12v Rocker Switch

94BULLITT · Jan 1, 2013

I think I am going to go with a regular switch. The marine ones get really big. I will put dielectric grease on everything really good. I am going to mount them on the ROPS so they should not see much water and I could cover them when I wash the tractor.

James, Do you think this switch would be good quality. They want over $7 to ship 2. That is getting close to the price of 2 Dorman switches.

dstig1 · Jan 1, 2013

Avoid that Dorman switch if it is not too late. I used that to switch my 3rd function circuit, and it barely lasted a year. My tractor is largely stored indoors too. I just added LED lights to mine, and did it by using an alum box I got from All Electronics for the switches. I used these switches from Digikey (great company) and replaced the one for my 3rd function with it too. Cheaper than Ebay and you can search until you find exactly what you want. I cut the openings by drilling a couple starter holes, then using a fine metal blade in a jigsaw to square them up. Final cleanup with a small flat file until it fits right. I didn't drill into the tractor for anything, just clamped onto the ROPS.

GRB066B802BR1 CW Industries | CW101-ND | DigiKey

k0ua · Jan 1, 2013

It is hard to know by just looking at a switch if it will hold up or not, but dstig1 has some experience, and the switches he pointed to are waterproof. which is bound to help. Even though my tractor is stored in a barn, due to condensate it often has moisture on it at times. and I wonder how long an unsealed switch would last. Something to consider. Of course the switches dstig1 pointed to do not mount in a round hole. If I was doing the project, I would mount a switch on my dash, and cut the rectangular hole, and they would be sealed switches for sure for me. But that is just me.

James K0UA

94BULLITT · Jan 1, 2013

dstig1 said:
Avoid that Dorman switch if it is not too late. I used that to switch my 3rd function circuit, and it barely lasted a year. My tractor is largely stored indoors too. I just added LED lights to mine, and did it by using an alum box I got from All Electronics for the switches. I used these switches from Digikey (great company) and replaced the one for my 3rd function with it too. Cheaper than Ebay and you can search until you find exactly what you want. I cut the openings by drilling a couple starter holes, then using a fine metal blade in a jigsaw to square them up. Final cleanup with a small flat file until it fits right. I didn't drill into the tractor for anything, just clamped onto the ROPS.

GRB066B802BR1 CW Industries | CW101-ND | DigiKey

I won't go with the Dorman, I know sometimes their car parts are junk. That switch from digikey requires a larger hole than what I would like.
I found this one on Ebay last night but who knows how good it is. I'll try to find a waterproof switch.

k0ua said:
It is hard to know by just looking at a switch if it will hold up or not, but dstig1 has some experience, and the switches he pointed to are waterproof. which is bound to help. Even though my tractor is stored in a barn, due to condensate it often has moisture on it at times. and I wonder how long an unsealed switch would last. Something to consider. Of course the switches dstig1 pointed to do not mount in a round hole. If I was doing the project, I would mount a switch on my dash, and cut the rectangular hole, and they would be sealed switches for sure for me. But that is just me.

James K0UA

I hate to poke a hole in the dash.

crazyal · Jan 1, 2013

On my 4240 I mounted two switches in the steel panel that has the slots in it for the cruse control and HST Gear selector. I ran the power from the wire harness on the other side of the seat. I found some sealed rocker switches on ebay. I wanted something that was easy to reach and could be toggled with gloves on. I didn't bother with lighted since they are the only things in that area and I find that I can turn them on and off without even looking at them.

I went with this style of switch but one is blue while the other is green. That panel is easy to remove so I just drilled two round holes and then used a file to turn it into a rectangle.

k0ua · Jan 1, 2013

that switch on ebay looks like the same one on All electronics and the dorman for that matter, while it is more money, it includes shipping. All the way from China

dstig1 · Jan 1, 2013

I started looking on ebay, but then found the same stuff cheaper from Digikey, and I trust them a whole lot more. Mouser too. Especially when I added up shipping, I bought 4 switches (1 to replace the dorman, and 2 new ones for my lights, plus a spare) and it came to like $10 including shipping. ebay was more than that for 1 switch.

I drilled a hole in the dash for the original Dorman switch and later enlarged it to fit the better one from Digikey. I don't have a photo of the new switch, but this gives you the idea. Same basic place, just a rectangular switch now.

Start searching based on the important things you need (SPST, on/off action would be the obvious big ones). Then I started getting pickier with enclosure ratings and looked only at stuff that was listed waterproof or IP66 or higher. You can select multiple entries in each column using the Control key, in case you weren't aware of it.

Roger - the switch you linked to on ebay is the same as the Dorman - avoid it.

Crazyal - the one you linked to on ebay is the either same one I got, or very very similar. Digikey was cheaper, and as noted, much easier to trust.

94BULLITT · Jan 1, 2013

crazyal said:
On my 4240 I mounted two switches in the steel panel that has the slots in it for the cruse control and HST Gear selector. I ran the power from the wire harness on the other side of the seat. I found some sealed rocker switches on ebay. I wanted something that was easy to reach and could be toggled with gloves on. I didn't bother with lighted since they are the only things in that area and I find that I can turn them on and off without even looking at them.

I went with this style of switch but one is blue while the other is green. That panel is easy to remove so I just drilled two round holes and then used a file to turn it into a rectangle.

I'll check and see what else they have.

k0ua said:
that switch on ebay looks like the same one on All electronics and the dorman for that matter, while it is more money, it includes shipping. All the way from China

The listing says it "ratails for $15":laughing:

dstig1 said:
I started looking on ebay, but then found the same stuff cheaper from Digikey, and I trust them a whole lot more. Mouser too. Especially when I added up shipping, I bought 4 switches (1 to replace the dorman, and 2 new ones for my lights, plus a spare) and it came to like $10 including shipping. ebay was more than that for 1 switch.

I drilled a hole in the dash for the original Dorman switch and later enlarged it to fit the better one from Digikey. I don't have a photo of the new switch, but this gives you the idea. Same basic place, just a rectangular switch now.

View attachment 295852

Start searching based on the important things you need (SPST, on/off action would be the obvious big ones). Then I started getting pickier with enclosure ratings and looked only at stuff that was listed waterproof or IP66 or higher. You can select multiple entries in each column using the Control key, in case you weren't aware of it.

Roger - the switch you linked to on ebay is the same as the Dorman - avoid it.

Crazyal - the one you linked to on ebay is the either same one I got, or very very similar. Digikey was cheaper, and as noted, much easier to trust.

That's what I have been doing when I search but it is hard to narrow somethings down cause I could go more than one way but I will use the control key. I was hoping to go with one that took a small round hole but maybe I need to rethink that. So you think Digikey sells good stuff? I have never dealt with them. I'll continue my search.