What's the deal with 3PDT's?

[mindwave_21]

Am I missing something, or are there about 1000 ways to wire this thing up (I can't even get one kind to work right)?  It shouldn't matter really right?  As long as you get the throw and pulls right...Could someone explain the theory on how these wiring diagrams work?

[zachary vex]

since there's nine pins it becomes symmetrical in two different directions, so it's hard to tell which pins are which.  use a meter on the ohms setting to find any two pins that are shorted together, then place them so they are parallel to the horizontal lines below:

123
456
789

now, in one position, 1 and 2 are shorted, 4 and 5 are shorted, and 7 and 8 are shorted.  pins 2, 5, and 6 are the "poles" which rock back and forth from the left contacts 1, 4, and 7, to the right contacts, 3, 6, and 9... so when you click the switch, 2 and 3 are shorted, 5 and 6 are shorted, and 8 and 9 are shorted.

wire up the top two rows like any dpdt switch (there are instructions at http://geofex.com/Article_Folders/bypass/bypass.htm )  and use the last row as a switch for the LED if you wish.

[aron]

Please go to the beginner forum and read the thread called switches/bypass/etc..