How To Use DIP Switch On Breadboard

In a previous guide we talked about ordinary switches which we use in electronics and household work. DIP switch is not what we normally see among the consumer grade products but it is cheap and very useful tool. Here is an illustrated guide on how to use DIP switch on breadboard for the newbies with explanation of types of DIP switch & easy examples. Before using anything new, we need to know some basics about it. DIP switches are practically jumper blocks but they are quicker to change than jumper and there are no loose parts. For that reason, DIP switches are called toggle switches. Each lever can have two possible positions – on or off. DIP stands for dual-in-line-package – which point towards the origin in through-hole technology component days not the modern SMD component days (there are SMD DIP switches). DIP switches were used on PCs, historically Macintosh allowed the configuration of the circuits by software commands instead of setting the DIP switches. These days plug and play standards made DIP switches become obsolete.

So, DIP switch can be defined as an array of simple two terminal on-off electromechanical SPST switches. SPST means Single Pole Single Throw. DIP switches are used to change the operating mode of a device usually in relation with an IC or microcontroller.

How To Use DIP Switch On Breadboard

There are different types of DIP switches – DPDT DIP switches, SPDT DIP switches, SPST DIP switches, low profile DIP switches miniature DIP switches, DIP switches. But as the real life usage is very less more outside DIY, hobby works; SPST DIP switches is commonly used which actually has two legs for each “switch”. DIP switch on breadboard will sit like push button switch or IC – either the gap in the middle of breadboard or some way so that there is no “short circuit”. Obviously easiest possible use of DIP switch would be to control LED.

The photograph & diagram is from Fritzing and that user tested a guide of Intractables.