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Im trying to draw up a circuit with two bulbs and two spdt switches. In this circuit one of the two bulbs must always be on, and both switches must be able to swap which bulb is on.

So to avoid any confusion: Both lights must change state (on to off or off to on) when either switch is used, One light must be on the other off, I only have two single pole double throw switches and must use both.

This is seems like a simple circuit like but i am having a very hard time working this out. Thanks for your help.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ OMG I knew what the question was going to be before I read the whole thing. It's how lights in the house are wired when you got 2 fliky switches. \$\endgroup\$
    – Bradman175
    Aug 24, 2016 at 9:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ Wait a second, I didn't predict correctly. I'm not sure if this is possible. \$\endgroup\$
    – Bradman175
    Aug 24, 2016 at 9:20
  • \$\begingroup\$ I think the XOR gate is what you are looking for... \$\endgroup\$
    – hbaderts
    Aug 24, 2016 at 9:44
  • \$\begingroup\$ "Must use both." Is this a homework assignment? \$\endgroup\$
    – JRE
    Aug 24, 2016 at 9:58
  • \$\begingroup\$ Smells like a HW assignment. But I believe more components should be involved. \$\endgroup\$
    – Bradman175
    Aug 24, 2016 at 9:59

2 Answers 2

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The simplest (but non-qualifying) solution

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

Figure 1. By changing the switch type the problem becomes simple.

AC solution

schematic

simulate this circuit

Figure 2. By not changing the switch type the problem is more difficult!

Gray code sequence

A trick to looking at this solution is to write the truth table in Gray code rather than a normal binary sequence. This is important because only one switch will be changed at a time and it will be easy to see the lamp status change.

Table 1. Switch combinations in Gray code sequence.

SW1  SW2  L1   L2
-------------------
 0    0   ON   --
 1    0   --   ON
 1    1   ON   --
 0    1   --   ON
 0    0   ON   --   <-- First step repeated

With the Gray code it is easy to see that every one-switch change results in a reversal of the lights' status.

DC solution

schematic

simulate this circuit

Figure 3. The DC version.


Binary sequence

Here is the pattern in binary code sequence.

Table 2. Switch combinations in binary code sequence.

SW1  SW2  L1   L2
-------------------
 0    0   ON   --
 1    0   --   ON
 0    1   --   ON
 1    1   ON   --
 0    0   ON   --   <-- First step repeated

Note how much more difficult it is to visually verify that the requirements have been met.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ He said to only use two SPDT switches, not a SPDT and a DPDT. \$\endgroup\$
    – Bradman175
    Aug 26, 2016 at 4:06
  • \$\begingroup\$ I know but I don't think there's a solution without using more components - either some electronics or a relay to double up the available contacts. I don't think the OP has given us all the constraints. (Nobody else has solved it either.) \$\endgroup\$
    – Transistor
    Aug 26, 2016 at 6:08
  • \$\begingroup\$ Well my answer got trashed on. And I was within the restrictions. D; \$\endgroup\$
    – Bradman175
    Aug 26, 2016 at 8:05
  • \$\begingroup\$ It's a tough world in here! ;^) OP needs to state AC, DC, wattage, LED/filament, what other components are allowed ... \$\endgroup\$
    – Transistor
    Aug 26, 2016 at 8:10
  • \$\begingroup\$ Well honestly the OP did not specify how the circuit could be powered, so I assumed it could be in any way. But he did say bulbs which most likely means incandescent bulbs, not LED. Also since he did not specify a power supply, I could get a power supply that has an abnormally high resistance like 1k ohm. \$\endgroup\$
    – Bradman175
    Aug 26, 2016 at 8:13
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This might be the answer.

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

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  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ But he said "I ONLY have two single pole double throw switches" \$\endgroup\$
    – Bradman175
    Aug 24, 2016 at 11:32

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