How do I install this inline lamp switch? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2024, 12:48:21 am
content: Bought some cheap inline switches from the usual unregulated online greymarkets, curious what they would be like.The switch itself feels snappy (high force), is lightly greased and is non-ferrous. Filing away the plating on the metal pieces reveals they are some brass variant. I'm impressed.I am completely confused by the wiring terminals. They're not screws, but instead look almost like crimping wings. Am I supposed to press the metal arches down ontop of copper wire? That won't be a gastight crimp, more of a gentle frictional wire retainer.I cannot find any videos on the web showing this sort of switch being installed or used, all I can find are the more vanilla screw terminal variants.I might try soldering instead, but I will have to make sure this doesn't cause any mechanical issues by melting the plastic.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2024, 01:09:33 am
content: I hate those crappy switches. Especially the really crappy ones that instead of using proper terminals have those sharp prongs that you're supposed to stab into the wires. Ugh. Just like those "stab-lok" receptacles that lazy-ass electricians like to use.Give me one with proper screw terminals, pleeze. And those are usually higher quality anyhow. The worst are those rotary ones with really flimsy contacts, designed to fail.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2024, 01:28:47 am
content: Definitely not designed for soldering. Notice the metal plate on the right has shifted towards the right by about 0.8mm. The rocker click mechanism still works but does not have as much force as before.Nice detail: to make this a two-pole switch I would just need to steal 3 metal parts out of a second switch and add them to this one.Bad detail: This is only single insulated, active is touching the single plastic case. I wonder if the expensive HPM/similar switches from bunnings are any better in that regard, or if they're also single insulated? I'll have to take a look next time I'm there.My cable was too thick for the strain reliefs (cotton thread infill!), but the case still sealed shut. It's a click shut case, no screws.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2024, 01:34:52 am
content: That's not a gray market product, that's just a low-quality product.Best to use something from your own country, otherwise you're liable if you knowingly used a poor quality product that melts and sets itself and others on fire.Electrical items such as this should not even be a thought to purchase from overseas low-cost stores.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2024, 03:24:27 am
content: By greymarket I mean a bit of "can't identify the manufacturer" and "no idea if this is an authorised sale or items that were supposed to be disposed of". Something can be both greymarket and low quality, they're not mutually exclusive.> Best to use something from your own country, otherwise you're liable if you knowingly used a poor quality product that melts and sets itself and others on fire.Yeah> Electrical items such as this should not even be a thought to purchase from overseas low-cost stores.Disagree. This is really interesting mechanically (very simple) and very interesting supply-chain wise (they used solid brass? this product must not have started life targeting the low end). Buying and using one has made me wonder about cheap appliances (like bed lamps) and what they might be using for their switches.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2024, 03:32:23 am
content: Disagree all you want. Still a daft idea to actually try to use this thing. For what end?!Even if it was well constructed, it won't be usable in your country, unless standards are poor there.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2024, 03:40:42 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on December 04, 2024, 01:09:33 amI can't argue with your preferences, but I have seen some of these switches that stab through the insulation give very good service over a very long life. Four or five decades at least, although the record keeping on these switches usually used in lamp cords is very spotty. But as with anything else they must be of good quality and installed properly. They are not forgiving of a wide range of wire sizes and require attention to cutting and routing the wires properly and assuring that the wire insulation is appropriate.Screw terminals have their own pitfalls which must be avoided by using good quality and proper installation technique.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2024, 04:00:08 am
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on December 04, 2024, 03:40:42 amFunny thing: my recent antique electronics purchase (Precise VTVM, ca. 1950) came with one of those kinds of plugs, the kind my dad used to use to replace lamp plugs with. Still works, so I didn't bother replacing it.

author: inse
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2024, 05:01:08 am
content: I agree on the crimping idea and the switch is made for flat style cables, not holding the round style well.I would go for a better quality product