Three pole switch

gp_wa

There has just got to be a stupid simple answer to this, but I'm drawing a blank

I want a three pole switch to control an outside light with a motion sensor: Down = off, middle = motion sensor, up = always on. What's the normal way to wire these silly things?

joed

Motion sensor usually have this built into them. You only need an on/off switch.
The ones I have work like this.
Turn them on and they are in motion mode.
From the motion position flick the switch off/on quickly and they come on until turned off. That is why sometimes a power flicker will make them stay on.
Turn off for ten seconds and then back on and motion mode is enabled again.

gp_wa

Brilliant! Probly would have figured that out right after I bought the lights

Bob Mariani

Only if you actually read the instructions.

Speedy Petey

Right on!

gp, you wouldn't have known before hand if you didn't ask.

For the record, what you asked for is a SPDT switch.
Single pole; one pole being switched.
Double throw; one pole with two positions that it can be in.

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Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.

gp_wa

Do they make those in a standard residential configuration? All I could find were the panel mount style.

Speedy Petey

When you say "residential configuration" I assume you mean that it can be mounted in a standard wall box. In this case yes, they sure are available.

Thing is they are only available in "spec grade" which is heavy duty commercial grade, and VERY expensive.
I had to buy the exact switch you asked for this summer and it was over $50.

__________________
Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.

gp_wa

Spec grade, fine. $50, yeah, never mind

theatretch85

If it would be me, i'd probably rig it up with low voltage relays and use the low voltage switches that give me the switching ability I am looking for. Use a small low voltage transformer to supply the power to activate the relays and then your done. Although it may be more complicated than it needs to be, I tend to like using the relays a lot with the low voltage control. Plus with latching circuits its easy to control relays from multiple locations.

So it might cost more than 50 bucks, but chances are I already have a lot of the supplies i'd need to build the circuit so its not an up-front cost.

Also, a SPDT switch is not nessecarily a 3 position switch. It would have to be an On-Off-On configuration where it stays in either position one direction or the other and center is off. A standard SPDT switch is a 2 position switch in that it completes a circuit in either position (typically no "off" position).

Speedy Petey

You are quite correct. I should have been clearer in saying the one I am talking about is a "maintained, center off, SPDT switch".

A lot of electric awnings use a center off, SPDT momentary switch. These you push up or down they they pop back into center position.

__________________
Sometimes I feel like if I answer any more questions it is like someone trying to climb over a fence to jump off a bridge and me giving them a boost.

micromind

I've installed a bunch of those 'maintained contact center off SPDT' switches to control evaporative coolers in commercial/industrial buildings.

Center position is off, down is fan only, up is fan and pump. A relay is needed to make this work though.

Rob