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Arduino Nano - DIP Switch

Dual In-line Package (DIP) switches find frequent application in electronics for configuration tasks, like device addresses, communication settings, security codes, operation mode... This tutorial will delve into how to use the DIP switch with Arduino Nano. Specifically, we'll cover:

Understanding the DIP switch and its working principles.
Establishing connections between the DIP switch and Arduino Nano.
Programming Arduino Nano to read the ON/OFF status of the DIP switch.
Programming Arduino Nano to interpret the integer value set by the DIP switch.

Hardware Preparation

1	×	Arduino Nano
1	×	USB A to Mini-B USB cable
1	×	DIP Switch
1	×	Breadboard
1	×	Jumper Wires
1	×	(Recommended) Screw Terminal Expansion Board for Arduino Nano
1	×	(Recommended) Breakout Expansion Board for Arduino Nano

Or you can buy the following sensor kits:

1	×	DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays)
1	×	DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays)

Disclosure: Some of the links provided in this section are Amazon affiliate links. We may receive a commission for any purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Additionally, some of these links are for products from our own brand, DIYables.

Overview of DIP Switch

DIP switches are primarily utilized for configuring devices, offering users the ability to set parameters like device addresses, communication settings, security codes, operation modes, and system preferences across various industries and applications.

A DIP switch comprises multiple small slide switches bundled together, with each slide switch referred to as a "position". DIP switches are available in various types determined by the number of positions they possess. For example, there are 2-position, 4-position, 5-position, 6-position, 8-position, and 10-position DIP switches.

Each position on a DIP switch represents a configurable bit of a number. By toggling the positions between ON and OFF, we can set the desired numerical value.

Pinout

image source: diyables.io

A DIP switch is made up of two rows of pins, where the number of pins in each row matches the available switch positions. For instance, a 4-position DIP switch includes a total of 8 pins, evenly divided with 4 pins on each side. In the assembly of the DIP switch, every set of opposite pins forms a slide switch. It's important to note that differentiating between pins on the two sides is unnecessary as they can be interchanged.

How It Works

In DIP switches, when a switch is in the ON position, it indicates that the switch is engaged or closed. This means an electrical connection is established, enabling current to pass through the switch.

Conversely, when a switch is in the OFF position, it signifies that the switch is disengaged or open. In this state, the electrical connection is disrupted, preventing current from flowing through the switch.

To sum up:

ON position: Circuit closed, permitting current flow.
OFF position: Circuit open, blocking current flow.

When we connect one side of a switch to GND and the other side to an Arduino Nano pin, then configure the Arduino Nano pin as a pull-up digital input, the table below demonstrates the relationship between the switch position and the values read from the Arduino Nano:

DIP switch position	Binary representation	Circuit state	Arduino Nano pin state
ON	1	CLOSED	LOW
OFF	0	OPEN	HIGH

In the next parts, we will use 4-position DIP switch for example. You can easily to adapt for 2-position DIP switches, 3-position DIP switches, 5-position DIP switches, 6-position DIP switches, 8-position DIP switches, and 10-position DIP switches...

Wiring Diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

Arduino Nano Code - DIP Switch

We will learn through two pieces of code:

Reading the ON/OFF state of individual position on the DIP switch.
Encoding the positions into a number.

Arduino Nano code - Reading the ON/OFF state of the DIP switch

/* * This Arduino Nano code was developed by newbiely.com * * This Arduino Nano code is made available for public use without any restriction * * For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit: * https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-nano/arduino-nano-dip-switch */ #define POSITION_NUM 4 #define ON LOW #define OFF HIGH // define the Arduino Nano pins connected to the dip switch const int SWITCH_PINS[] = { 4, 5, 6, 7 }; void setup() { // initialize serial communication Serial.begin(9600); // set the dip switch pins as inputs with pull-up resistors enabled for (int i = 0; i < POSITION_NUM; i++) pinMode(SWITCH_PINS[i], INPUT_PULLUP); } void loop() { // Read the state of each switch position for (int i = 0; i < POSITION_NUM; i++) { Serial.print("position "); Serial.print(i + 1); Serial.print(": "); int state = digitalRead(SWITCH_PINS[i]); if (state == ON) Serial.println("ON "); else Serial.println("OFF "); } Serial.println(); // add a delay to prevent rapid readings delay(500); }

Detailed Instructions

Do wiring as above wiring diagram
Connect Arduino Nano to PC via USB cable
Open Arduino IDE
Select the right board and port
Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino Nano
Switch each position on the DIP Switch to ON one by one.
See the result on Serial Monitor.

COM6

Send

position 1: OFF position 2: OFF position 3: OFF position 4: OFF position 1: ON position 2: OFF position 3: OFF position 4: OFF position 1: ON position 2: ON position 3: OFF position 4: OFF position 1: ON position 2: ON position 3: ON position 4: OFF position 1: ON position 2: ON position 3: ON position 4: ON

Autoscroll Show timestamp

Clear output

9600 baud

Newline

Arduino Nano code - Encoding the states of DIP switch into a number

/* * This Arduino Nano code was developed by newbiely.com * * This Arduino Nano code is made available for public use without any restriction * * For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit: * https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-nano/arduino-nano-dip-switch */ #define POSITION_NUM 4 #define ON LOW #define OFF HIGH // define the Arduino Nano pins connected to the dip switch const int SWITCH_PINS[] = { 4, 5, 6, 7 }; void setup() { // Initialize serial communication Serial.begin(9600); // Set the DIP switch pins as inputs with pull-up resistors enabled for (int i = 0; i < POSITION_NUM; i++) pinMode(SWITCH_PINS[i], INPUT_PULLUP); } void loop() { int encoded_state = 0; for (int i = 0; i < POSITION_NUM; i++) { int state = digitalRead(SWITCH_PINS[i]); if (state == ON) encoded_state |= 1 << (POSITION_NUM - i - 1); } Serial.print("encoded state: "); Serial.println(encoded_state); // add a delay to prevent rapid readings delay(500); }

Detailed Instructions

Upload the above code to Arduino Nano
Switch each position on the DIP switch to ON one by one.
See the result on Serial Monitor, it look like below.

COM6

Send

encoded state: 0 encoded state: 1 encoded state: 2 encoded state: 3 encoded state: 4 encoded state: 5 encoded state: 6 encoded state: 7 encoded state: 8 encoded state: 9 encoded state: 10 encoded state: 11 encoded state: 12 encoded state: 13 encoded state: 14 encoded state: 15

Autoscroll Show timestamp

Clear output

9600 baud

Newline

Please note that the value depends on positions of each slide switches. The below table shows the mapping between ON/OFF position and the integer value for 4-position DIP switch:

Position-1	Position-2	Position-3	Position-4	Binary Value	Decimal Value
OFF	OFF	OFF	OFF	0000	0
OFF	OFF	OFF	ON	0001	1
OFF	OFF	ON	OFF	0010	2
OFF	OFF	ON	ON	0011	3
OFF	ON	OFF	OFF	0100	4
OFF	ON	OFF	ON	0101	5
OFF	ON	ON	OFF	0110	6
OFF	ON	ON	ON	0111	7
ON	OFF	OFF	OFF	1000	8
ON	OFF	OFF	ON	1001	9
ON	OFF	ON	OFF	1010	10
ON	OFF	ON	ON	1011	11
ON	ON	OFF	OFF	1100	12
ON	ON	OFF	ON	1101	13
ON	ON	ON	OFF	1110	14
ON	ON	ON	ON	1111	15

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