# Rotary Switch--5 Position? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Electronics\ **Created:** [October 4, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/rotary-switch-5-position/122987 "2012-10-04T02:17:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/rotary-switch-5-position/122987/1 "2012-10-04T02:17:50Z")
Hey guys, I'm looking for a rotary switch that has 5 positions. I'm basically using the rotary switch as so: ![](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/e/5/9/e59e0daa22f7cca2b32e8ebcd844fc87563c2a7d.png) I just want to confirm that it has to be a 1 polarize correct? What does it mean by deck? I'm asking because I'm having hard time finding the right one on digikey ---
**Author:** ![retrolefty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dec6dc/32.png) [@retrolefty](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/retrolefty)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/rotary-switch-5-position/122987/2 "2012-10-04T02:34:48Z")
> abidethedude: > Hey guys, I'm looking for a rotary switch that has 5 positions. I'm basically using the rotary switch as so: > > [http://s3.amazonaws.com/satisfaction-production/s3\_images/101962/arduino-rotary-switch.png](http://s3.amazonaws.com/satisfaction-production/s3_images/101962/arduino-rotary-switch.png) > > I just want to confirm that it **has to be a 1 polarize** correct? What does it mean by deck? I'm asking because I'm having hard time finding the right one on digikey Could you rephrase that 'polarize' statement, as I don't understand the question? If you mean are you only needing a **single pole** , five position rotary switch, that is correct. By the way in that drawing you show using external pull-up resistors. You really can save some trouble and not use them, but rather just enable the internal pull-up resistors for those specific pins, it's free and it works. Lefty ---
**Author:** ![johnwasser](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/johnwasser/32/214270_2.png) [@johnwasser](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/johnwasser)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/rotary-switch-5-position/122987/3 "2012-10-04T02:36:19Z")
The number of decks will probably not be a concern since you have only a single 'Pole' and five 'Throws' (SP5T). If you had two (Double) Poles and 5 Throws (DP5T) you might have a choice of having both switches share a single Deck or having two Decks with one switch each. A Deck can contain roughly 12 Throws so for Double Throw, Triple Throw, and 4-throw switches you can fit more poles in a small space if you have multiple poles per deck. For that diagram just pick a SP5T rotary switch. If you are attaching a knob you probably want one with a "Flatted" shaft. The "Flush" shaft style has to be turned with a screwdriver. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/rotary-switch-5-position/122987/4 "2012-10-04T02:49:10Z")
> retrolefty: > > > abidethedude: > > Hey guys, I'm looking for a rotary switch that has 5 positions. I'm basically using the rotary switch as so: > > > > [http://s3.amazonaws.com/satisfaction-production/s3\_images/101962/arduino-rotary-switch.png](http://s3.amazonaws.com/satisfaction-production/s3_images/101962/arduino-rotary-switch.png) > > > > I just want to confirm that it **has to be a 1 polarize** correct? What does it mean by deck? I'm asking because I'm having hard time finding the right one on digikey > > Could you rephrase that 'polarize' statement, as I don't understand the question? If you mean are you only needing a **single pole** , five position rotary switch, that is correct. By the way in that drawing you show using external pull-up resistors. You really can save some trouble and not use them, but rather just enable the internal pull-up resistors for those specific pins, it's free and it works. > > Lefty Sorry about that. Yes I meant 1 pole . I am actually going to be using the Atmega328 chip on a PCB board, hence it setup this way. Thanks for the reply everyone! ---
**Author:** ![MarkT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@MarkT](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/MarkT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/rotary-switch-5-position/122987/5 "2012-10-04T23:27:32Z")
You used to be able to get rotary switches with 12 detents and configurable end-stops. The one-pole version could do 2 to 11 way with the stop in place, or 12 way with no end stop. 2-pole 6-way and 3-pole 4-way variants were available, probably 4-pole 3-way too. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/rotary-switch-5-position/122987/6 "2021-05-06T01:14:10Z")
Closed on May 6, 2021, 1:14am UTC