Looking for a replacement switch

[Harry Bloomfield]

It ia for 12v and goes in a fancy gold frame containing the 10w halogen reflector lamp. Now converted to LED reflector lamp.

The switch is similar to

a rocker type, but with no surrounding lip, just the brown rocker's knob pokes through the frame. The rear of the switch is rectangular, rather than round and sort of clips into two small lugs formed in the metal of the frame. Rather than spade terminals it uses push in terminals for the bare (soldered) flex ends. The rocker toggle is about the same size as the above linked item.

It pushes into the lugs from the rear, and wings on the switch prevent it being pushed to far out through the frame.

[Bob Minchin]

Take a photo against a plain background. Trim so the switch fills the frame and use google image search.

[Harry Bloomfield]

It happens that Bob Minchin formulated :

I'll try that, when I get back home, thanks.

[Brian Reay]

Good luck Harry but, with the best will in the world, the chances of finding one are slim to zilch- been there etc. I assume it is for your caravan- that probably makes it even harder, the makers seem to specialise in using 'odd' parts ;-)

Perhaps just enlarge the hole to take the one in the photo. Or make a plate an mount it from behind, with just the toggle going through the existing hole.

[Brian Reay]

[Brian Gaff]

Is the switch get attable to fix it. If its a 12v one its probably very simple. Brian

[Harry Bloomfield]

Brian Reay wrote on 13/08/2017 :

Yes, for the caravan. It has more than a dozen of these lights and local switches fitted. Thanks, ordered - that is almost identical apart from the ring around the button, which I think can be discarded. The existing switches just clip into two lugs, either side of where the rocker pivots.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Brian Gaff used his keyboard to write :

Very easy to get at, it just clips in/out of the fitting. Some of the switch contact had burnt due to switching halogens on DC. I swapped all over to LED and mananaged work the contacts enough to clean them up apart from one, where one of the grandkids managed to break the switch plastic.

[Brian Reay]

I'm amazed just how many different types of light fittings and 'gizmos' there are for caravans / motorhomes, especially when you consider that, in the scheme of things, the market is far more limited than the normal domestic one. Not only do different caravan makers/motorhome converters use different ones, they don't even seem to have even just a few they use themselves. Plus, some don't supply spares direct to owners and/or seem to be able to identify items by name- ie that is an XYZ fitting.

We've been lucky and not had any issues but I've known others who have hunted for ages to find a fitting to match one that has failed etc.

Then there is the matter of 12V connectors. I've installed several Anderson Powerpole outlets, mounted on CBE back plates, and wired with decent rated cable (appropriately fused etc). They aren't just for running amateur radio kit, I also run things like 'buck' converters for laptops when we don't have mains, my 12V soldering iron, 12V>5V USB chargers, .... I can even the TV etc if needed. Far better than the 'cigarette' lighter sockets' or the funny 2 pin system some makers use.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Back home an hour ago and the ordered switches had arrived. Not the easiest of jobs but yes, they were a perfect fit.

The outer rim ring, is the part which normally squeezes it together at the rocker pivots, so that had to be teased off. Then because the rocker part is larger than the hole, the rocker had to be also teased out of its pivots. Main part of switch the goes into the panel from the rear and the rocker pushed in via the hole in the face. The two lugs in the panel then hold the switch tight across the pivots.

It must have been an incredibly tedious and fiddly task, assembling these Bailey fittings on a production line.