I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.

--
Chris Green
·

On 17/09/16 15:15, Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.


Very unusual. Mostly what happens in this case is a small wooden box
with a front plate is made to to mount the switches on

Try a scrapyard - you shuold be able to find something from an old car.

Or better, I've just found all sorts or stuff for sale for boats and
caravans.




--
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign,
that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."

Jonathan Swift.

Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

I assume you want locking switches, ie not push buttons?

How about a conventional rocker in a wooden surround? eg
http://onecall.farnell.com/marquardt...i-o/dp/1839501

Just take a piece of wood of appropriate thickness and drill out the
necessary hole to flush-mount the rocker, and use that as the surround - sort
of like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pine-Pattr...-/261152834593

Slide or non-latching buttons can go a lot thinner. Even the SMD switches
can be mounted on something.

Theo

In message , Chris Green
writes

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Have a look at switches sold for model railway or dolls house use,
although be aware some are decorative (non working) only. See eBay item
111403815322

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/x2-MINIATU...GE-TUMBLER-SWI
TCH-DOLLS-HOUSES-MODEL-RAILWAYS-/111403815322?hash=item19f02f519a:g:iPAAA
OSwpDdU-X8e
--
Graeme

Why not simply use standard rocker or toggle switches mounted in a suitably deep enclosure. As an alternative especially if you have several to make, use cut up lengths of PVC trunking and fit end caps to make a complete enclosure.

Richard

In article ,
Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.

All sorts of switches available from the likes of CPC. But you'd need a
suitable enclosure too. And the work of fitting the switch to the box.

And architrave one is likely to be the cheapest and easiest, though, due
to being made by the million.

--
*El nino made me do it

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Tricky Dicky wrote:
Why not simply use standard rocker or toggle switches mounted in a suitably
deep enclosure. As an alternative especially if you have several to make,
use cut up lengths of PVC trunking and fit end caps to make a complete
enclosure.

Because the result is too big. I can't find any enclosures which are
significantly smaller than a standard architrave switch (80mm high,
35mm wide, 20mm or so deep). I guess the trunking idea is possible
but it's hardly good to look at and this does have to look half
decent.

My current (no pun intended) solution is to use 'inline' switches, the
trouble is that there's no way to hold the top on if you screw the
bottom onto a surface (the screws go in from the back). I guess I
could glue the top on but that's a bit difficult to fix if anything
goes wrong.

--
Chris Green
·

Theo wrote:
Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

I assume you want locking switches, ie not push buttons?

How about a conventional rocker in a wooden surround? eg
http://onecall.farnell.com/marquardt...i-o/dp/1839501

Just take a piece of wood of appropriate thickness and drill out the
necessary hole to flush-mount the rocker, and use that as the surround - sort
of like this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pine-Pattr...-/261152834593

Slide or non-latching buttons can go a lot thinner. Even the SMD switches
can be mounted on something.

Yes, I guess this is one approach and one can make a piece of wood
look quite good. I already use some similar rocker switches in a panel
where they *can* mount in holes in the panel so I can try the idea out
at least without too much trouble... *and* they'd be matching :-)

--
Chris Green
·

Graeme wrote:
In message , Chris Green
writes

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Have a look at switches sold for model railway or dolls house use,
although be aware some are decorative (non working) only. See eBay item
111403815322

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/x2-MINIATU...GE-TUMBLER-SWI
TCH-DOLLS-HOUSES-MODEL-RAILWAYS-/111403815322?hash=item19f02f519a:g:iPAAA
OSwpDdU-X8e

Now that's an idea, thanks! The above are OK but I can get googling
to see what else I can find.

--
Chris Green
·

Chris Green wrote:

I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.

They used to make miniature versions of the old round lightswitches,
about an inch and a quarter in diameter, which could be modified to take
side-entry wires. But I haven't seen them for half a century. Have
you tried Maplin?

--

Roger Hayter

Come back Woolworths. They used to have some mini toggle switches ideal for
low voltage use like this. I wonder if anyone still produces them.

One thing though, 12v dc can be more annoying than mains as the contacts can
be tarnished as they get in some old style bell pushes you can get and then
they just flicker or don't work at all.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Chris Green" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.

--
Chris Green
·

I guess one could get mini toggle switches and mount then in a piece of
plastic trunking and solder the wires on inside directly. Its a bit fiddly
but could be done if the trunking was quite large and you glued the two
halves together.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
On 17/09/16 15:15, Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.


Very unusual. Mostly what happens in this case is a small wooden box with
a front plate is made to to mount the switches on

Try a scrapyard - you shuold be able to find something from an old car.

Or better, I've just found all sorts or stuff for sale for boats and
caravans.




--
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign,
that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."

Jonathan Swift.

On 17/09/2016 15:27, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 17/09/16 15:15, Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

I've previously used miniature toggle switches in either ABS or diecast
boxes. I prefer diecast.

Bill

On 9/17/2016 3:15 PM, Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.


Some of the shallowest are the slider switches which used to be used for
things like band changing on radios. Must still be available in Maplins.
Yes, here is one:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/125v-03a-d...ome-tang-ff79l

They should be fine for 12 volt, and would fit easily inside trunking.

Here is another slightly different type

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replacment...AOSwDN1UNp9 H

On 17/09/2016 15:15, Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.


Make sure the supply is an isolating one or you may have mains potential
on the 12V output and you will need better switches.

I think the switches Roger was referring to are called tumbler switches, see below;

https://m.rapidonline.com/Education-Switches

A warning though these are strictly low voltage and if there is any risk of mains voltage appearing on these then use something else.

Richard

newshound formulated on Saturday :
Here is another slightly different type

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replacment...AOSwDN1UNp9 H

That seems to be a potentiometer rather than a switch..

Chris Green brought next idea :

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.

A USA site, but it might give you some ideas...

https://www.e-switch.com/product-cat...t#.V93APq3sLIV

On 9/17/2016 11:10 PM, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
newshound formulated on Saturday :
Here is another slightly different type

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replacment...AOSwDN1UNp9 H


That seems to be a potentiometer rather than a switch..

Yes sorry, didn't look properly. Several in Maplins though.

On 9/17/2016 10:04 PM, Tricky Dicky wrote:
I think the switches Roger was referring to are called tumbler switches, see below;

https://m.rapidonline.com/Education-Switches

A warning though these are strictly low voltage and if there is any risk of mains voltage appearing on these then use something else.

Richard

Gosh are they still around?

Tricky Dicky wrote:

I think the switches Roger was referring to are called tumbler switches,
see below;

https://m.rapidonline.com/Education-Switches

A warning though these are strictly low voltage and if there is any risk
of mains voltage appearing on these then use something else.

Richard

That's them, thanks! I should have thought ot Rapid. But I note they
are apparently obsolescent. and they are not going to restock them.

--

Roger Hayter

In article ,
Brian Gaff wrote:
Come back Woolworths. They used to have some mini toggle switches ideal
for low voltage use like this. I wonder if anyone still produces them.

I remember those. Metal body and toggle connected to one side of the
supply. Maybe safe on low volts in terms of electrocution - but could be
a fire risk if no fuse and a high current supply.

--
*Sherlock Holmes never said "Elementary, my dear Watson" *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

En el artículo , Chris Green
escribió:

I guess I
could glue the top on but that's a bit difficult to fix if anything
goes wrong.

Put the screw in, glue the switch to the surface. Hot melt glue is
perfect for this. The switches are available in black or white and dirt
cheap - ~80p from CPC.

--
(\_/)
(='.'=) Bunny says: Windows 10? Nein danke!
(")_(")

In message , Roger Hayter
writes

That's them, thanks! I should have thought ot Rapid. But I note they
are apparently obsolescent. and they are not going to restock them.

I bought half a dozen recently, via eBay, but with the original dark
tops. Problem with eBay is trying to second guess the description.
--
Graeme

Roger Hayter wrote:

Tricky Dicky wrote:

https://m.rapidonline.com/Education-Switches

I note they are apparently obsolescent. and they are not going to
restock them.

They probably don't have an RoHS tick on the paperwork ...

Mike Tomlinson wrote:
En el artÃ*culo , Chris Green
escribió:

I guess I
could glue the top on but that's a bit difficult to fix if anything
goes wrong.

Put the screw in, glue the switch to the surface. Hot melt glue is
perfect for this. The switches are available in black or white and dirt
cheap - ~80p from CPC.

Yes, they're the ones I have been using. I guess I can do as you say,
I just don't like making things I can't take apart. :-)

--
Chris Green
·

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article ,
Brian Gaff wrote:
Come back Woolworths. They used to have some mini toggle switches ideal
for low voltage use like this. I wonder if anyone still produces them.

I remember those. Metal body and toggle connected to one side of the
supply. Maybe safe on low volts in terms of electrocution - but could be
a fire risk if no fuse and a high current supply.

All well protected by MCBs, 6A I think.

--
Chris Green
·

dennis@home wrote:
On 17/09/2016 15:15, Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.


Make sure the supply is an isolating one or you may have mains potential
on the 12V output and you will need better switches.

The supply is a 12 volt battery, this is on a boat.

--
Chris Green
·

Tricky Dicky wrote:
I think the switches Roger was referring to are called tumbler switches, see below;

https://m.rapidonline.com/Education-Switches

A warning though these are strictly low voltage and if there is any risk
of mains voltage appearing on these then use something else.

No mains voltage around. These switches are quite widely available
and might be the answer to my problem though they are a bit less than
elegant. I'm thinking the 'rocker switch mounted in a lump of wood'
solution may look somewhat better.

--
Chris Green
·

Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Chris Green brought next idea :

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.

A USA site, but it might give you some ideas...

https://www.e-switch.com/product-cat...t#.V93APq3sLIV

But this is where we came in, these are 'surface mount' in the sense
of SMD. You can't just stick them on a sheet of wood and use them,
they're not intended for 'visible, domestic' use.

--
Chris Green
·

On 18/09/16 09:45, Chris Green wrote:

I just don't like making things I can't take apart. :-)

NO children then?


--
"When one man dies it's a tragedy. When thousands die it's statistics."

Josef Stalin

En el artículo , Chris Green
escribió:

Yes, they're the ones I have been using. I guess I can do as you say,
I just don't like making things I can't take apart. :-)

Hot melt glue peels off pretty easily - it tends to come off in one lot,
like silicone sealant. I don't think you would have any problem getting
access to the innards of the switch if you needed to.

The dolly switch linked to by other posters took me waaaay back. I
remember them for having a peculiarly "crunchy" action.

--
(\_/)
(='.'=) Bunny says: Windows 10? Nein danke!
(")_(")

Chris Green wrote:
Tricky wrote:

Why not simply use standard rocker or toggle switches mounted in a suitably
deep enclosure. As an alternative especially if you have several to make,
use cut up lengths of PVC trunking and fit end caps to make a complete
enclosure.


Because the result is too big. I can't find any enclosures which are
significantly smaller than a standard architrave switch (80mm high,
35mm wide, 20mm or so deep). I guess the trunking idea is possible
but it's hardly good to look at and this does have to look half
decent.

My current (no pun intended) solution is to use 'inline' switches, the
trouble is that there's no way to hold the top on if you screw the
bottom onto a surface (the screws go in from the back). I guess I
could glue the top on but that's a bit difficult to fix if anything
goes wrong.



Push switches as used in light fittings are very compact. They can
be screwed down.

On 17/09/16 15:15, Chris Green wrote:
I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,
i.e. on flat walls (mostly wooden panels, possibly metal in a couple
of cases). They can't be mounted in a hole at all because the other
side of the same panel is also an 'outside' surface.

They don't need to be safe for mains, they are only switching 12 volts
at quite a low current (LED lighting, maximum an amp or so).

Can anyone suggest anything suitable? Part of the trouble is that
searching for 'surface mount[ing]' just produces an overwhelming
number of SMD components which doesn't help at all.

An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.


Table lamp switches?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/INLINE-ROCK.../dp/B007K7TA66

--
Adrian C

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 09:47:41 +0100, Chris Green wrote:



An architrave switch in a matching box is about the best I can manage
at the moment but they're far bigger than I really want.


Make sure the supply is an isolating one or you may have mains potential
on the 12V output and you will need better switches.

The supply is a 12 volt battery, this is on a boat.

One thing you may have to watch using switches designed for toys is
whether they will reliably handle any breaking any loads on DC , it
doesn't take too many operations for an arc to damage small contacts
or even weld them together.
And you have the corrosion problems cause by a boat being near damp
conditions as well. Though it is well known that putting the word
Marine on anything instantly means it doubles or triples in price
sometimes you do need something designed for a task, nothing as
frustrating as a switch not working when you need it.
perhaps you need to visit or peruse some chandlers or at least use
something from the automotive industry. On cheap switches even if the
contacts are non ferrous a rusted steel spring can mess up operation.

As an aside I lived on a ship for some years and the tumbler
switchers were designed for DC use with fairly substantial contacts
with a spring that sprung them open with some force, houses with DC
mains would have them as well.
Some photos of a similar model a little way down this page.
http://www.electrical-contractor.net..._switches.html

Our circuits were 220V DC though. The sockets were round pin 5amp type
and despite the dymo tape warning that they were DC a succession of
distressed people damaging their radios, shavers etc meant I stuck
some plastic rawlplugs in the holes to stop them being used.

G.Harman

En el artículo , Mike Tomlinson
escribió:

Hot melt glue peels off pretty easily - it tends to come off in one lot,
like silicone sealant

Damn. UNLIKE silicone sealant. Insufficent caffeine.

--
(\_/)
(='.'=) Bunny says: Windows 10? Nein danke!
(")_(")

En el artículo , Chris Green
escribió:

I'm looking for some small switches that I can mount on a surface,

http://759dc06445cf18317940-e54b48b3...217.r7.cf2.rac
kcdn.com/app/img/asset/00/95/1-56f23d74966ed.jpg/w-804_h-784_q-80_c-
c/1-56f23d74966ed.jpg

or http://tinyurl.com/jy8vz8m

from http://hpm.com.au/products/switches-sockets

Shock horror, something tasteful from Australia.

You may be able to find a UK distie.

--
(\_/)
(='.'=) Bunny says: Windows 10? Nein danke!
(")_(")

Chris Green has brought this to us :
But this is where we came in, these are 'surface mount' in the sense
of SMD. You can't just stick them on a sheet of wood and use them,
they're not intended for 'visible, domestic' use.

I agree, but you could mount them in some sort of enclosure or even in
a suitable recess of your wood. Much better to my mind, than the
ancient clunky looking dolls house switches.

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 18/09/16 09:45, Chris Green wrote:

I just don't like making things I can't take apart. :-)

NO children then?

Yes, but they're 37 and 39.

--
Chris Green
·

Mike Tomlinson wrote:
En el artÃ*culo , Chris Green
escribió:

Yes, they're the ones I have been using. I guess I can do as you say,
I just don't like making things I can't take apart. :-)

Hot melt glue peels off pretty easily - it tends to come off in one lot,
like silicone sealant. I don't think you would have any problem getting
access to the innards of the switch if you needed to.

Yes, that's probably the way to go, or anyway some sort of 'not too
sticky' glue.


--
Chris Green
·