I know I've seen it, don't know what to call it, but I know of a relay that operates a toggle cam. The cam actuates the plunger of a simple microswitch. One click from the relay and the switch activates. One more click from the relay and it deactivates. You could mount something like that in a box with a simple spring loaded push button that when pushed down it does the same thing the relay does when electrically activated. Wish I could find that again. Saw it back in the 80's. There's GOT to be something similar even these days.

 

use a small servo motor with lever. use that lever as toggle handle and put pair of buttons or touch pads on the front and back of it.
when contact is sensed on either side, move servo accordingly... and move it back when needed.

 

I don't know what could be simpler than two PB's and a manually operated relay armature added option/mod. ?

 

I don't know what could be simpler than two PB's and a manually operated relay armature added option/mod. ?

Yes, if all he is trying to achieve is a switch than can be used manually to turn a device on and off snd the device can also electronically turn itself off. In fact, nearly everything you buy these days works that way now.

But here is what he asked for:

What I want to achieve is to have a physical toggle switch that I can move manually on and off, to open or close a circuit. Then, when it is on I want to electronically turn it off, including physically turning it back to the off position.

He specifically says he wants a physical switch that changes position whe turned off electronically.

 

Yes, if all he is trying to achieve is a switch than can be used manually to turn a device on and off snd the device can also electronically turn itself off. In fact, nearly everything you buy these days works that way now.

But here is what he asked for:

He specifically says he wants a physical switch that changes position whe turned off electronically.

THAT is the reason that I suggested the addition to a lever switch. They are a totally standard product and available with a wide range of contact options, and they have been around for many decades. The down-side is that they are not small, nor cheap.

 

Depending on why he wants this, an on-off-on momentary switch could be another option. It would allow you to turn on by pushing it up and off by pushing it down always.

 

The request was fairly specific: " a physical toggle switch that I can move manually on and off, to open or close a circuit. ". A lever switch is close to a toggle switch, and it is the only " Lever style" switch that allows access to the moving parts behind the panel. A toggle-typed circuit breaker with remote tripis the only sort of close device I can think of.

 

Has this, not so cheap magnetic held toggle switch been mentioned?

 

I am trying to learn circuit design incorporating Raspberry Pi.

I am sorry that I am so inexperienced that I don't know if what I want exists or if it does, then what it is called.

What I want to achieve is to have a physical toggle switch that I can move manually on and off, to open or close a circuit. Then, when it is on I want to electronically turn it off, including physically turning it back to the off position.

Is that a thing?

The closest I know are those "useless" machines that whenever you switch something on they undo it turning the switch off.

 

The closest I know are those "useless" machines that whenever you switch something on they undo it turning the switch off.

Advanced model that does it for more than one switch.
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Has this, not so cheap magnetic held toggle switch been mentioned?

OK, that is indeed close to what the TS requested, but "magneticaly held is not what the TS requested. and like many ebay items, it is vastly overpriced. And I did not see any rating for the contacts.

 

OK, that is indeed close to what the TS requested, but "magneticaly held is not what the TS requested. and like many ebay items, it is vastly overpriced. And I did not see any rating for the contacts.

The TS stated:

What I want to achieve is to have a physical toggle switch that I can move manually on and off, to open or close a circuit. Then, when it is on I want to electronically turn it off, including physically turning it back to the off position.

He did not specify how it is to be held on so I don't see why "magneticaly held" does not meet his requirements (?).

The ebay listing stated this for contact rating:

 

I am trying to learn circuit design incorporating Raspberry Pi.
I am sorry that I am so inexperienced that I don't know if what I want exists or if it does, then what it is called.
What I want to achieve is to have a physical toggle switch that I can move manually on and off, to open or close a circuit. Then, when it is on I want to electronically turn it off, including physically turning it back to the off position.
Is that a thing?

I still think that describes the standard E-stop circuit, the difference is that it would require two PB ( N.O. & N.C P.B's.).
The Raspberry Pi. would operate a contact electrically via a relay.

Note: the OP has left the building some time ago !

lexlagoon
New Member
Jan 21, 2023
Last seen Jan 24, 2023

 

If you scroll through the pictures, you will find a “datasheet” that includes this:

DC equipment only! Do not connect to AC current or to excessive voltage due to risk of fire!

It could work, but it needs a 5V supply and a relay for the actual switching operation.

 

Has this, not so cheap magnetic held toggle switch been mentioned?

I don't think anyone has mentioned that before. SEEMS like a possible solution to the TS request.

I know I've seen it, don't know what to call it, but I know of a relay that operates a toggle cam. The cam actuates the plunger of a simple microswitch. One click from the relay and the switch activates. One more click from the relay and it deactivates. You could mount something like that in a box with a simple spring loaded push button that when pushed down it does the same thing the relay does when electrically activated. Wish I could find that again. Saw it back in the 80's. There's GOT to be something similar even these days.

As I said, I've seen this before. Took a while to get this all drawn out but here's the momentary relay that once set in one position it holds that position until it's re-triggered again. A bit of modification is all it would take to put a spring plunger above the armature to push it down and thus change the state of the switch on the relay.

The part above the armature is a spring that keeps the birds beak pointed straight down until the armature is depressed. The beak will follow the cam around and either depress the plunger on the microswitch or release it, depending on the previous state. The lower row shows how the switch is operated.

 

I don't think anyone has mentioned that before. SEEMS like a possible solution to the TS request.

As I said, I've seen this before. Took a while to get this all drawn out but here's the momentary relay that once set in one position it holds that position until it's re-triggered again. A bit of modification is all it would take to put a spring plunger above the armature to push it down and thus change the state of the switch on the relay.
View attachment 331665
The part above the armature is a spring that keeps the birds beak pointed straight down until the armature is depressed. The beak will follow the cam around and either depress the plunger on the microswitch or release it, depending on the previous state. The lower row shows how the switch is operated.

That exact configuration was used in some EARLY TV remote control receivers, back in the tube type TV set era The same relay also provided three volume settings: "too loud", "OK", and "too soft". And it used a few discrete transistors and some LC tuned circuits to sense the ultrasonic frequencies.

 

That relay is what I saw when working with Home Burglar Systems. That's where I've seen it. No other places. As for TV remotes, I seem to recall the channel changer consisted of a motorized cog that would rotate once per channel change. It had a cam with a lobe that would engage the mechanical tuner and rotate it one position. Gosh that was a long time ago.

 

It had a cam with a lobe that would engage the mechanical tuner and rotate it one position. Gosh that was a long time ago.

Yes it was, but I remember it well.
Each channel change gave a big "ka-chunk", with channels 2-13 on the dial and perhaps half of those available in any one area.
That big, mechanical tuner probably cost as much to make as a whole TV set does now.
So we've gone from a few network channels, to a zillion junk channels that we don't watch (but pay for if you have cable/satellite).