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what's this type of switch called?

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Rawker:

i'm looking for a switch that moves in 2 directions and auto snaps back to the neutral position if you let go of it after holding it in a specific direction. i would think it looks like this however without the toggle feature but i have no clue what it's called.


what i'm doing (or gonna try to do) is take the digital controls from my computer speakers and wire them to the switch so if i hold it up the volume turns up and if i hold it down the volume turns down.

does anyone know what the name of the type of switch is that i'm looking for?

Rawker:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=275-709

i think i found it, does anyone know what DPDT stands for?

Minwah:

If I understand correctly I think you do require a toggle switch, an 'ON-OFF-ON' type with spring loaded centering.  I'm pretty sure I have seen spring loaded 'ON-OFF' toggles, not sure about this type.

Not quite as nice but if you can't find one maybe just go for two small pushbuttons.

JoyMonkey:

Theres a DPDT explanation here:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14351

The DPDT stands for "Double Pole/Double Throw" which indicates that the switch will control two different circuit simultaneously on one single move of the actuating arm(DP) and also has two positions for both circuits(DT)....

etc. etc.

Rawker:

ok so the difference between DPDT and SPST is that SPST is a toggle switch whereas DPDT is a throw switch with a snap back to center or off?

if that's correct then i think the DPDT is what i'm looking for because it'll allow me to adjust the volume easier.

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