[sdiy] rotary encoder?

[Dave Manley]

mark verbos wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I have a situation where I'd like a 12 position rotary switch to output 
> a parallel 4 bit digital word. I searched absolute rotary encoder at 
> mouser and they're $88. Isn't there a cheap part out there that does 
> that? Obviously, I could use 50 diodes to make a regular rotary switch 
> do that...
> Has anyone done this before?
> 
Search for 'coded rotary switch'. These are available for a few bucks:

http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=coded+rotary

In the past I've seen 10 and 16 position versions.  Haven't looked for 
12 position.

-Dave