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Slide Switch

A mechanical switch with a sliding actuator that connects the common terminal to one of two other terminals.

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Slide Switch

A slide switch physically connects its middle pin to either the left pin or the right pin, depending on the position of the slider. It is typically used for power switches, configuration toggles, or mode selection in projects.

SensorsSwitchMechanical

Overview

Unlike a momentary pushbutton which only stays connected while you press it, a slide switch is a "latching" switch. It remains in its current state until physically moved. This makes it perfect for persistent states (like ON / OFF).

Pin Reference

Pin	Type	Description
1	passive	Left terminal.
2	passive	Common terminal (Middle).
3	passive	Right terminal.

Configurable Attributes

Attribute	Type	Default	Description
value	boolean	false	Initial state of the switch (false = left, true = right).
bounce	number	0	Simulated mechanical contact bounce time in milliseconds.

Wiring Diagram

Example of connecting the Slide Switch to an Arduino Uno.

Example Arduino Code

This code reads the state of the slide switch and turns the built-in LED (Pin 13) on or off accordingly.

const int switchPin = 3;
const int ledPin = 13;
bool lastSwitchState = false;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(switchPin, INPUT); // Switch handles its own VCC/GND
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  Serial.println("Slide Switch Ready");
}

void loop() {
  bool currentSwitchState = digitalRead(switchPin);
  
  if (currentSwitchState != lastSwitchState) {
    Serial.print("Switch is now: ");
    if (currentSwitchState == HIGH) {
      Serial.println("ON");
      digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
    } else {
      Serial.println("OFF");
      digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
    }
    lastSwitchState = currentSwitchState;
  }
  
  delay(50); // Small delay to handle debounce
}

Simulation Notes

• Click the switch slider in the simulation to toggle its position.
• You can add mechanical bounce using the bounce attribute in diagram.json to test your software debouncing routines!

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