Home >> Science & Nature >> Science

How to Make a Series Parallel Circuit With a DPDT Switch

There are several applications where the power to two components needs to be switched from a series connection (like cars in a train) to a parallel connection (like cars parallel parked). This can be accomplished with a single Double Pole Double Throw switch. A DPDT switch consists of two electrically isolated switches, each of which can connect one line to two different circuits. A common example is wiring up a switch that allows a musician to quickly configure the two pickups on an electric guitar into series and parallel configuration to create different sounds. The following steps are intended for this with experience around wires and circuits.

Things You'll Need

DPDT switch
Wire
Soldering equipment

Instructions

- 1
  Draw a wiring diagram before you start wiring. Include the connections to the DPDT switch, the two loads you want to switch from series to parallel, and the input and output power supply. If you look at the back of the DPDT switch you will see six connection lugs arranged in two colums of three lugs.
- 2
  Label the switch lugs in your wiring diagram. The left-hand column of three lugs should be labeled "Left Upper", "Left Middle" and "Left Lower," or LU, LM and LL. The right-hand column of three lugs should be labeled "Right Upper", "Right Middle" and "Right Lower," or RU, RM and RL These labels will be key points in the wiring diagram.
- 3
  Connect a wire between LM and one of the loads. Connect the other side of the load to a post -- call it P1 -- where another wire can be attached later. Connect a wire between RM and the other load. Connect the other side of the load to a post -- call it P2 -- where another wire can be attached later. Run a wire from "power in" to P1, then run a wire from P2 to "power out."
- 4
  Place a short wire from LL to LR to make the series connection. When the switch is flipped down, the series circuit will go from "power in" to P1 to one load to LM to LL to RL to RM to the other load to P2 to "power out."
- 5
  Make the parallel path by soldering in two wires. One wire goes from P1 to UR. The other wire goes from P2 to UL. When the switch is in the upper position, there will be two parallel paths. One path goes from "power in" to P1 to one load to ML to UL to P2 to "power out." The other path is ftom "power in" to P1 to UR to MR to the other load to P2 to "power out."

Science