DIP switches are small on-off switches used in consumer and industrial devices. They mimic binary signals and can be slide, toggle, or rotary. They were common on computer circuit boards until digital switches replaced them, but they continue to be used in consumer applications. Digital DIP switches have begun to replace mechanical ones.
A dual DIP switch (dual package in line) is a small set of switches, commonly installed on printed circuit boards, used in consumer and industrial devices. DIP switches, sometimes written as “DIP switches,” are on-off switches arranged in a line and packaged in a small box or housing. The function of a DIP switch is to provide a range of electrical inputs to a computer or electronic device based on the position of the switches.
Switches can be slide, toggle, or rotary. Because each switch is turned on or off, the DIP switch can create an electrical signal that mimics a binary signal common to computers that use the numbers 0 and 1 to perform complex calculations. A rotary DIP switch has advantages over simple switches by allowing for multiple choices that result in different electrical signals from the switch, as opposed to a simple “on” or “off” position.
DIP switches were common on computer circuit boards until the 1990s when digital switches began to replace them. Consumer applications such as garage door openers, ceiling fan remote controls, and wireless phones continued to use DIP switches into the 21st century. Home remote control devices can benefit from a DIP switch because the device could interfere with other electronic devices in the home. When a DIP switch is connected to a remote control transmitter, changing the switch settings can remove interference by creating a different frequency for the remote control.
Binary control is still a valuable use of a DIP switch. Computers use processors that perform calculations by designating a value of 0 or 1. DIP switches mimic this effect because each switch position is “on” or “off,” the manual equivalent of a 0 or 1. For small products consumer electronics, a DIP switch could be a convenient replacement for digital control processors, particularly when the device needs to have several switch positions available to the user.
As digital processors have replaced mechanical switches and components since the 1970s, digital DIP switches have begun to replace mechanical styluses. A digital switch performs an identical function to a mechanical switch, but there is no physical switch to access. Digital DIP switches are operated from a control panel or computer screen. The interface might appear similar to a mechanical switch, with virtual switches that can be toggled on or off with a keyboard or mouse. However, there is no longer a mechanical switch to manipulate and the size of the switch components is greatly reduced.
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