help specing pushbutton switch please?

[dj]

I'm trying to repair some intercom units in our apt. building and one
has a broken pushbutton switch that's actuated by a handset
switch-hook. It has twelve pins in two rows and behaves as follows
(o---o = switch connection between pins):


o o---o o o---o
plunger out --->
o o---o o o---o



o o o---o o o
plunger in <---
o o o---o o o


Is this a 4PDT or what? I need to find replacements and the dimensions
are no problem but I don't know what I'm asking for.

Many thanks for any help!

 

[Dbowey]

You are close. Here is 4PDT. It's a good idea to have some separation between
units, for clarity.


o o-->o o o-->o
plunger out --->
o o-->o o o-->o



o<--o o o<--o o
plunger in <---
o<--o o o<--o o

Don

 

[dj]

You are close. Here is 4PDT. It's a good idea to have some separation
between
units, for clarity.


o o-->o o o-->o
plunger out ---
o o-->o o o-->o



o<--o o o<--o o
plunger in <---
o<--o o o<--o o

You know, now that I look at my diagram, I think it has THREE
positions, like so:

o o---o o o---o
plunger out --->
o o---o o o---o



o---o o o---o o
plunger in halfway <---
o---o o o---o o



o o o---o o o
plunger in completely <---
o o o---o o o

In fact, yes, that is the way it works, the halfway point is handset
on-hook, the plunger out is handset off-hook, and plunger in works the
"open the door" solenoid (it pushes in past the point of on-hook rest).
And the wipers short two pins, skip two sets, then short another set.

Any idea what would a switch like this would be called?

 

[CFoley1064]

Subject: Re: help specing pushbutton switch please?
From: dj drj@*.com
Date: 4/4/2004 9:35 PM Central Standard Time
Message-id: <040420042235038878%drj@*.com


You are close. Here is 4PDT. It's a good idea to have some separation
between
units, for clarity.


o o-->o o o-->o
plunger out ---
o o-->o o o-->o



o<--o o o<--o o
plunger in <---
o<--o o o<--o o


You know, now that I look at my diagram, I think it has THREE
positions, like so:

o o---o o o---o
plunger out ---
o o---o o o---o



o---o o o---o o
plunger in halfway <---
o---o o o---o o



o o o---o o o
plunger in completely <---
o o o---o o o

In fact, yes, that is the way it works, the halfway point is handset
on-hook, the plunger out is handset off-hook, and plunger in works the
"open the door" solenoid (it pushes in past the point of on-hook rest).
And the wipers short two pins, skip two sets, then short another set.

Any idea what would a switch like this would be called?

It would be called a custom switch. Manufacturers of switches will make just
about anything the customer specifies, especially if the volume is there.

I think your best shot for a repair would be to
1) contact the manufacturer for a replacement,
2) try to repair the switch, or
3) scrounge a used switch from an identical piece of equipment somewhere. If
you positively _have_ to get a solution, use a separate power supply, a SPDT
ON-(OFF)-ON toggle switch, and a couple of 4PDT telecom relays to simulate the
switch action.

Good luck
Chris

 

[dj]

Any idea what would a switch like this would be called?

It would be called a custom switch. Manufacturers of switches will make just
about anything the customer specifies, especially if the volume is there.

Yes, when it got into the three-position category it started sounding
non-standard. The switch action was making no sense to me when I
thought it had only two positions. Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[Dbowey]

That is a 4P3T. it is common in rotary switches, but in a push-button switch
you may need to write to switch manufacturers to find who makes one.

Don