on-off switch on 3.7 box mod

[Ceegary]

I inherited a box mod and the negative wire is soldered to the wrong lug on the on-off switch so that it always stays on. Is this a mistake or would the switch need to be replaced with something more robust than what the box came with?

 

[Dalton63841]

I just did my first box mod a couple days ago. I used a 3xAA box and switched the contacts around to run 2x14500's in parallel. I checked/double checked my work, but upon pushing the momentary switch on, that little on/off switch just sizzled and burned out. Ironically when I did a second one that uses 2x14500 in series, that didn't happen.

I'm not sure what others are doing about that little switch.

 

[BiffRocko]

The negative lead shouldn't be soldered to the on/off switch at all. The lead to one side of the momentary switch should be soldered to the middle terminal on the on/off switch and the far left terminal (when the box is standing upright) should be connected to the positive battery terminal. The far right terminal is unused. The negative lead should connect from the negative battery terminal to the barrel of the atty connector.

 

[VpnDrgn]

The negative lead shouldn't be soldered to the on/off switch at all. The lead to one side of the momentary switch should be soldered to the middle terminal on the on/off switch and the far left terminal (when the box is standing upright) should be connected to the positive battery terminal. The far right terminal is unused. The negative lead should connect from the negative battery terminal to the barrel of the atty connector.

This is true, unless the master switch is in the leg between the 2 batts, or on the ground side of the circuit.
I have seen schematics showing either of these 3 ways.

 

[Scubabatdan]

It is possible the person you inherited this from wired it so that the neg leg controls the on/off function. It it possible the on/off switch has gone bad as is on in either position. I would do an ohms (continutiy) test on the switch with a multimeter. That way you atleast know the switch is good, then work on the wiring.
Just my 2 cents,
Dan

 

[BiffRocko]

This is true, unless the master switch is in the leg between the 2 batts, or on the ground side of the circuit.
I have seen schematics showing either of these 3 ways.

I assumed we were talking about the standard 2xAA box most people use to make their box mods. I gave the description not as a general "this is how on off switches work" but "the 2xAA box mod in my hand is wired like so."

 

[Ceegary]

I did ohm it out. I consider that with an on-off switch either pole can be used so I stayed with the neg rather than rewire, just moved the connection from the middle to the left leg and it works fine now. If the single 3.7 bat ever fries the switch, I'll get a higher amp switch to replace it.

 

[Scubabatdan]

YAY!!!!
Great Job
Dan