Toggle switch life expectancy

[john.thompson068]

I bought a brand new toggle switch from the auto parts store and have flipped the switch off and back on a total of 3000 times. The last time I went to turn on the switch, I had to flip the switch off and back on two times before power was going through it. What kind of life expectancy can I expect from a toggle switch, and is this a sign that it is wearing out?

 

[tpodwdog]

how many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop?......lets ask mr Owl

 

[john.thompson068]

I don't know why but lol. Seriously though wouldn't you think it be like a life time, or like 100's of thousands of clicks? Why would it need me to flick it back and forth before it decided to do its job?

 

[MarPar]

following consultation with the wise owl...

i would think 3000 is a lot of switchin'.

who knows?? it may or may not fail. if you have any doubts, change it!

murphy's law....

 

[70rr-brian]

I don't know why but lol. Seriously though wouldn't you think it be like a life time, or like 100's of thousands of clicks? Why would it need me to flick it back and forth before it decided to do its job?

Anything made since 1973 is automatically crap... You can't buy $hit these days and expect anything but premature failure. That might sound bitter...but I believe it to be an accurate observation.

 

[john.thompson068]

Just in case you were wondering, it is a cutoff switch I have epoxied up in the left rear quarter panel of my 05 Monte Carlo. The solenoid wire to the starter runs through it, and ever since I installed it I have flipped the switch almost every time I park the car over the last 4 years. Occasionally, I have had to re-flip the switch to get it to make the connection but never more than once. If it ever failed I would just rip the wires out of the switch, use my canine teeth to strip the wire, and twist the wires together. Not wanting to be late for work though, recently I have just not flipped the switch. It is not like anyone wants to steal an 05 Monte Carlo anyway. I will flip the switch over the weekend and test it out a few times to see if it seems like it is going to be doing this more often. Or I could just take my big flat blade screw driver and hammer, remove the switch, and epoxy a new one up there for a couple of bucks and not worry about it anymore.

 

[Sweet5ltr]

You get what you pay for in today's society, that is the issue. Advance, Autozone, Orielly's, and Napa just purchase items from the lowest priced retailer and toss them on the shelves. Go with 'Taylor Cable' switches, here is a link to something that would be FAR more appropriate for whatever you have rigged up on your Chevy!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TAY-1026/

 

[moparstuart]

toggle switches are cheap , go get a new one

 

[john.thompson068]

Yeah, they are like a couple bucks. I already figured I would grab one when I go pick up my other parts from the store and spend 20 minutes (times 3) I mean an hour putting it in.