Makin' a switcher - need ideas and thoughts. Even opinions are welcome.

[ALL212]

In my Bottlehead world I've created a problem.  I have two sources, turntable and digital and at times, up to three places that I'd like to listen to either of those two sources.  My listening is possibly a S.E.X. amp with headphones or a Crack, sometimes other equipment as well.  Since everything I'm listening to has a volume control I don't need a preamp, just a way to select my source and direct it to my listening device without moving the RCA's.

I've dreamed up a switch box that has three inputs and three outputs.  If I put in two switches and tie them together I think I should be able to pick a source and direct it to a destination with little effort.  I've had a plate cut and have populated it with some RCA's I had laying around, the knobs have nothing under them but could. 

I'm thinking of using two Goldpoint 4P-3T-1D=  4 Poles, 3 Positions, 1 Deck selectors.  I offset the RCA's thinking I could bring in right angle connectors from either top or left/right without crossing them - not sure if that was a good decision.

Before I go and buy up parts for this does anyone have further ideas or thoughts?

 

[Paul Birkeland]

This has certainly been done by a few members with the same problem.  (This, however, seems to be a fairly Bottlehead specific problem!)

There aren't really any pitfalls to this project that we are aware of, and you can certainly reduce the budget by getting other 4P3T switches.  It's not unreasonable to go 2P3T and connect all the grounds together, but the extra effort to switch the grounds is pretty minimal.

 

[Adrian]

I have done this as a mod on the Submissive.
I used the same switch you are considering.
See:  http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=7864.msg75569#msg75569
1 pic = 1000 words

 

[ALL212]

Adrian - I've seen the pictures of your system before (very nice by the way!) and never noticed that extra knob.  Shows how much I pay attention...  :

On occasion I've "dreamed up good ideas" only to find that I hadn't quite thought the entire process through.  Figured this time I'd ask first, spend later.

Sounds like I'm not breaking new ground and this should go as planned.  I like the Goldpoints but he does get premium pricing.  I'll poke around for alternatives.

Thank you for the input.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Try this switch.  The shaft length is 30mm, which is way too long, but it's plastic, so you can easily trim that off with a small saw or a pair of tin snip cutters.

 

[ALL212]

Thanks PB!  Ordered two of those and another pair of something similar just for fun.  Spent less on the four of those than I would have on one goldpoint.

 

[ALL212]

She's done....and it even works! 

The plate I had done for free as I work at a metals distribution facility but since it was free I didn't pick the metal.  Good GRIEF...stainless steel is not an easy metal to work a hole in!! :'(  I forgot to add in the locator holes for the switches and had to drill them in.

The finish I did with a dremmel tool.  Polished first, then ran it over in four directions with a coned metal brush tip.  Looks 3D from the top - if I could get a machine to do that it would be really cool!

So much easier to get all these pieces together now - just turn the knobs.  I like knobs...  ;D

Next I need to refinish that box...was from my first Crack.

Bottom:


Top:

 

[Grainger49]

Very Bottlehead-ish!  Years ago I would have said, hey, telephone wire.  Today I know it is CAT 5.  But they look similar, CAT 5 has used AT&T colors inside the cable.

Nice work.  Is it working as you wanted it to?

 

[ALL212]

Exactly as planned!  8)

 

[Adrian]

Excellent!
Looks great - happy it works great, too!