-- I think I would have to agree with Bill on this one. That is the most accurate description I have heard yet for those little damn things...
on 2/3/04 6:30 PM, Bill Sheehan at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > DIP is an acronym for "Damned Invisible Plastic." A similar function > is performed by Jumpers, so called because the tiny square of plastic > jumps from your fingers as you're trying to fit it over two contact > points, and you never see it again. > > -- Bill > > > On Feb 3, 2004, at 9:39 AM, Doug McNutt wrote: > >> At 22:47 -0500 2/2/04, Kendall Hannon wrote: >>> what is a DIP switch? >> >> It's amazing what engineers take for granted. >> >> DIP stands for Dual Inline Package. It's a plastic or ceramic molding >> that holds a silicon chip. There are two rows of either 7 or 8 pins >> spaced by 0.100 inches and 0.300 inches apart. They were first used >> circa 1960. Older printed circuit boards are full of them. >> >> Someone invented a switch which could connect, or disconnect, opposing >> pins on a DIP. One uses a stylus or a ball point pen to move the 7 or >> 8 switches changing the way a printed circuit board works. Of course >> it was dubbed a DIP switch. >> >> They are notoriously unreliable and subject to corrosion and dirt. A >> few hundred operations and they will break. Many engineers think DIP >> represents a personality trait. The technique now is to use rows of >> pairs of gold plated pins which are programmed with jumpers that users >> can move around. >> >>> DIPSW1 (00000100) and DIPSW2 (1100) >> The third switch from the right is on in DIPSW1. >> The third and fourth switches are on in DIPSW2. >> >> -- >> --> There are 10 kinds of people: those who understand binary, and >> those who don't <-- >> >> -- >> Compact Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/>. >> >> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> >> >> Compact Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/compact.shtml> >> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; >> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/ >> compact.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------- >>> The Think Different Store >> http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com >> --------------------------------------------------------------- > -- Compact Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/>. Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Compact Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/compact.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/compact.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
