Switches....

[brokedown]

Hey guys! So my Thomas bus uses these big switches mounted left of the driver. Most of them are either wrongly labeled require wiggling to make them work, or just don't work at all. I would love to keep the original style of the bus and use comparable switches, but then I saw they are around twenty dollars each, with pre printed labels...

So what are you guys doing for switches? Marine panels aren't exactly cheap either... Staying with that style is less important than the price tag I have seen thus far...

[AlleyCat67]

OEM switches like that aren't gonna be cheap, for sure.

For me, style isn't as important as functionality. Any circuits I add in will have a separate panel for switches, and they will have a consistent look. The automotive switches you can get at auto parts stores are pretty good quality and are a lot cheaper, even if you get the lighted variety.

[milkmania]

I know someone that can laser etch switchboard panels.....

[AlleyCat67]

Sweet..... with some good quality switches you could almost get the appearance of an OEM panel, and certainly a good looking one.

[milkmania]

Co-worker made birthday present for my daughter

[AlleyCat67]

Now that is hella cool looking....... bet the artwork took a good while to put together.

[milkmania]

Originally Posted by AlleyCat67

Now that is hella cool looking....... bet the artwork took a good while to put together.

Nah, online artwork

[AlleyCat67]

Oh.

But still hella cool looking.

[ennonne]

Are they Carling Contura switches?


Carling Contura rocker switches explained

They can be disassembled, cleaned, bulbs replaced, etc, and reassembled. Almost countless varieties. A few different style "actuators", they snap off. There's a special tool, but I have never used it, haven't had one break, yet.

I grab almost every one I see at the junkyard. Most are simple on/off style. Double throw are harder to find.

One of the cheapest sources I've seen is https://www.otrattw.net/

[AlleyCat67]

These are very similar to the ones I have in my Thomas.... mine are grey and not black but otherwise identical.

It would be a big boon for me to be able to add factory-style switches to the existing panels as I have lots of empty switch spaces that could be utilized for added circuits.

[ennonne]

That'd be them. There's a zillion different actuators; colors, styles, indicator lights, backlights, almost limitless.

Some more Carling info

They are a common switch system used by upfitters. In junkyards, I've found them in school buses, shuttle buses, step vans, and box trucks. Common in motorhomes and boats too. Not just in the cockpit area either.

Ebay is full of them, albeit expensive. There's places that do custom labeled actuators too. Mr. Google finds all kinds of stuff.

[WanderWoman]

Originally Posted by milkmania

Nah, online artwork

That is pretty darn awesome!

[Versatile]

Big truck junk yard or may be Summit racing or maybe https://www.otrattw.net/

[DoubleO7]

I buy all kinds of oddball stuff from
Surplus Center

[BlackJohn]

Why not start with a continuity test of the switches and then clean them up.Lots of dust bunnies often impede the switches from making contact. Tighten up all the terminals if screw terminals. I like to shine the metal parts of such switches with a dremel tool and make them shine again. They oxidize which makes for poor connection.