push button not working

I recently bought this PUSH BUTTON SWITCH LATCHING DPDT 0.5A 50VDC 6x6mm push button. I've been trying to use it. first problem: it doesn't fit on my breadboard without me bending all the legs a whole bunch. is that normal? Also, it doesnt seem to function at all. I followed these http://opensourcehardwaregroup.com/arduino-short-course-public-pages/section-3-digital/tutorial-17-using-a-button-old-version/instructions. can anyone tell me what im doing wrong? thank you very much.

josephallen21:
I recently bought this http://www.taydaelectronics.com/push-button-switch-latching-dpdt-0-5a-50vdc-6x6mm.html push button. I've been trying to use it. first problem: it doesn't fit on my breadboard without me bending all the legs a whole bunch. is that normal? Also, it doesnt seem to function at all. I followed these http://opensourcehardwaregroup.com/arduino-short-course-public-pages/section-3-digital/tutorial-17-using-a-button-old-version/instructions. can anyone tell me what im doing wrong? thank you very much.

Why don't you upload an image so we can see better..

here we go

and

did you have a sketch?

Next time buy the 8x8mm. They fit in breadboards. I just used 50 of them for a keyboard. All of them work fine. On mine I use a center pin and a corner pin next to the center one.

thank you very much. so maybe its just the difficulty putting the button in thats causing the failure? and yes, it is the example button sketch for arduino

you have a resistor from the switch to the power rail, but it looks like you don't have that line connected to arduino, is it?

I use this kind of buttons:

josephallen21:
and

ground that blue resistor.. one leg is on an empty rail , at least that's how it looks , ground that leg..

hmm. grounded it. still unsuccessful.

A DPDT (double pole double throw switch) can have a tricky central position. There are several ways to implement the centered position.
Look at the following chart:

Try to use multimeter to test which two pin is Center and Normal Open

josephallen21:
hmm. grounded it. still unsuccessful.

Well is looks like both wires that end up to the switch are grounded..
How is it supposed to work that way ? :~ :~
Ground only the blue resistor.. The other wire, that ends up on the second leg of the switch should go on 5v..

josephallen21:
hmm. grounded it. still unsuccessful.

once you verify you are using two normally open contacts on your switch, you can look at this to wire your button.

Start off slow. Use the built in LED on pin 13 first. When that works, then add the external LED. In your Photo, you have the switch wired to 5 volts, no ground, Also, please post your code.

Am i the only one that sees both wires being grounded on the switch ? :~ :~ :~ :~
I don't think the switch will ever work without power !!! 8)