Question 11.3: You want to connect a two-position toggle or slide switch to......

Use the switch as you would a tactile push switch (Recipe 11.1), just connecting the center and one end contact (Figure 11-4).

To make this recipe, you will need:

• Breadboard and jumper wires (see “Prototyping Equipment” on page 380)

• Miniature toggle or slide switch (see “Miscellaneous” on page 382)

The same code we used in Recipe 11.1 works with this arrangement.

Discussion

These type of slide switches are useful, because you can see the position they are set to without the need for some additional indicator like an LED. However, they are more fragile and a little more expensive than the tactile push switches, which are used more and more in consumer electronics because they can sit behind a nicer-looking plastic button.

See Also

To use a three-position switch, with a center-off position, see Recipe 11.4.