[Boatanchors] Question: Rotary Switch Application

[Spencer Petri]

At 12:35 PM 5/26/2013, William Morton wrote:
>Hello All,
>
>I have a project where my goal is to have one rotary switch act as 
>the main power (i.e. standby), heater, and B+ switch.  Position 1 
>would be off, position 2 would turn on main power, position 3 turns 
>on filament tap, and position 4 would switch the center tap of the 
>rectifier tube.
>
>I have seen separate toggle switches used for each connection in the 
>past but space is limited.  Other applications I have used just have 
>one switch which turns everything on at one time.  I suppose I could 
>do this for my current project but I figured I would try something 
>new this time around.
>
>I happen to have an old rotary switch with 3 poles, adjustable 
>number of positions, and make before break contacts.  The 
>manufacturer is unknown but it looks similar to, say, a Centralab JV 
>9002, 9005, etc.
>
>Main power is 120 VAC, heaters are 6.3V total current 4A max, and 
>the rectifier is 5V running at 3A.
>
>Is the use of such a switch safe in this application?  My main worry 
>is whether or not I ought to expect arcing issues when the switch is 
>moved from one contact to the next.  I do not think the current 
>levels would be an issue once full contact is made.  I cannot find 
>specs anywhere for the Centralab style of switch so I would like to 
>inquire among the Boatanchor experts.
>
>Thank you very much in advance for your help.
>
>Best Regards,
>
>William

If this was a project of mine I would use relays with the rotary 
switch operating the relays.

de Pete WA5JCI




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