Hello all, let me admit up front that I have NO clue how to find this if it already exists and even less of a clue how to create the circuit needed but here’s my project.
The current set up is like this: a 3 position on/off/on toggle switch that is wired to a red led and a green led. I have these mounted to a project case (total of four switches in four sections. I’m using this for a status board for fire/ems units. The dispatcher flips the toggle switch to change the status of each unit. Example, when the toggle switch is in the middle/off position, the unit is in quarters available for a call. When the unit is dispatched to a call, the toggle switch is flipped up and a corresponding red led is illuminated. When the unit clears the call, the toggle switch is flipped down to the second on position and a green led is illuminated telling the dispatcher that the unit is available but out of quarters or on the air. And we circle back around to when the unit calls in quarters the toggle switch is flipped back to the middle/off position. It’s a simple albeit antiquated method of tracking the status since we aren’t computerized or CAD based and it does the job for the most part. However, the current set up has reached its max capacity and since I need to build a new one to include a recent expansion and subsequent additional units, I would also like to add another status light to each position totaling three lights and off requiring a four position switch.
This is the current project. I’d like to have four push button, each corresponding to the three leds and the fourth being off. I know there’s a way to make it turn on the light associated with each button and if a different light was already illuminated, by depressing the new selection it would automatically turn off the previous selection while illuminating the current one. Since I tend to lose people when trying to explain this here’s another example. Let’s say unit 1 has a green light illuminated in their column, the dispatcher assigns unit 1 to a call, the dispatcher presses the button corresponding to the red led and the green led turns off at the same time the red illuminates. This would work the same for all four buttons, the current selection would cancel out the previous.
If I haven’t confused you guys (and gals) by now and this makes sense to you, any suggestions on how to actually make this work would greatly be appreciated. Keep in mind I have no clue other than 12 volt has a red positive and black neg is about the extent of my electrical/electronics knowledge but I'm more than willing to learn if it’s kept simple. If all else fails, I’ll ditch adding the third light or fourth position and stick to the three position toggle switch.
Can anyone shine the light (pun intended) on solving this issue ?
I have included a picture of the current status board, upper left corner. Sorry it’s not a closeup but it’s the only picture I currently have.
The current set up is like this: a 3 position on/off/on toggle switch that is wired to a red led and a green led. I have these mounted to a project case (total of four switches in four sections. I’m using this for a status board for fire/ems units. The dispatcher flips the toggle switch to change the status of each unit. Example, when the toggle switch is in the middle/off position, the unit is in quarters available for a call. When the unit is dispatched to a call, the toggle switch is flipped up and a corresponding red led is illuminated. When the unit clears the call, the toggle switch is flipped down to the second on position and a green led is illuminated telling the dispatcher that the unit is available but out of quarters or on the air. And we circle back around to when the unit calls in quarters the toggle switch is flipped back to the middle/off position. It’s a simple albeit antiquated method of tracking the status since we aren’t computerized or CAD based and it does the job for the most part. However, the current set up has reached its max capacity and since I need to build a new one to include a recent expansion and subsequent additional units, I would also like to add another status light to each position totaling three lights and off requiring a four position switch.
This is the current project. I’d like to have four push button, each corresponding to the three leds and the fourth being off. I know there’s a way to make it turn on the light associated with each button and if a different light was already illuminated, by depressing the new selection it would automatically turn off the previous selection while illuminating the current one. Since I tend to lose people when trying to explain this here’s another example. Let’s say unit 1 has a green light illuminated in their column, the dispatcher assigns unit 1 to a call, the dispatcher presses the button corresponding to the red led and the green led turns off at the same time the red illuminates. This would work the same for all four buttons, the current selection would cancel out the previous.
If I haven’t confused you guys (and gals) by now and this makes sense to you, any suggestions on how to actually make this work would greatly be appreciated. Keep in mind I have no clue other than 12 volt has a red positive and black neg is about the extent of my electrical/electronics knowledge but I'm more than willing to learn if it’s kept simple. If all else fails, I’ll ditch adding the third light or fourth position and stick to the three position toggle switch.
Can anyone shine the light (pun intended) on solving this issue ?
I have included a picture of the current status board, upper left corner. Sorry it’s not a closeup but it’s the only picture I currently have.