KR>Switch ratings

2008-10-12 Thread Martindale Family
Folks For the elecrically inclined, a very basic qustion? How does one convert an AC switch rating to the DC equilivent. For example 125V AC 3-amp relates to 12V DC at what amps?? I know DC ratings are less for a given voltage due to the one way current gradually removing metal from one contac

KR>Switch ratings

2008-10-12 Thread Les Criscillo
: KRnet Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 02:57 Subject: KR>Switch ratings Folks For the elecrically inclined, a very basic qustion? How does one convert an AC switch rating to the DC equilivent. For example 125V AC 3-amp relates to 12V DC at what amps?? I know DC ratings are less f

KR>Switch Ratings

2008-10-12 Thread JIM VANCE
John, The exact number varies with the construction of the switch, but a rule of thumb is that the D C current rating is about 1/8 that for A C. As the switch is closed or opened, there is an arc as the contacts separate. Since A C reverses itself 120 times a second, the voltage passes through

KR>Switch Ratings

2008-10-12 Thread Martindale Family
Yikes Thanks Jim But does the 1/8 rule apply to unequal voltages? Would 125 VAC 3 amps really equate to 12VDC 0.375amp!! Is this really correct? If so, my ignition switches are about 8 times under rated for my Bosch 3 amp coils and most of my other swirches are suspect as well! Off to Aeroelectric

KR>Switch Ratings

2008-10-12 Thread larry severson
But does the 1/8 rule apply to unequal voltages? >Would 125 VAC 3 amps really equate to 12VDC 0.375amp!! Watts are volts X amps. You are talking 375 watts (AC) vs 4+ watts (DC). You went the wrong way way with the 1/8. Larry Severson Fountain Valley, CA 92708 (714) 968-9852 lar...@socal.rr.com

KR>Switch Ratings

2008-10-12 Thread Martindale Family
bin. See Ya The Martindale Family 29 Jane Circuit TOORMINA NSW 2452 AUSTRALIA phone: 61 2 66584767 email: johnj...@chc.net.au - Original Message - From: "larry severson" To: "KRnet" Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 11:35 AM Subject: Re: KR>Switch Ratings

KR>Switch Ratings

2008-10-12 Thread Philip Maley
One thing to remember is that an amp is an amp regardless of the overall circuit voltage. If a switch is going to get hot at 1 amp in a 125V AC circuit it will also get hot at 1 amp in a 12V DC circuit. So it's probably safest to look at current capacity and voltage as separate parameters when sel

KR>Switch Ratings

2008-10-12 Thread larry flesner
>One thing to remember is that an amp is an amp regardless of the overall >circuit voltage. If a switch is going to get hot at 1 amp in a 125V AC >circuit it will also get hot at 1 amp in a 12V DC circuit. +++ It would appear that several po

KR>Switch Ratings

2008-10-12 Thread Ron Freiberger
Martindale said; curious about what is causing my 1/2 volt drop across the switches... maybe they are arcing internally and building up a resistance or maybe they're just dirty...either way as Jim suggests, they're headed for the bin. Preindication of failure, either in the switch or connections l

KR>Switch Ratings

2008-10-12 Thread Martindale Family
> Hi Larry > > Yeh that's what I thought but something still niggles. > > 125VAC at 3 amps should be roughly equilvalent to 14VDC at 27 amps. I ought > be OK but somehow the latter seems excessive? > > 125VAC at 3 amps relates to 125VDC at only 0.375 amps by Jim's rule of > thumb, that is, voltage