Source for rotary switches

[casm]

I'm looking for a source for complete rotary switches - knob, mechanism, and mounts all in one package. My current favourite is this one (http://www.ittcannon.com/media/pdf/catalogs/rafix_selector.pdf) (PDF) - three positions set 60 degrees apart, illuminated or not, choice of bases and handles.

Anyone have a source they can recommend for something similar to that? I've been trying to get the distributors to get back to me with some samples, but no dice so far.

[lesslimited]

Try here?
http://www.mcminone.com/search.asp?keyword=rotary+switch&restrict=

[Lou]

Unless the distributor, or manufacturer has some reason to believe that significant business will come from it, or they have dealt with you in the past -- good luck.

I would expect that industrial switches like that are a bit of a specialty item -- not stocked. Factories may have some on hand, but again, they're probably not going to go out of their way.

If you only need one or two, try the surplus places like .....

http://www.youngssurplus.com/electrical_controls.htm

[BrettM]

how many positions are you looking for? do you want stops so that you can't rotate it all the way around?

[old_man]

www.digikey.com (http://www.digikey.com)
www.mouser.com (http://www.mouser.com)
www.partsexpress.com (http://www.partsexpress.com)

[87manche]

www.alliedelec.com

[casm]

Let me explain a bit further what it is I want to accomplish here...

I've got a set of Olds Aurora reversing lights coming to me in the mail. I want to wire in a rotary switch so that I can set either three or four positions, each with positive engagement: stock reversing lights only, stock reversing lights plus auxiliary backup lights, auxiliary backup lights always on, and (maybe, though this isn't crucial) stock plus auxiliary backup lights always on.

Most of the companies listed above, and I kind of got ahead of myself when I mentioned I was looking for samples. The main issue has been getting them to understand the spec I want the switch made to - if I give them a valid part number, they inevitably tell me that they either a) don't stock that part, or b) have to contact the manufacturer. Which is fine, except getting them to get back to me is a royal PITA. I'll deal with the whole sample issue later on.

Anyway, the only other consideration in all of this is that I'm looking for something relatively compact (about 1.25"x1.25") and with a fairly shallow mounting depth. The idea I'm going with at the moment is to mount into the shifter bezel, and while I think it'll fit it's definitely going to be tight.

Thanks for the ideas, though... Keep 'em coming :)

[BrettM]

have you seen my old shifter setup that used a rotary switch? I still have one or two lying around... It's 5 position, 60 degrees apart, limited on both ends, nice positive engagement, standard 1/4" half circle shaft (a variety of knobs sold at Radio Shack), 1.75"x1.375" on the face, about 1.5" deep once you attach wires... You mentioned 4 positions, maybe you could make the 5th be all off.

I did a LOT of searching to find this switch, I didn't find anything else even close to what you described. Send me a PM if you want one.

[Lou]

Industry suppliers think about....

How many switches do expect to use per year ?

Will you buy more things from them?

Do you have an established company?

If they don't believe you....or, your answers don't satisfy them, you're low on their list of call-backs.

Go with what's available from the hobbyist's suppliers....Old_man's list.

[casm]

I did a LOT of searching to find this switch, I didn't find anything else even close to what you described. Send me a PM if you want one.

I remember that one - Had the A/4/3/2/1 selector on a metal panel, IIRC. PMming ya shortly; I'll need to re-measure the space I'm looking at, but I think it may work. Guess I could use the other two positions for front & rear roof lights later on or similar.

Go with what's available from the hobbyist's suppliers....Old_man's list.

Thing is, both old_man and 87manche's lists happen to coincide with the distributor list (http://www.ittcannon.com/support/dealers.asp?sortKey=1&typeID=1&Country=USA&StateID=CA&Category=2&Submit=Search) that ITT-Cannon provides for California (well, with the exception of partsexpress.com). This isn't a little guy vs. big guy problem; it's just a case of getting the distributor to order what I want. I also suspect that trying to do this in the lead-up to a holiday weekend was not the best time to have chosen.

[JeepFreak21]

www.delcity.net ?
Billy

[87manche]

I know that allied would ship one part. I've ordered single DC jacks from them and single cooling fans for notebooks.
but if it's something they don't normally stock I doubt they'll order in a box of them to sell one.