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  #1  
Old 02-26-2013, 05:00 AM
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bobmarkert bobmarkert is offline
 
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Default Switches... Screw or push-on

A quick search did not produce an results sooooo....

About to dive into wiring and I need order pieces-parts. What are the pluses amd minuses of switches with screw terminals vs switches with push on tabs.

I hope this is not the cousin to the primer debate....
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  #2  
Old 02-26-2013, 06:05 AM
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I vote 1/4" fast-on's.

They are so much easier to work on when you have everything in place. Also they are easier to insulate. Use some good connectors with the insulation, or some heat shrink over the connector.
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  #3  
Old 02-26-2013, 06:31 AM
WingsOnWheels WingsOnWheels is offline
 
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Default

I also decided to go with fast-on after waffling back and forth during the design phase. Once you push a few of those connectors onto the tabs you will realize how well they hold. The quality connectors aren't like the ones from radio-shack, they hold on Tight!!
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  #4  
Old 02-26-2013, 06:47 AM
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Default Swithches

Seems to be thread drift. I believe your question was about switches.

Quote:
About to dive into wiring and I need order pieces-parts. What are the pluses amd minuses of switches with screw terminals vs switches with push on tabs.
I got mine from B&C with the push on Fast-On tabs. They work very well. Easy to install, but go on securely. They are hard to pull off, so I doubt they will ever come off on their own. I looked at some fancy switches from other vendors, but the price was to steep. These are great switches, easy to install and will not break the bank for initial install and any replacement or upgrade down the road.

http://www.bandc.biz/electrical-switches.aspx
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  #5  
Old 02-26-2013, 07:11 AM
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I'm a big fan of the Honeywell 2TL1- xx switches, available in all configurations including locking. They are what were used on almost every jet I worked on and are virtually failure proof, waterproof, dustproof etc..

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  #6  
Old 02-26-2013, 01:59 PM
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Faston's for me...use the proper terminal and it will never just fall off.

I don't like screw terminals because they are hard to work with and if one gets loose, you may not know it till it is too late.
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  #7  
Old 02-26-2013, 03:29 PM
roee roee is offline
 
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Thumbs up Honeywell TL series

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt View Post
I'm a big fan of the Honeywell 2TL1- xx switches, available in all configurations including locking. They are what were used on almost every jet I worked on and are virtually failure proof, waterproof, dustproof etc..

+1 for the switch series that Walt mentioned. Not just because of screw terminals versus faston tabs (as far as that goes, I think either works fine). But because this switch series has many other advantages. In addition to the advantages that Walt already mentioned:

They are very robust, mechanically and electrically. Much more so than commonly used commercial grade switches I've seen (e.g. those from B&C).

They have a rock solid look and feel (think military or airline cockpit).

They conform to a standardized (milspec) set of mechanical and electrical specifications. So, why is that beneficial to us experimental guys? In this case, simply for standardization and future availability of replacement parts. As these switches are used in practically every military and commercial airplane produced in the western hemisphere, they will remain available for decades to come. Whereas commercial grade switches like those sold by B&C might be just as good (or not), but product lines come and go quickly, and a particular one is less likely to continue to be available in the same specifications, form factor etc. over the lifetime of the airplane. Think spare parts 10 to 20 years down the road.

Also, Honeywell is not the only producer of these milspec switches. Eaton also has their own line of switches that conform to the same milspecs, and are mechanically and electrically interchangeable (drop-in compatible) with the equivalent Honeywell switches.

And finally, these milspec switches really are NOT very expensive if you shop smart. First and foremost, DO NOT just blindly buy them from aviation-related vendors. From what I've seen, you'll pay 2x to 3x what they go for elsewhere. Go download the product datasheet from Honeywell, identify the part numbers you need, and Google search them to find many other non-aviation vendors who sell them. And if you want a pretty good shortcut to a one-stop-shop, Allied Electronics tends to have very competitive prices on these and carries a wide selection. That's where I got mine.
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  #8  
Old 02-26-2013, 03:38 PM
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Those switches are $44!!!! Wow.
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  #9  
Old 02-26-2013, 04:09 PM
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I prefer switches with screws and ring terminals crimped onto the wires. Never had one come loose yet if you tighten it properly and use a lockwasher.
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  #10  
Old 02-26-2013, 04:35 PM
roee roee is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by digidocs View Post
Those switches are $44!!!! Wow.
I don't know what type of switch you're looking at, and from which vendor. But a basic Honeywell TL-series SPST switch goes for about $20.

http://www.alliedelec.com/search/pro...x?SKU=70120168

When you get into more complex multi-pole, multi-throw, locking toggles, etc. they will obviously be somewhat more. And if you don't shop around for the right vendor, you can pay A LOT more.
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