Anyone recomend any that will stand the test of time in a wet open boat? I was looking at those membrane style with the remote switching breakout box but just want the most reliable option
I have had good service from Carling rocker switches, lasted close to ten years on the console of my boat, almost fully open to the weather. I am in the process of doing it all again and will use them again. They come in different size clip in bezels to make up the number of switches you need. They are not cheap, but not too bad considering they actually work.
Moose Marine make them up and they look quite good. Cheaper version is the Auxbeam, the switching panel only needs a very small hole in the dash for the cable which runs up to 1m to a fuse panel you can hide out of the weather and terminate all your cables. The only thing I found was the stickers they give you are more suited to 4WD than marine but I made my own by printing them on photo paper and using double sided tape. Don't know how long these last as sold the boat 6 months later.
One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce and canonized those who complain.
Thomas Sowell
Whatever waterproof switch panel you get must be mounted on a IP68 container.....otherwise moisture will find it's way inside and corrode your electrical contacts and connectors.
I tried membrane switches....UV light broke down the plastic and they failed.
I use Blueseas switches mounted in a fibreglass IP68 enclosure, all cables are gland sealed, all fuses are IP68 glass fuses mounted beside the switches.
Inside the enclosure I also have colour changing silica gel crystal sachets So when I open the enclosure I know immediately if I have a moisture problem....in 4 years no moisture so far.
Jack.
Jack, why glass fuses?Originally Posted by tunaticer
Sam
One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce and canonized those who complain.
Thomas Sowell
Simply because they are in a O-Ring sealed surface mount that can be changed out without opening the box.
Jack.
I rekon best option is a 316 push button installed on a custom piece of perspex/carbon fibre etc. fully water proof and corrosion proof and can be wired individually instead of your usual commoned loops which is crap.
Reelaxn/bluesea etc do a really nice 15-20A fully water proof button.
can get a fully engraved switch panel backing for about $100-200 to install the switches on
https://www.outbackequipment.com.au/...luminated-on-o
oh boy do i have a lot to say about switches. feels a little bottlenecky .
so when it comes to stainless steel push button switches "ive used them all. from cheap ali baba stuff, ebay stuff, hella ones, sam allens "yis marine" ones. bocatec switches, and my friend Ibrahim over at Oz Marine tech. are by far the best on the market. they come in two sizes 19mm and 22mm.. i highly recomend 22mm .. most buttons are 19mm and its a bit "pokey" you have to point your finger onto the switch where as the 22mm switches you can press with the flat of your finger "hopefully all of that makes sense "
they are 25amp rated. propper rated as well, and certified in australia. they now have internal wiring for the illumination ring.
jeez i should just put the website up
OZMARINETECH.COM.AU
they are the best trully. tell him you spoke to moose
If you have the money to burn.
I believe these are probably some of the best in the industry.
https://newwiremarine.com/push-butto...ater-switches/
But they about $130-150 a switch
Just went over and had a look at that site, Moose. Looks good. When I fitted out the Reefrunner, just over 6 years ago, there was no-one in Oz advertising that kind of thing---at least, none that I could find on the net. Doubtless there were outfits that did bespoke panels for high-end boats, riff raff need not apply.So I went with New Wire Marine in the US. Their pushbutton switches were very expensive vs the Carling rockers option I went with.
Fast forward, and I've been through a few pushbuttons in 6 years. I've been using them to control my craypot winch--latching button controls a solenoid which controls the power to the capstan. Most of the ebay ones claim to be IP65--first one failed due to corrosion at 3 years on the rear plug-in. No moisture ingress protection at all, at the rear. It's mounted well forward on the inside of the hull cap, under the edge of the hardtop, but certainly gets washdown. Second one lasted just 12 months, rear looked OK, actual button seized. I got it moving again, and looked for better. Japtech , at $35 ea , got the chance, vs the $16 items I had been using. It has a properly sealed rear plug--wiring entry into the plug is silicon moulded, and there is a silicon seal on the plug body , to which I added a smear of silicon grease. All that remains is for the front movement not to seize up. We shall see.
I would fully agree with Moose re the size--I've been down to 16mm on these things, and it's to easy to miss at first stab on a moving boat. I'm still using a cheapie on my control for the latching solenoid that controls House power, but that is so far up and forward that water has no chance to reach it.
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