Rotary switch is a common electronic component widely used in various electronic equipment and circuits to control the on and off of the circuit or change the state of the circuit. This article will give you a detailed introduction to the definition, structure, and working principle of the rotary switch.

1. Definition of rotary switch

A rotary switch refers to an electronic switch that can be rotated. By rotating the knob of the switch, the circuit can be switched on and off. The main function of the rotary switch is to control the on and off of the circuit, but it can also be used to adjust the resistance, voltage and other parameters of the circuit.

2. Structure of rotary switch

The rotary switch mainly comprises handle, contact piece, contact point and switch housing. The handle is the external operating part of the rotary switch. The contact pieces and contacts are driven to move by rotating the handle. The contact piece is a metal inside the switch located between the contacts. By rotating the handle, the position between the contact piece and the contacts can be changed, thereby changing the on-off state of the circuit. Contacts are the key components of the rotary switch. They are connected or disconnected to realize the switching control of the circuit. The switch housing is the outer shell of the rotary switch and is used to protect the components inside the switch.

3. Working principle of rotary switch

The working principle of the rotary switch is relatively simple. When the handle of the rotary switch rotates, the contact piece and the contact point will move relative to each other. When the contact piece and the contact point are in contact, the circuit is connected; when the contact piece and the contact point are disconnected, the circuit is broken. In this way, by rotating the handle, you can control the on and off of the circuit.

Rotary switches can be designed as single-pole, bipolar or multi-pole according to application requirements. Unipolar rotary switches are usually used to control the on and off of circuits, while bipolar or multipole rotary switches can handle multiple circuits simultaneously. In addition, the rotary switch can also be designed with different parameter adjustment functions, such as resistance and voltage according to the needs of the circuit.

In short, the rotary switch is a simple and practical electronic component that is widely used in various electronic equipment and circuits. Through the rotary switch, the circuit can be easily controlled and parameter-adjusted to meet the needs of different applications.