Bedroom Push Button Light Switches failing

[Desert RVer]

Both of the 12V push button switches for the head board overhead lights in our 2006 Montana 3400RL have become intermittent. Checked with a local RV parts store and they offered something similar but was $9.95 plus tax each. Local Ace Hardware offers something that is a push button switch but not a very close match for $4.99 plus tax. Is there a low cost source for a reliable push button switch that matches the original look and size?

[Wayne and Carolyn Mathews]

Our push-button switches on our bedroom sconces in our 2007 3528SA Montana have failed, too. I'm interested in finding a cheaper fix than what the RV parts places want for replacements. Sorry you're having the same problem, too. I bet some MOCer will be along with an answer for us soon.

Carolyn

[jimcol]

I bought the one at Ace. Size was fine but color wasn't quite right. Once installed color difference wasn't noticable. Wasn't going to tie up much time and fuel to save a couple of dollars. Jim

[Desert RVer]

Appreciate the suggestion but over the years I have developed a mission about the poor quality issues associated with the RV industry. Unless we owners take some kind of stand regarding the poor quality parts and products nothing will ever improve in the RV indistry. There are many products in our stick house that have push button switches that are over 20 years old and the push button switches on them haven't failed. When will the RV industry quit using these cheap unreliable parts? My view is the RV manufacturers won't until we quit buying them.

[Irlpguy]

I have replaced quite a number of switches on lamps in the S&B over the years from those cheap in line rotary ones to push button ones. I go and purchase a good automotive switch or 250V switches with a good amp rating. You can tell the quality of the switch by how much effort it takes to turn it on/off and the size of the contact area will dictate the size of the contacts and spring mechanism.

On my bedside lights I don't particularly care if the switch matches, I will change them both. You get what you pay for, buy cheap you get cheap.

[jimcol]

I guess I misunderstood your mission based on your original post since you said "Is there a low cost source for a reliable push button switch that matches the original look and size?" We all have missions in life and mine is not to save a few $'s on a switch at the expense of losing too many of the days we have left! Jim

quote:Originally posted by Desert RVer

Appreciate the suggestion but over the years I have developed a mission about the poor quality issues associated with the RV industry. Unless we owners take some kind of stand regarding the poor quality parts and products nothing will ever improve in the RV indistry. There are many products in our stick house that have push button switches that are over 20 years old and the push button switches on them haven't failed. When will the RV industry quit using these cheap unreliable parts? My view is the RV manufacturers won't until we quit buying them.

[Desert RVer]

I understand but I did say "low cost and reliable" and not "cheap and unreliable". :-)

quote:Originally posted by jimcol

I guess I misunderstood your mission based on your original post since you said "Is there a low cost source for a reliable push button switch that matches the original look and size?" We all have missions in life and mine is not to save a few $'s on a switch at the expense of losing too many of the days we have left! Jim

[Jay Bird]

I replaced our in the 2007 3400RL with ones from Lowes. I don't remember the price but they did match.

[rohrmann]

That is the problem, low cost AND reliable don't go together. At best, you should be looking at moderate cost and reliable. Low cost means Made in China, and I bet you will have a hard time finding these push button switches, even well made reliable ones, made anywhere else. That is why there is such a trade imbalance with China. I figure, if I'm doing the labor to fix anything, I will put the best part I can find in place of the part that failed, so I will likely never have to do it again. Those sconces are most likely China made, so have cheap switches.

[Art-n-Marge]

This is way offtopic but I gotta say, NICE new rig picture for Jay Bird. Now for Richfaa's.

Now for pertinence's sake and don't get this post deleted, I have found replacement RV switches and connectors at Radio Shack, or whatever they call themselves these days. I heard they're changing their name, but I don't remember to what? Just don't forget to check the rating.

[richfaa]

They are just failing now. You got good service from them. Both of ours in our 2006 3400 failed and we purchased quality replacements at Home Depot. Took the old one with me and they got a good one for me.

[racerjoe]

we found switches at home depot. they are twist type,but very easy to use. They had the correct color (for lack of a better word) work well

[fauch]

i have had these switches 'fail' on every RV i have owned, BUT never replaced them. The contacts are made on the release of the switch. When mine start doing this, i let them 'snap' into the on position and they have always started working again. Push in and let your finger slip off of the button so that the button and contacts snap into the on position. The problem is oxidation of the metals in the contacts. With only the spring tension holding the contacts together, the oxidation can interfere with closing the circuit.

[Desert RVer]

I finally bought the Push Button switches that Home Depot sells. They had a higher current rating than others I looked at, don't match the original look but close enough. Installed both of them today and both are working reliably again. At least today! Thanks for all the tips. BTW, 1/3 the cost of the ones being sold at the RV Parts store. We will see how they hold up.