Hi folks, I need to replace the switch on my Nitecore HC50 headlamp. As is pretty typical in flashlight world, this is a switch that has two stages, like a shutter button on a camera. I think in EE terms, it’s refered to as a Dual Action Tactile Switch. If you press it half way, one of the contacts is closed, press it the full way and both contacts close.
I think my BLF A6 and Convoy S2 hav something similar, press half way to change brightness so I’m hoping it’s a pretty common thing. The exact switch is 6mm with about a 4mm stem (this is a picture of it: Imgur: The magic of the Internet - Imgur: The magic of the Internet ) but if anyone knows where I can get something similar, (preferably in single or low quantity, and reasonable shipping to the UK), I’d be happy to bodge it in there.
Interesting, how does that work with only two terminals? I know that the switch I’m replacing has 4 terminals, two of which are common and the other two are halfway and full pressure.
HC50 is a e-switch light, so it uses a momentary with 2 stages, usually they have one common connection and then first one and then both are shorted together to it
more sophisticated models may have electrically separated switches with 4 terminals but I dont think HC50 has such a switch as they are not easy to build
I’ve played around with a few double action switches, I got them from Mouser. However, they where so sensitive to heat when soldering. All of the ones I tested lost the double action after I soldered them, they all became regular single action. Sure, I might not be the best at soldering, but as they where too sensitive to me I gave up on them.
So, just a word of caution, try to be careful when soldering. If you get these ones and they work fine after soldering, please let me know. I’d like to take it up again for testing with my drivers.
That’s exactly what killed mine. I put a blob of solder on the other side of the PCB so I could use flat top cells, the heat through the PCB killed the double action of the switch.