Switch Failure

[cddz]

Damn these tact switches, I get my mod looking perfect and the damn switch fails after only days of use. There has got to be a better switch that will look good on my mod. Does any one out in e-cig land know of a better switch that has a low profile??? Thanks
-Chad

 

[TDM]

What switch are you using now??

 

[franklyspeaking]

That has been my experience with these switches:

SPST 12VDC/50mA 5.0mm High Tact Switch - RadioShack.com

12VDC 50mA SPST 6.2x6.2 mm SMT Tact Switch, 9.5mm High - RadioShack.com

Both worked for one day to one week and then failed.

 

[invidregis]

I never had a tact switch last longer than a week. I had such a tiny perfect 510 mod, then poof switch bit it. Unfortunately the best switches are buttons.

 

[500KV]

Damn these tact switches, I get my mod looking perfect and the damn switch fails after only days of use. There has got to be a better switch that will look good on my mod. Does any one out in e-cig land know of a better switch that has a low profile??? Thanks
-Chad

cddz,

We had a discussion concerning switch current ratings awhile back and some swear by the lower current rated/smaller switches while some have had failures. Look for *? about tact switches*
With most atomizers drawing anywhere from 1.5 to 3 amps (depending on the voltage being used and the resistance of the atomizer), the 50ma switches are just not going to hold up as well as the 1.5-3amp jobs.
There will also be more voltage drop in the lower rated switches. (smaller contacts, etc.)
Just have to make your own choice and hope for the best.

 

[breakfastchef]

Considering how hard we use these tactile switches, it is amazing they last at all. I am not sure where you can buy 'industrial quality' switches in a local retail store, but you might want to peruse the online catalogs from Digi-Key, Mouser and Newark for an extansive selection of switches. I have used Mouser and Digi-Key in the past and they have decent pricing and fast delivery.

 

[TDM]

I'm pretty sure I read in several other threads there have been alot of problems with these switches. I "think" it was bastage that was talking about it.

 

[Laredo7mm]

Yup, I have never had good luck with them unless I use them to switch the voltage to the gate of a mosfet, and use the mosfet as the switch that flows the high atomizer current.

If you are going to try the mosfet route, make sure you use the mosfet as a switch to ground, so you are not passing the mosfet voltage drop to the atomizer.

 

[cddz]

That has been my experience with these switches:

SPST 12VDC/50mA 5.0mm High Tact Switch - RadioShack.com

12VDC 50mA SPST 6.2x6.2 mm SMT Tact Switch, 9.5mm High - RadioShack.com

Both worked for one day to one week and then failed.

Yes those are the ones I was using, i was hoping for at least a months use out of it lol.

 

[Videonut]

I've been using reset switches from old computers. They might seem a bit high but the top is plastic and can be chopped off for a low profile switch. The base is a good fit in a battery box but might be too large for other applications.
I've been using them for weeks now and have zero problems.

 

[TnA]

I have seen a few posts talking about problems with their tact switches, which worried me since that is the switch I wanted to use. I'm happy to say that I've used the tact switches for over a month on a box mod (my daily vape) plus some flashlight mods without any failures. I'm using the high tact switch, but the specs are identical: 12VDC 50mA SPST 6.2x6.2 mm SMT Tact Switch, 9.5mm High - RadioShack.com

Not sure why my luck is better with them.