Rotary switch???

a 3 pole 4 position switch but this type will give you 12, 1, 2, 3 pm postions rather tham 12, 3, 6 and 9 pm if you see what I mean.

As for break before make vs make before break, that depends on the design of your circuit and what *exactly* you are trying to do.

SO we need more info!

Only you can say whether you need make before break or break before make: unless you provide a few more details of the problem. It might be a small electronics project, but it would be helpful to know what voltages and currents you are switching.

I built a small electronic controller for a friend, and that switches 50 amps mains voltage.

Break before make is usually the default safer option. Three pole four position (or three pole four way) just means you have three four-position switches which operate together. Only use one pole is that's all you need.

I am building a resistance meter using an arduino and a 16x2 lcd screen from a youtube video. It's mainly just for something to do when I'm stuck inside when it pours down.

The rotary switch switches between 4 ranges of upto 2k, upto 20k , upto

Last winter I built a few led circuits etc with and without arduinos, so I have a basic understanding of some things

...or parallel all three poles for reliability....

Ok thanks, but can you get 1 pole 4 position switch, and if so can you point me to a cheapish one. When I google them I get loads of different types.

Just use one of the poles out of the tree or as someone else has said, parallel the three poles up....

the think is that the 12 pole wafers are mass produced as are the hits that do the wiping, they merely change stops and how many wiper blades there are to make a 1x12, 2x6, 3x4 , 4x3 or 6x2 switch so no, there aren't any general purpose 1p 4 way witches and the special purpose ones - say fan speed controllers - are more expensive

I posted more information on what and why I want a rotary switch above, so could anyone please point me in the right direction, as I am finding it a bit of a minefield. As I say, I just want a simple 4 way rotary switch to switch between 4 different ranges.

Thanks

Search for a 1 pole 4 way wafer switch. any "N" Pole 4 way switch will be usable just use one of the "poles"

Ok, I did but the links are not limited to what I search for and when I click on any, it takes me to all the variations of so many poles and positions etc. Like I say, it's a minefield for me.

I'll pick one and hope it is the right one form what I want.

Thanks

which is what I said!

And i want a fantasy f*ck with Britney Spears, but in the real world...

Thanks and I ended up buying a 10 point 1 pole switch from Amazon. The voltage is only 5v and a few milliamps, so it should be ok

What do you do with your unwanted 6 positions?

I don't know what you mean, as I haven't got any 6 position switch

You can get kits to make up anything you like but of course its hardly cost effective if you only have a 1 off requirement.Its nearly always safest to do break before make and if high current then be aware of the problems with sparking. Brian

The common standard OEM rotary switch is 12 position one, and has been for getting on for a century. Fewer position ones are usually specially made for a given application.

The standard switches have variable stops so they can be confined to anything from two (one position would not qualify as a switch) to 12 positions, or even continuous rotation through all 12 positions.