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How close can switches be?

Steve Crewdog

Well Known Member
Patron
Thanks to the replies in my previous post, Stein Air had the switches I was looking for. But you know how it goes, one problem solved, another one created. My current panel has the switches 7/8" (0.875") apart, the new switches are 0.833" wide, leaving a very little bit of space.

So, is 0.042" in-between switches enough, or am I looking at redoing my panel?


Thanks,
Steve
 
How big are your hands?

Consult with Stein, they can give you some guidance.

My flap switch I moved out a little bit because it was too close to my throttle quadrant. Othere switches I spaced subtly further away from others, depending on the function.
 
Thanks to the replies in my previous post, Stein Air had the switches I was looking for. But you know how it goes, one problem solved, another one created. My current panel has the switches 7/8" (0.875") apart, the new switches are 0.833" wide, leaving a very little bit of space.

So, is 0.042" in-between switches enough, or am I looking at redoing my panel?


Thanks,
Steve

You will be ok with 7/8" (.875") center to center spacing. That is how I spaced my switches too. The DPDT are a touch wider than the SPST switches but still work.

Planned spacing:

omEdWr9QoNMBKpC7p0qXK8kqy6SM0fXDBXA9ZFsCjiKc_m8BM2JWD9ySghnBrOVtAyVDZG_bZlxwtn5dgxUzkuEQOutKzWxZxSEPxWECFHYk3HrL84Y0QxAUAm3VVKke2uzgvdS-sZjdnS_72UEc13kVyUXJrpjUWHlz_MZ0LfQcseQNTM9uzTsyzSJ8iShYOBEmgz1xXkmUW-H1BNEPjyauZz4pXB_A6PsJwayT7pVSZl2p3qeZRmmLiu0v4-2pSiLwdQH5X83fDddsHDAhYLv_nBUh5DaVD_9fCnI99Xzgv0m8SdqX6vXKVkZYIqWEEbBL5v_zeCzt0yWFaVyBPFBKrYTVTy2vpOGmPNdIxkdDwgWg1b8i1O8V6F10EpprJgw555LchMYUW7w2xWNi-DKHKUxBTn1CJo2V22hu018zS2N6IknHhfx39CA83JWXUc50HAW47PJaaRc3DGUR-i6rzP1UCu__6e01hnxd2IERNu2_yki2deIqJ5Z31PEJEorNQnvM-kJNpPxy5JDK6FgpMVgRknESU9GxnshUqxWcFhkabPJlXLTMQqn2jyUGZZB6EazQv95ws06t9EIfOhhPAfMhkRpKFbFvrbV6Sg7VFJYZiXYPpEKXUpfznn_aIY8uPRkvmEzDJpG26-ngpWr5OyC0hpfzBcCdx016CqKSpHZGL_kJQ8RBkoUdRAHfr8vfTxquOC33Yzd5V0Epxj1ds9KKRfnqpS42yOlYpmrCCos=w842-h474-no


Physical spacing when mounted. DPDT mag switches and SPST master shown:

1TLwmx7L8097Dpd4hh33oVXjaUDTCes0L-wYA3QUedGF0_beoR5vzQLof22cunhqSOR33YRYiG7d1Y4VZXhSz_SMnul1AF23wBo30UIi0Jceh9AMODeYDEUosXhUpGDnEfaluRzJCKf49dyxApzoVI3ONm8qJUPw9_4Aqt88hb0BWveTjX8JYHvsa5NvNeRJgNuOCVIQ1mrp5BFw7N5ISojcF0mnL8VeSr4ud5kPhBHxIMMjC1BVgiz_6BgnImIK1CcdC4Nb2Gb4K6OZ7T7217P97hCaOKmEMlJub1QjfzP8j6Rb2FYQmMRQMWSfWVzZRx1DTIBvdIukEyIbgfolHOjHukEJcCJUGoXL-ZgrR_SZR8GsxXhpWyMH8mnIpXpjUgW9KexOM1eVeyTzIbHe_-N52RZch217w6gfQNtmo42CIoMmwQN3V4OVlkU9OJy06y_Hbekusu9YeVKIqfHGUvFG5865qNUBMOEvgChY5YGwtxWt2gmb4b_RJBXfqojz7bspmxXnoTz5glRfvQngQ5_rrrA1q_9CMCSEM5Yd97wBbtmlytQH2J8XDddYHtGACv_2CBXaTGTk2IMrty3vquIgSyJp0iIhIYJKs8J3nsPHrFHYh_WT9SogrF5mQ7jf1sqnf8LTIyc6rlTS4jIV1BDSBIfDDJNDl3hOx4hgoZIR6mVcrIpXljigPLq45Uat8EEJujHamKekY2IVmJyYdBg--c14MH_G3J3xRgp5WWsIgls=w842-h447-no


ahVuC2ejgUkVSAfpfwJ4t_Me-jKfkOgpJvvoOGUAOd1EZhDngqWAcB6dM9tT3EknUyr44TMRXMbb_C-xqNtifis8ZAKdqTr4lA3-SEiMxU7MMMXeW1Zvjt_OR8_ZPGKw4JqCPLDbxbaz7JB7jeKcU135BKro1n4QKeuBbPA4ki53M7cqo2eZdNW9WA5FYFqzQ82_kLwcRvneciXQoW1emKI7VTUHObSwgk38Iy466Iw1GXLxy0o82WNVR4VRLSbZ2R4nYfRrxrUJn0ifjaw2gVBaZ6kUDJ1gX1yah8l1ACC9Q93won9QicUp5CR0H0t8NGYp0L6qAMwUd14PaLFbZu--TwRLWYQr-GypyNPjFgN5-MlY4eoJ_pDJji2nzA5oQgtWVI5qQd7tarKRGF9ez4Hr6Opixmj6AKBrUkabgYiEJ8n3ukWpdzIi5s7D9IvH3CLpGdO9Y_vMG0U2cOlTlCOj7-OULxWrIo40QIRb5fQTqasPRNIrWTbsMzCXWmGKUEkCeyEAy3jTMJTFxHWJawSNaZTJQugVyM2Ji1rE6WRnGIbbeWhTRLtb8dqpTCy9Hv21jh9KyjgcC_xgc8M97-d_U4PYqgUynVR_e5uLRUsL6CS6g3F-ThGvZixQOx9-Nx0JkWJoKtuWCYTOO1o7MIpBXAc0iX_IrscH38s-G0k2_4AFG373VyBq7H-t71x4g7GLXwTOi3Dd-Rpcbd3R0l0w2SGKy2Su8xICeRxIhIL4KBE=w842-h474-no
 
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I don't have a dog in this hunt, but something doesn't look right here. In the second picture of post 3 above, it looks like way more than .042 gap between those switches.

Maybe thats an optical illusion or camera angle or something, but is it possible that here's a math error in the original question? Or maybe those aren't the sam switches in post 3?
 
I don't have a dog in this hunt, but something doesn't look right here. In the second picture of post 3 above, it looks like way more than .042 gap between those switches.

Maybe thats an optical illusion or camera angle or something, but is it possible that here's a math error in the original question? Or maybe those aren't the sam switches in post 3?

It is 0.038 between switches

They are 0.875 wide, so the gap is 0.042 = well close enough for govt work...:)
 
Cool, Thanks.

Carlos, what program are you using? I did mine with XPanel. https://www.xpanelsoftware.com/

AutoCAD 2013. I use it for work.

I don't have a dog in this hunt, but something doesn't look right here. In the second picture of post 3 above, it looks like way more than .042 gap between those switches.

Maybe thats an optical illusion or camera angle or something, but is it possible that here's a math error in the original question? Or maybe those aren't the sam switches in post 3?

Mine are the Carling brand from B&C. Single pole switch bodies measure 1.134”H x .634”W x 1.018”D and double-pole switch bodies measure 1.308”H x .750”W x .887”D. So there is more than the .042 spacing as mentioned in the OP. He says his switch is .833" wide (unspecified type/model) so spacing only gives him .042 spacing. Tight and very little wiggle room but should slide in if they have a smooth side like the Carling type I show.
 
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Learning here

I am just learning here, but after one is done wiring, and buttoning up the panel for good, do you guys (or gals) normally cover all the exposed metal connections with shrink sleeving or something ?
 
AutoCAD 2013. I use it for work.

Nice


Mine are the Carling brand from B&C. Single pole switch bodies measure 1.134”H x .634”W x 1.018”D and double-pole switch bodies measure 1.308”H x .750”W x .887”D. So there is more than the .042 spacing as mentioned in the OP. He says his switch is .833" wide (unspecified type/model) so spacing only gives him .042 spacing. Tight and very little wiggle room but should slide in if they have a smooth side like the Carling type I show.

My new switches are also Carling, but after spending way too much time swearing while trying to get Fast-On terminals on/off (and with the "strong encouragement" of my retired USN avionics Sea Daddy) I'm switching over to Carling switches with screw-on terminals.
 
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I'm running the Carling switches with screw-on terminals, must be narrower than the ones you are looking at - I used 3/4" spacing on the holes, center to center, and have some space between them.

The real answer to this question is "Far enough apart that you can cram the wiring where it needs to go, and no farther."
 
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I'm running the Carling switches with screw-on terminals, must be narrower than the ones you are looking at - I used 3/4" spacing on the holes, center to center, and have some space between them.

The real answer to this question is "Far enough apart that you can cram the wiring where it needs to go, and no farther."

I'll know in a couple days, but I think the dimensions listed on the Steinair website are wrong, they're showing .0833 x .0833 x .0833, never seen a switch that small...

https://www.steinair.com/product/toggle-switch-spst-onoff-6-screw-terminals/
 
Nice




My new switches are also Carling, but after spending way too much time swearing while trying to get Fast-On terminals on/off (and with the "strong encouragement" of my retired USN avionics Sea Daddy) I'm switching over to Carling switches with screw-on terminals.

Agreed. I call them fast-on, never-off terminals.

As for the spacing, I would worry more about the terminals coming in contact with each other. The anti-rotation washers have a but of play, probably at least 0.042 worth.
 
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