nuckollsr(at)cox.net
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 Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:45 pm Post subject: Switch ratings |
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Comments/Questions: Bob,
I bought a bunch of rocker switches from Aircraft Spruce (P/N 14-100) for
use in my RV-6A. The switches have a 120VAC rating of 20 Amps. AC43-13 says
that AC ratings are different from DC ratings, so I am concerned as to
whether these switches will be adequate for my uses. The highest current
devices I am switching are the nav lights at 7.5 Amps.
See:
http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/swtchrat.pdf
and page 2 of
http://www.aeroelectric.com/Reference_Docs/Eaton/toggle.pdf
and page 2 of
http://www.aeroelectric.com/Mfgr_Data/Switches/tl_series.pdf
Virtually ALL switches have SOME rating at ANY voltage whether
AC or DC. The fact that any given switch is marked on the side
with 125VAC ratings is a testament to the fact that MORE switches
are SOLD into the 125VAC domestic power market than for any
other application. There's not enough room on the side of a
switch to print ALL of it's capabilities so the fall-back position
is to accommodate the greatest number of purchasers.
Further, to exceed the published ratings by as much as 50%
has little significance to us as OBAM aviation users where
the average switch sees perhaps 100 operating cycles per year.
The published ratings are for tens of thousands of cycles
total. Most switches in personally owned, light aircraft die
of effects having more to do with environment and chronological
age than from operating stresses.
The short answer is, "don't loose any sleep over switch
ratings."
Bob . . .
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( "Physics is like sex: sure, it may )
( give some practical results, but )
( that's not why we do it." )
( )
( Richard P. Feynman )
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