How to wire a digital input device

[tgross35]

Hello everyone,

Our team is looking to use limit switches this year on our robot, and are wondering how exactly they should be wired. We have it working by connecting one side of the switch to the +5v and the other side to the ground of one of the digital pins, however this does not seem correct. When the switch is pressed (so a normally open connection becomes closed,) the 5V light on the digital sidecar turns off, and I am wondering if this is because of a short circuit, since we are connecting the power and ground pins. It seems to me that we should be able to connect the terminals of the switch to the 5v and the signal port instead, but this hasn't worked for us. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know. Thanks,

T