REFLECTOR: Switches

[Wayne Lanza]

Hi Kurt,
  My recommendations for you are the following:
- Use a multi-conductor (plenum) type of cable or separate (22 gauge) 
strands up to the
switches and use relays to handle the current. Do not use ribbon cable! 
the wire gauge is
too thin and the stuff will work harden and leave you with opens over 
time.
- I have used thousands of properly rated relays with no problems over 
the past 12 years
of building more about 2,000 power panels - I figure the stats are 
pretty good... When you
wire the relays, I'd suggest turning them on by switching the grounds. 
It's safer that way
and you will need one wire per plus one ground wire common to all 
switches - simple...
- The use of a lower current switch should open up a wide selection of 
switches for you.
I wouldn't give you a nickel for push buttons, they are hard to feel to 
determine if they are
off or on. We have had several A/C in the shop with PB's and the 
general consensus is
not favorable. Being able to run your fingers across a row of levers 
(or whatever...) to
assure that they are all off without seeing them is reassuring...


Have Fun,
Wayne
_____________________________________________________________________

On Aug 27, 2004, at 9:24 AM, NMFlyer1 at aol.com wrote:

>
> Wayne, 
>   
>  
>  Well, sorry about your lightening strike luck.  Could be worse though 
> (knock on wood). New Mexico leads the country in people killed by 
> lightening last I heard.
>   
> I knew most of the information you provided, but I appreciate the 
> refresher. I like to try and avoid relays if at all possible. Perhaps 
> this is due to the number of Triumphs I have owned and restored. I 
> consider relays another failure point that I avoid whenever possible.
>  No, I had not planned on using Lucas (Prince of Darkness) Relays :)
>   
> You are also correct on the difficulty on finding switches. I looked 
> through all the info that Brian gave me, and found only a couple 
> rockers that would work (no pushbuttons), the rest can't handle the 
> load.
>   
> Gulf Coast lists some lighted, labeled rockers for about 40 bucks a 
> piece (ouch). The ratings are not in the catalog, so I'll have to 
> call. Do you carry that kind of switch?
>   
> I had also planned on using ribbon cable up the door beams IF I can 
> find some that will handle the current.  I have located some Very nice 
> relays that are used for 14V DC applications that have a good 
> reliability factor. I may just bite my lip and set the assembly up 
> with ribon cable and relays to cut down on the search time.
>   
> I had planned on putting the HID landing light switch, Nav & Strobe 
> switches in the overhead panel. I thought there was one more, but my 
> notes are in the hangar.
>  The rest of the panel is wired with good DC switches I ordered at a 
> local shop.
>   
> Thanks again for your input.
>   
> Kurt Winker
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