Gentlemen,

I'm just a bit unsure about whether these switches I'm using are safe
or not. They claim to be suitable for 250V, but once mounted, it's
impossible to earth the toggles because of the shank (not sure if
that's the right word, but the threaded section that mounts
through-hole) which is plastic. I've always tried to ensure all
exposed metal was earthed, so having constructed this device (see
photos) I'm not 100% happy about not being able to do so this time.
However, maybe there's some internal insulation that makes my concerns
irrelevant, I don't know. Do you?
I've also posted close-ups of the switches themselves.

https://disk.yandex.com/d/dtwTrSmNUiu9Gg

On Sunday, 13 November 2022 at 13:22:57 UTC, Cursitor Doom wrote:
> Gentlemen,
>
> I'm just a bit unsure about whether these switches I'm using are safe
> or not. They claim to be suitable for 250V, but once mounted, it's
> impossible to earth the toggles because of the shank (not sure if
> that's the right word, but the threaded section that mounts
> through-hole) which is plastic. I've always tried to ensure all
> exposed metal was earthed, so having constructed this device (see
> photos) I'm not 100% happy about not being able to do so this time.
> However, maybe there's some internal insulation that makes my concerns
> irrelevant, I don't know. Do you?
> I've also posted close-ups of the switches themselves.
>
>
> https://disk.yandex.com/d/dtwTrSmNUiu9Gg
I've worried about the same thing. I bought some but didn't use them. Got some with a metal 'shank' instead.
Bill

On Sunday, 13 November 2022 at 13:22:57 UTC, Cursitor Doom wrote:
> Gentlemen,
>
> I'm just a bit unsure about whether these switches I'm using are safe
> or not. They claim to be suitable for 250V, but once mounted, it's
> impossible to earth the toggles because of the shank (not sure if
> that's the right word, but the threaded section that mounts
> through-hole) which is plastic. I've always tried to ensure all
> exposed metal was earthed, so having constructed this device (see
> photos) I'm not 100% happy about not being able to do so this time.
> However, maybe there's some internal insulation that makes my concerns
> irrelevant, I don't know. Do you?
> I've also posted close-ups of the switches themselves.
>
>
> https://disk.yandex.com/d/dtwTrSmNUiu9Gg

they lack a double insulated symbol [[_]] so don't even claim to meet current safety requirements.

If that is the case then, what are they doing on sale here?

I had a so called burnished ally finished switch, but discovered I could
feel a tingle from it. This was because the burnished bit was merely glued
to an underlying plastic base, with no metal in the screw holes. The toggle
was kind of coated by some kind of silver looking coating which after about
a year or so chipped off and could actually cut your finger. Though probably
no electrically dangerous, not really made to last.
That is what would worry me about your devices, as although I cannot see
them, if the mechanism were to collapse, it seems to me it would be easy for
the metal to contact the contacts inside.
Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Animal" <tabbypurr@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:8a5646d9-2d6b-46e0-b685-c7eee0f9a6b5n@googlegroups.com...
> On Sunday, 13 November 2022 at 13:22:57 UTC, Cursitor Doom wrote:
>> Gentlemen,
>>
>> I'm just a bit unsure about whether these switches I'm using are safe
>> or not. They claim to be suitable for 250V, but once mounted, it's
>> impossible to earth the toggles because of the shank (not sure if
>> that's the right word, but the threaded section that mounts
>> through-hole) which is plastic. I've always tried to ensure all
>> exposed metal was earthed, so having constructed this device (see
>> photos) I'm not 100% happy about not being able to do so this time.
>> However, maybe there's some internal insulation that makes my concerns
>> irrelevant, I don't know. Do you?
>> I've also posted close-ups of the switches themselves.
>>
>>
>> https://disk.yandex.com/d/dtwTrSmNUiu9Gg
>
> they lack a double insulated symbol [[_]] so don't even claim to meet
> current safety requirements.

On 13/11/2022 13:22, Cursitor Doom wrote:
> Gentlemen,
>
> I'm just a bit unsure about whether these switches I'm using are safe
> or not. They claim to be suitable for 250V, but once mounted, it's
> impossible to earth the toggles because of the shank (not sure if
> that's the right word, but the threaded section that mounts
> through-hole) which is plastic. I've always tried to ensure all
> exposed metal was earthed, so having constructed this device (see
> photos) I'm not 100% happy about not being able to do so this time.
> However, maybe there's some internal insulation that makes my concerns
> irrelevant, I don't know. Do you?
> I've also posted close-ups of the switches themselves.
>
>
> https://disk.yandex.com/d/dtwTrSmNUiu9Gg

If they are being legally sold than there is double insulation between
the switch toggle and what actually bridges the contact

I'd take one apart and judge for yourself.

--
"Anyone who believes that the laws of physics are mere social
conventions is invited to try transgressing those conventions from the
windows of my apartment. (I live on the twenty-first floor.) "

Alan Sokal

On 14/11/2022 12:14, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 13/11/2022 13:22, Cursitor Doom wrote:
>> Gentlemen,
>>
>> I'm just a bit unsure about whether these switches I'm using are safe
>> or not.  They claim to be suitable for 250V, but once mounted, it's
>> impossible to earth the toggles because of the shank (not sure if
>> that's the right word, but the threaded section that mounts
>> through-hole) which is plastic. I've always tried to ensure all
>> exposed metal was earthed, so having constructed this device (see
>> photos) I'm not 100% happy about not being able to do so this time.
>> However, maybe there's some internal insulation that makes my concerns
>> irrelevant, I don't know. Do you?
>> I've also posted close-ups of the switches themselves.
>>
>>
>> https://disk.yandex.com/d/dtwTrSmNUiu9Gg
>
> If they are being legally sold than there is double insulation between
> the switch toggle and what actually bridges the contact

I'm not sure their legal status. If the item is treated as a component,
it's a grey area, and probably doesn't need any UK symbol. I might ask
for a datasheet, if one is available.

The assumption is the equipment incorporating this switch would be tested.

The other symbols on the switch might give an indication of their
suitability with 240VAC.

> I'd take one apart and judge for yourself.

I agree, the only way of being certain is to take one apart and confirm
clearance / creepage.

On Monday, 14 November 2022 at 12:50:56 UTC, Fredxx wrote:
> On 14/11/2022 12:14, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> > On 13/11/2022 13:22, Cursitor Doom wrote:
> >> Gentlemen,
> >>
> >> I'm just a bit unsure about whether these switches I'm using are safe
> >> or not. They claim to be suitable for 250V, but once mounted, it's
> >> impossible to earth the toggles because of the shank (not sure if
> >> that's the right word, but the threaded section that mounts
> >> through-hole) which is plastic. I've always tried to ensure all
> >> exposed metal was earthed, so having constructed this device (see
> >> photos) I'm not 100% happy about not being able to do so this time.
> >> However, maybe there's some internal insulation that makes my concerns
> >> irrelevant, I don't know. Do you?
> >> I've also posted close-ups of the switches themselves.
> >>
> >>
> >> https://disk.yandex.com/d/dtwTrSmNUiu9Gg
> >
> > If they are being legally sold than there is double insulation between
> > the switch toggle and what actually bridges the contact
> I'm not sure their legal status. If the item is treated as a component,
> it's a grey area, and probably doesn't need any UK symbol. I might ask
> for a datasheet, if one is available.
>
> The assumption is the equipment incorporating this switch would be tested.
>
> The other symbols on the switch might give an indication of their
> suitability with 240VAC.
> > I'd take one apart and judge for yourself.
> I agree, the only way of being certain is to take one apart and confirm
> clearance / creepage.

Given the level of honesty on Chinese parts supplies I'd skip the datasheet & open one if you really want to know. Personally I just wouldn't buy them.

On Mon, 14 Nov 2022 15:02:52 -0800 (PST), Animal <tabbypurr@gmail.com>
wrote:

>On Monday, 14 November 2022 at 12:50:56 UTC, Fredxx wrote:
>> On 14/11/2022 12:14, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> > On 13/11/2022 13:22, Cursitor Doom wrote:
>> >> Gentlemen,
>> >>
>> >> I'm just a bit unsure about whether these switches I'm using are safe
>> >> or not. They claim to be suitable for 250V, but once mounted, it's
>> >> impossible to earth the toggles because of the shank (not sure if
>> >> that's the right word, but the threaded section that mounts
>> >> through-hole) which is plastic. I've always tried to ensure all
>> >> exposed metal was earthed, so having constructed this device (see
>> >> photos) I'm not 100% happy about not being able to do so this time.
>> >> However, maybe there's some internal insulation that makes my concerns
>> >> irrelevant, I don't know. Do you?
>> >> I've also posted close-ups of the switches themselves.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> https://disk.yandex.com/d/dtwTrSmNUiu9Gg
>> >
>> > If they are being legally sold than there is double insulation between
>> > the switch toggle and what actually bridges the contact
>> I'm not sure their legal status. If the item is treated as a component,
>> it's a grey area, and probably doesn't need any UK symbol. I might ask
>> for a datasheet, if one is available.
>>
>> The assumption is the equipment incorporating this switch would be tested.
>>
>> The other symbols on the switch might give an indication of their
>> suitability with 240VAC.
>> > I'd take one apart and judge for yourself.
>> I agree, the only way of being certain is to take one apart and confirm
>> clearance / creepage.
>
>Given the level of honesty on Chinese parts supplies I'd skip the datasheet & open one if you really want to know. Personally I just wouldn't buy them.

That's not really feasible in my case. The switches are tiny and I
don't have the requisite fine motor skills to be able to open one up
without destroying it in the process. I think I'll just have to rely
on my unusually high skin resistance which enables me to only feel a
slight tingle at 240V. No one else is ever going to use it anyway.

On Tuesday, 15 November 2022 at 18:10:31 UTC, Cursitor Doom wrote:

> without destroying it in the process. I think I'll just have to rely
> on my unusually high skin resistance which enables me to only feel a
> slight tingle at 240V. No one else is ever going to use it anyway.
Could you insulate the toggles by dipping them in latex, or with heatshrink?
Bill

On Tue, 15 Nov 2022 19:54:57 -0800 (PST), "wrights...@f2s.com"
<wrightsaerials@f2s.com> wrote:

>On Tuesday, 15 November 2022 at 18:10:31 UTC, Cursitor Doom wrote:
>
>> without destroying it in the process. I think I'll just have to rely
>> on my unusually high skin resistance which enables me to only feel a
>> slight tingle at 240V. No one else is ever going to use it anyway.
>Could you insulate the toggles by dipping them in latex, or with heatshrink?
>Bill

Maybe.... maybe.... It's a novel idea at any rate!