A switch that is like a momentary push button, but when you press down it will disconnect and reconnect the circuit almost instantly, and when released does nothing, just remains connected.
I can't seem to find a proper name to search for this kind of switch, if it even exists.
In other words it is an NC (normally closed) push button momentary switch, that disconnects and reconnects in a single push down action.
Usually to get this result you need to use a regular push button NC momentary switch, then press and release it quickly, and that does the same thing.
Thanks in advance :)
PS- this is to create a mode-switching button on a flashlight who's driver has no mode switch, and only switches modes by shutting off and powering on the driver quickly.
Yes, it should break the circuit, but also reconnect it immediately, all with one push down.
For rapidly switching a circuit off and on in a single press to switch modes on a LED driver.
If I use a regular momentary pushbutton switch then I need to push it down and let go quickly.
I want both the disconnect and reconnect to happen almost instantly so I only have to press the button down and not worry about releasing it quickly.
My Fenix LD25 does that. When I push the button it turns on, as I continue to push it for a brief moment turns off, continuing to push it further turns it back on again and then it clicks permanently on.
I think its a bug in the driver and not the switch though.
Its a bezel twist UI though. Its does not use power cycles to change modes.
You mean like the hammer on a lever action pistol? The is in contact with firing pin. You pull the trigger and the hammer disengages as it pulls back then re engages to fire the gun. Well… not exactly but kind of.
If you did find something, it would have to be able to handle the full current.
Wouldn’t it be easier to add a regular non-latching push button switch. It would be called normally closed non-latching or momentary push button. These are available but not sure if they would fit a flashlight? If you wanted to go this route, you could a regular clicky switch and file off the tabs that make it latch. You would have to dissect the switch but it’s wouldn’t be difficult.
Na, don’t think that’s what op’s looking for? Some people have a hard time with the half press of a switch without clicking it. Especially the elderly. Adding an additional switch that interrupts power without clicking allows the user more grace when changing modes.
However, the op may have a totally different objective. OP?
OP is looking for a switch that works like a piano key (kind of)
But in stead of making a little hammer hit the piano string it should break the circuit for a fraction of a second.
I don’t believe that exists though.
He will probably have to settle for a momentary push button with a ‘normally closed’ contact and just push it briefly (or ‘tap’ it) to switch modes.
I.m.o. you might as well put the reverse clicky there.
Yeah you’re right, that seems like my only option other than having some weird custom switch made or using a circuit to control a relay…
Thanks everyone!
Have you tried an SPDT push button with both outputs wired together (shorted)?
Never done this myself, but the time between disconnecting output one and connecting output two may be long enough to change modes.
A quick Google brings up products such as below.
Middle pin to driver, outer two shorted then to power.
That might work as the two contacts aren’t always in perfect synch, but it would be an individual switch doing this well enough selected from a batch so you might need to try dozens of switches to get the right one. Or you could disassemble one and try to rework one side to ‘click’ earlier or later. Otherwise it will take an electronically delayed switching circuit to achieve this. Or maybe running one side through a relay would give enough delay?
That’s what I was thinking - also known as a break-before-make single pole changeover (SPCO) switch. The break in power will be very short, though. Switch debouncing in the driver might cause it to be ignored.
That’s a good idea, I might buy one and test it out.
Problem is that if it is momentary, pressing it will actuate once but releasing will actuate it a second time.
If it is not momentary, then it might work the way I need
Some small DC manually re-settable circuit breakers do just what described you needed when u push the little round reset button.
Probably too big for your application though
In the (likely) event such a switch doesn’t exist have you considered replacing the driver? Fast off time switching is usually a desirable feature but there are drivers that have very slow mode switching. For example Armytek uses very slow off time mode switching in many of their lights. The DIY drivers I’m most familiar with all have fast off time switching but some of them could be programmed for much slower mode switching.
