DIP Switches

November 13, 2023

Motor Minute^™ Technical Tip – DIP Switches

Hi, Chris from Regal Rexnord here with your Motor Minute technical tip. Helping you become an HVAC motor pro one minute at a time.

Today’s Motor Minute^™ topic is DIP switches.

DIP switches are an arrangement of switches in a Dual In-line Package (DIP) used to select the operating mode of a device.

You are probably familiar with the DIP switches used on circuit boards in PSC and constant torque ECM driven systems to adjust on/off delays.

Constant airflow (variable speed) ECM driven systems also use these switches for delay functions as well as airflow selection.

However, constant torque ECM motors are evolving, and energy regulations continue to influence the type of motors manufacturers choose for new equipment.

Meaning, since the 2019 FER regulation, there are very few multi-speed PSC motors found in new equipment. And the widely used multi-speed constant torque ECM motor is also being utilized with communication similar to variable speed motors.

As the industry moves away from motors with adjustable speed taps at the motor, technicians will need to reference the equipment manual to select the correct airflow. DIP switches are commonly used for this function; however, some HVAC manufacturers use jumper pins or even a display screen with menu and option buttons.

Installation technicians, please use the manual to select the correct airflow on day one.

Maintenance and service technicians, please do not assume the airflow selections are correct. Check them on every job.

Operational efficiency, consumer comfort and system reliability may all be influenced by the correct setup of the equipment.

RTFM my friends, Read The Full Manual.

And that’s a wrap on this segment of Motor Minute technical tips. Remember that we provide motor training and product information in multiple formats including videos, literature, podcasts, articles, of course Motor Minute technical tips and classroom education both online and face to face. All of this industry leading training is available at no charge to HVAC professionals at regalmmu.com. Thank you for taking the time to build your motor knowledge.