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How to Wire a DPDT Switch & Potent

A potentiometer is an electronic component that lets the user vary its resistance and control the current flowing through it. In addition to the variable resistor, some potentiometers have switches that turn circuits on and off or select between different circuit functions. Wiring the variable resistor part of a switched potentiometer is the same as wiring one without a switch: The center solder lug connects to the potentiometer̵7;s wiper, and the two side lugs connect to the ends of the resistive element. To wire the switch, you must first identify its common and switched terminals.

Things You'll Need

22-gauge solid wire
Wire strippers
15- to 30-watt soldering iron
Electronics solder

Instructions

- 1
  Cut nine 5-inch pieces of 22-gauge solid wire and strip a quarter to half an inch of insulation from the ends of each piece.
- 2
  Solder one end of each of six wires to the control̵7;s switch solder lugs. Note the layout of the switch lugs: two are common connections, one for each section of the DPDT switch, and the other four are two pairs of switched connections, one pair for each section. Solder the free ends of the wires connected to the commons to the parts of your circuit that alternate between the switched connections. Solder the free ends of the four wires to the switched connections in your circuit. Remember that the four are in pairs; you must match each wire with its paired mate for your circuit to work.
- 3
  Solder one end of the remaining three wires to the variable resistor̵7;s solder lugs. Solder the wire at the center lug to the part of your circuit that uses the potentiometer̵7;s wiper. Solder the remaining two wires to the points in your circuit that connect to the ends of potentiometer̵7;s resistive element.

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