Schontek Insights

Component Shortage Alert: 36PDT, 12PDT Supply Constrained

Supply chain update: 36PDT, 12PDT may be experiencing shortage conditions. I have in front of me a parallel port switch box, consisting of three Centronics ports - common, A and B - connected via a rotary switch that appears

August 17, 2026

TL;DR

Supply chain update: 36PDT, 12PDT may be experiencing shortage conditions. I have in front of me a parallel port switch box, consisting of three Centronics ports - common, A and B - connected via a rotary switch that appears

## Are many-pole switches still available?

Schontek Electronics is monitoring the latest supply chain developments. According to reports from StackExchange, the following components may be affected by shortage conditions:

### Affected Part Numbers

1. **[36PDT](/product/36PDT)**
2. **[12PDT](/product/12PDT)**


### Supply Chain Context

I have in front of me a parallel port switch box, consisting of three Centronics ports - common, A and B - connected via a rotary switch that appears to switch all lines (none are connected in common, even grounds, except the screens through the chassis). Somewhere I have another that switches between 4 DB-25s. These would appear to need 36PDT and 25P4T switches, respectively, for a few V DC and no more than about 100mA. Now I have an application for switching between two sensors using 15-pin

### What This Means for Your Supply Chain

If your production relies on any of these components, we recommend:

- **Place orders early** - Lead times are extending across the industry
- **Consider alternatives** - Our team can identify cross-reference parts
- **Buffer stock** - Maintain extra inventory for critical components
- **Stay informed** - Subscribe to our shortage alerts for updates

### How Schontek Can Help

As a US-based electronic components distributor, Schontek specializes in:

- Sourcing hard-to-find and shortage parts
- Providing verified alternatives and cross-references
- Fast delivery from our San Jose, CA warehouse
- Quality assurance with ISO 9001 certified processes

**[Request a Quote](/contact)** for any of the affected parts above, or browse our [inventory](/products) for available stock.


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*Source: [StackExchange](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/771410/are-many-pole-switches-still-available)*

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