Toggle Switch

This is a heavy duty SPST toggle switch - your basic on/off toggle. Rated for 2A at 250V or 4A at 125V. Includes a face plate and two threaded nuts for mounting. Works great with our missile switch cover.

  • 0.5 x 0.55 x 1.45"

Toggle Switch Product Help and Resources

Button and Switch Basics

May 7, 2013

A tutorial on electronics' most overlooked and underappreciated component: the switch! Here we explain the difference between momentary and maintained switches and what all those acronyms (NO, NC, SPDT, SPST, ...) stand for.

Dimension

Measuring the toggle switch's threaded section with a caliper, it was about 11.76mm .


Core Skill: DIY

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Skill Level: Noob - Basic assembly is required. You may need to provide your own basic tools like a screwdriver, hammer or scissors. Power tools or custom parts are not required. Instructions will be included and easy to follow. Sewing may be required, but only with included patterns.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

1 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Noob - You don't need to reference a datasheet, but you will need to know basic power requirements.
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Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.

  • ardvarticus / about 14 years ago / 3

    What's the dimensions for the mounting hole? Is there a datasheet anywhere?
    Also, these are so cool that I want to buy 5. I don't know what I'll use them for, but they're just that awesome.

    • kjmccarx / about 12 years ago / 2

      It's 12.2mm hole. It is shown in the Dimensional Drawing, but that may have been added after you asked your question. It is intended to be used in a 0.5" hole.

  • DeadBird / about 14 years ago / 3

    Does anyone know where to get an spdt version of this switch?

  • RocketGuy / about 10 years ago / 2

    I have 5 of these because I was dumb and ordered more than one, which would have been enough to tell me that the production quality is not the best. I tried using it with the missle switch cover, and the nut strips before it actually is anything resembling tight. Not the highest quality I've ever seen, but for less than two bucks, what did you expect?

  • how many leads are on this?

  • LED addict / about 11 years ago * / 1

    Are these as serious and heavy duty as the Toggle Switch and Cover, because I bought one of those and I actually can't use it much because it needs such a solid mount.

  • Member #16335 / about 11 years ago / 1

    Does the handle condom COM-11146 fit this switch?

  • not_name / about 12 years ago / 1

    There's no toggle switch with 2 pairs of prongs? 1, 3, 4... but not 2?!

    • MikeGrusin / about 12 years ago / 1

      It's much better to have too many than too few. You can always ignore the extra poles if you don't need them.

  • zlalanne / about 13 years ago / 1

    Is this in the Eagle sparkfun library? I can't seem to find it

    • MikeGrusin / about 13 years ago / 1

      It's not what one would normally think of as a PCB-mountable switch, so it's not in the Eagle library. The connections are meant for spade terminals, and you can also solder wires directly to them.

  • SortiG / about 13 years ago / 1

    Is this switch Rated for AC or DC or both?

    • baum / about 13 years ago / 1

      Should be fine... from the prod. description: "2A at 250V or 4A at 125V" So I wouldn't give them anything more than that @ DC, but AC should be fine (not a sustained value). You may just want to make sure that the switch itself is insulated from the contacts...

  • DGallagher / about 13 years ago / 1

    These aren't waterproof are they? Anyone know where I can get some good waterproof switches/pushbuttons?

    • baum / about 13 years ago / 1

      I doubt these are, but a google search would help.
      http://www.google.com/search?q=waterproof+toggle+switch

  • Drun / about 14 years ago / 1

    Hehehe using this for the master power for my heated build platform for my makerbot!!!

  • BB / about 14 years ago / 1

    I just bought a few of these and these are a lot higher quality than I expected. Very solid feel to them, and a very nice click. The hole is about 11mm in diameter.<br />
    <br />
    If you get the missile switch cover, you can't screw it on like in the photo, but rather the base of the actual switch (the top of the screw) should be flush with the upper hex nut, while the lower hex nut secures the switch to the cover. That way the missile switch cover doesn't bump into the screw area of the switch.

  • pcmofo / about 15 years ago / 1

    If you use the Missile cover, you cant use the On/Off plate show in the picture, not a big deal. You can go a few mm in thickness, the missile cover, nuts, washer take up some space, It will easily go through 3-4 credit cards thick.

  • Fredjikrang / about 15 years ago / 1

    How thick of material can this be mounted in? Does using the cover with it change this?

    • RocketGuy / about 10 years ago / 1

      Not much, and yes.

      Frankly the nut is crap, and will strip if you so much as hand tighten it too hard. But you get what you pay for, etc.

Customer Reviews

2.8 out of 5

Based on 4 ratings:

Currently viewing all customer reviews.

1 of 1 found this helpful:

Malfunctioning

I must have gotten a bad switch. The tabs on the back where you wire it are loose, not sure if that is by design.

I wired something to it and it doesn't provide constant power, something inside is loose. It doesn't matter if the switch is on or off power will still flow through it intermittently.

Cannot use, will attempt to replace and see if replacement switch also has loose wiring tabs.

1 of 1 found this helpful:

Fragile!

I opened my box , which contained this, along with many other parts, and with tradition, I tested it right away. Here's where the problem started, the switch wasn't making the clicking sound I expected, and wasn't making any contact. I think I got a bad switch.

Sorry to hear that. If you'll contact our tech support team, they should be able to help you out with a replacement.

1 of 2 found this helpful:

Love it

This switch is exactly what I needed. It works great

Good for the price

I've purchased several (6+) of these over the last while. Haven't had a bad one. The terminals are loose, as one commenter mentioned, when the switch is in the OFF position, but they stiffen up in the ON position.

Switch works great with a very satisfying "click", but the nuts and threads are cheap and the dinky ON/OFF panel display will never actually be properly straight.

I accidentally shorted one with a high powered battery (30+ amps), and it failed open. No external damage, no fire.