Question on Toggle Switch

[Madman]

I know what a DPDT toggle switch does. However what would the extra two contacts on this switch be for ?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SW26-4pcs-M...947630?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item51b17a84ee

 

[Dtsteam]

I've used a three pole one on a battery loco - two poles for reversing and the third to switch the directional lighting.

 

[nicebutdim]

That is basically 2 DPDT switches in one package. I used to use one of them for a scissors crossover on my old N gauge layout. Imagine you have 4 separate circuits to be switched at the same time, that switch would be used for that.

 

[Glengrant]

I inheritted several DPDT switches, hope the military don't want them back, took me some time to work out which contacts to use, there were so many. These had been required for activating other things, buzzers, indicator lights and so on.

 

[nicebutdim]

This clears one of the few usages for this type of switch http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&so...MFXshUkhvSSgeH1SW-IiFL3Q&ust=1378568292560841 < Link To http://www.google.co.uk/u...p;ust=1378568292560841 (image further down discussion)

 

[ntpntpntp]

Damn, can't look at the link @ work but the clue is in the description "4PDT" =
4 Pole Double Throw. So you have 4 independant "poles" that can be thrown two different ways ON-OFF-ON, all linked together by a single toggle or slider so they all change at once.

As nicebutdim says, if it's easier then think it like two good old familiar DPDT switches joined together with one toggle.

What would you use it for? Depends what clever circuits you can come up with! You could maybe use two poles to create a track polarity reversal, then another pole to switch a red/green LED or something and the 4th pole for maybe a relay if you needed it.

 

[pugwash]

Peco sell them too
http://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strParents=3309&CAT_ID=3337&P_ID=17657 < Link To http://www.peco-uk.com/pr...ID=3337&P_ID=17657
as Nicebutdim said it is for a double slip

 

[Madman]

Ah Ha ! Thanks gents.