Switch Wiring, Dumb Question

YT · Post by YT » Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:19 pm

I am using a momentary switch on my SS X-Wing and I was getting ready to wire it in. Does it matter if I put it into the positive or negative side of the circuit? I have wired switches before, but I don't know if using one side or the other helps with battery drain or anything like that?

robiwon · Post by **robiwon** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:37 pm

I think most people say to use the negative side. Not sure it really matters but I'm not an expert. I have wired many, many models and have always used the negative side with no neagative (pun) results.

Pat Amaral · Post by **Pat Amaral** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:31 pm

I usually install the switch on the positive side of the power supply connection but that's just out of habit. Since a switch does nothing more than close or open a circuit, it doesn't matter where it goes.

Mr. Engineer · Post by **Mr. Engineer** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:19 pm

Yep. Just think of the switch as joining two pieces of wires together to complete the circuit. Just like a resistor, it does not matter.

But for other electronic components, polarity does matter.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 8:31 pm

For a simple DC circuit it doesn't mater. But for other circuits, you only ever switch the hot side, bad things happen to the end user when the return side is switched, like the draining resistor on your DC power supply not actually draining the cap.

YT · Post by YT » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:24 am

Thanks guys, I have always used the negative side in the past, so I guess I will keep it up.