”
Thanks to everyone.
I think we will settle for Bob’s original suggestion. Although this is only proof of concept the breadboarded circuit will be handled by potential end users of the device so the more secure in the breadboard the better. After that we can look at actual PCB design to develop a full prototype.
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Hi Aaron
That is like having a product for sale and saying “it should work 4 times out of 5”.
Don’t think my sales pitch would sell many.
Cheers Bob
