I purchased an old rotary switch, unfortunately without a wiring diagram. It has four settings (off, low, med, hi), and four wiring poles. Contacts rotate at two levels and connect the poles as shown in the attached JPG. My question is how to wire this thing (I assume there are three incoming wires, incl. ground, and three outgoing ones).

Thank you for any insight!

RH

You fail to mention what you are using this for. Be sure the power rating (voltage & current), which should be stamped or printed on the body of the switch, is at least what the load will require. If the switch was made for an electric fan the green power line should be connected to the metal frame, the white power line to the white motor wire, and the black hot power line would go to the off position. The 3 other wires from the fan would go to the three positions respectively. I would have to see the switch to give a definite answer. This is all conjecture-use at your own risk.

Yokeman

There would need to be three incoming wires, and four outgoing ones, assuming the switch has four contacts.

http://www.ceiling-fans-n-more.com/ceiling-fan-pullchain-replacement-and-repair.php

I ordered a salzer rotary switch for a boat lift replacement switch p-220-se1439 with out wiring diagram can you haelp me

If 120 volts, wires are many times identified with numbers.
Tie 1 and 3 together, tie 2 and 4 together. Also find 5 and 8.
Basically the 1 and 3, and the 2 and 4 gets 120 volts for up and for down. Then the 5 and 8 get swapped on the hot and neutral for reversing. May have a site with diagrams:

Look through these:
http://www.gemremotes.com/wiring_diagrams.html