Bought a switch at Radio Shack. RS Cat # 275-0015 on the bag.
Switch is actually a Shin Chin R13-268, "datasheet" page here --> http://www.sci.com.tw/PRODUCTS/switch/(R13) ROCKER SWITCH/R13-268.htm
Rating, per page above and markings on the switch, is 16a 125vac / 10a 250vac.
I'll be using it at 125vac.
I'm rebuilding a retarded and delusional space heater (one of those stupidly overcomplicated "digital" ones ) that is very quick to heat up a space and very slow to realize that it's overdoing its job... the current to the elements (2 @ ~700w each -- 1500w total for the unit) is about 6a per element, and I'm planning on one element per switch side... but there's this nifty bit of surge current when it cuts off that I'm not quite sure how to calculate and I want to make sure it won't ruin the switch...
Basically --
20v supply --> old wall thermostat --> relays+125v supply --> heating elements
The relays are 24vdc-coil models that have a min cuton voltage of 18v. I'm repurposing a very old Dell power brick that probably won't even notice the load... altho I may get 12v relays from a friend, and then I'll use a smaller wall wart if I have one that's regulated...
The thermostat is rated 24-30vac (oddly, to me) but I talked to both an HVAC professional that I trust, and the owner of the local Radio Shack (a franchise store with a small electronics repair side-biz), and both said that the thermostat (mercury bulb style) will handle DC just fine.
Having said all of that, what I actually want to know is: given that this particular switch (the Shin Chin / Radio Shack one I was talking about in the beginning) is a DPST model, is the rating total for the entire switch (so ~8a per side at 125vac) or is that total per side (so the switch can actually handle a total of ~32a at 125vac)...? Also, would the momentary surge current from the elements in the heater be enough to make it fail?
Switch is actually a Shin Chin R13-268, "datasheet" page here --> http://www.sci.com.tw/PRODUCTS/switch/(R13) ROCKER SWITCH/R13-268.htm
Rating, per page above and markings on the switch, is 16a 125vac / 10a 250vac.
I'll be using it at 125vac.
I'm rebuilding a retarded and delusional space heater (one of those stupidly overcomplicated "digital" ones ) that is very quick to heat up a space and very slow to realize that it's overdoing its job... the current to the elements (2 @ ~700w each -- 1500w total for the unit) is about 6a per element, and I'm planning on one element per switch side... but there's this nifty bit of surge current when it cuts off that I'm not quite sure how to calculate and I want to make sure it won't ruin the switch...
Basically --
20v supply --> old wall thermostat --> relays+125v supply --> heating elements
The relays are 24vdc-coil models that have a min cuton voltage of 18v. I'm repurposing a very old Dell power brick that probably won't even notice the load... altho I may get 12v relays from a friend, and then I'll use a smaller wall wart if I have one that's regulated...
The thermostat is rated 24-30vac (oddly, to me) but I talked to both an HVAC professional that I trust, and the owner of the local Radio Shack (a franchise store with a small electronics repair side-biz), and both said that the thermostat (mercury bulb style) will handle DC just fine.
Having said all of that, what I actually want to know is: given that this particular switch (the Shin Chin / Radio Shack one I was talking about in the beginning) is a DPST model, is the rating total for the entire switch (so ~8a per side at 125vac) or is that total per side (so the switch can actually handle a total of ~32a at 125vac)...? Also, would the momentary surge current from the elements in the heater be enough to make it fail?