A push button switch I rigged up on my 50 year old Merc as a brake light switch has finally given up. I need another. The spec is basically that it needs to be push button, but pushing it switches it OFF. So its basic state is ON unless pushed. The brake pedal comes up when you take your foot off and pushes the switch and switches the lights off.
I've tried Googling but without pictures it's difficult to judge. Can anyone help me source a supplier for this sort of thing?
Thanks
Rob Graham
As recall most micro switches have 3 connextions ... common, nomally on and normally off.
I expect tht they are readily available at most electrical wholesalers .... I bought one to switch on my loft light when lifting the trapdoor
Hope this helps
Just google for "normally closed push button", or microswitch, or whatever.
just buy a brake switch for an escort or whatever, they all work like that.
Just phone mercedes, they will have the part.!! we just got both ball joints, and brake parts for a 50year old Bulgarian mercedes 250 (iirc) import!! The only problem was waiting 4 weeks for the parts...
Des
If you're in a rush then a Maplin store should have something suitable in stock - ask at the components desk and there should be at least one person there who knows what you're on about. They're not the cheapest place around, but the switch shouldn't be more than =A32 from them.
peter
You want a double throw switch - these have a contact that is connected to a common pin when it's pushed, and another which is connected to common when it isn't., You choose which to use.
Maplins or simlar will sell suitable switches. You'll probably see 'single-pole' and 'double-pole' variants - this means one or two full sets of contacts, you'd only need one.
Also abbreviated to SPDT or DPDT.
A microswitch won't handle that sort of DC current without a relay.
Rob graham ( snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :
Just take it down your local motor factor. 10 to 1 he'll have something perfectly suitable on the shelf for a a couple of quid.
Surely that's just a standard mechanically operated brake light switch? Pretty well all cars use this. Older ones sometimes had a hydraulically operated one.
DC in a loft?
Thanks for all your inputs here.
Rob
AC car electrics?
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Rob graham" saying something like:
Have a look in the cpc or farnell catalogue - they definitely have push-to-break switches.
Visit your local Vauxhall dealer's spares department - IIRC Vauxhall's usually have a "normally closed" brake switch arrangement as you described.
/john
If you're in a rush then a Maplin store should have something suitable in stock - ask at the components desk and there should be at least one person there who knows what you're on about. They're not the cheapest place around, but the switch shouldn't be more than £2 from them.
peter
You are having a giggle.
Maplins is the 21st century equivalent of Tandy. If you need it, it isn't in stock. If you don't - they'll have stacks. If you need 10 items to do a project, then they'll have 8 items in stock, and offer to order them in for you. FFS why would I want to pay a premium price, and have to revisit the store, when I can pay a real world price and get the stuff delivered to my house in two working days?
rant over
/john
If it's rated at more than 4A at whatever voltage DC, then it will.
A purpose designed switch would do the job better (and will be easier to adjust)
/john
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