Illuminated toggles!

[ch1naski]

These look pretty darn cool. Anyone know where to get them? At a reasonable retail price?

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[DuctTapeRiot]

I am all over every thing lighted, but I have never seen those before. Where did the pic come from? The only lighted toggles I have seen were at led-switch.com,  but the are kind of wonky (only good as a on/ off switch for 12v effects). Would've very interested in more info on these

[2tonewarrior]

Try here (http://stores.ebay.es/PARTSPIPE) or any other electronic related chinese ebay store.

I´ve seen some lighted switches looking around but not that ones, but you can try.

Here´s an example http://www.ebay.es/itm/8-CAR-BOAT-Fog-Light-Strobe-illuminated-SWITCH-B07D-/300724918628

[DuctTapeRiot]

I think the big problem is that all of these switches that I am seeing are essentially useless in effects pedals. The reason being is that they all assume that the only thing they will be switching is a 12V DC supply line, which they require to power the LED or lamp in the switch.  So generally you will have 3 lugs, one for the incoming power line, one to ground for the LED/Lamp, and one for the outgoing power line. So there is really no way to use them to do stuff like clipping diode switching, or any audio signal switching, and still get the LED to light up.

[ch1naski]

Most switches have voltage requirements that don't suit us. I'm looking for this web site, I  could swear I saw that you could specify voltage on them when ordering......I was tipsy on wine and didn't bookmark it....dammit

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[DuctTapeRiot]

Ya, that pic is the only one I have seen of lighted toggles with more than one pole, so would be very interested in finding where the pic came from or where the toggles are sold.

[trickpony]

Well, unless they have tiny watch batteries inside them, I would say the light effect has been photoshopped in.

[DuctTapeRiot]

Oh ya, the ones in that pic are photoshopped for sure, but lighted toggles are definitely out there.  The thing is all the ones I have actually found work as in the pic I attached here.  What we need is a switch that allows you to supply independent power and ground for the led or lamp inside.

[hammerheadmusicman]

why bother photoshopping them?!

they blatently have, but why!?

[DuctTapeRiot]

Dollars to donuts they took the photo then realised, "Crap these are the illuminated toggles".

[2tonewarrior]

http://www.pddnet.com/product-releases/2006/10/illuminated-toggle-switches-12131

http://www.nkkswitches.com

[DuctTapeRiot]

Holy poop, YES, thank you 2tonewarrior!!  Now we just need to find someone who will order them in!!

http://www.nkkswitches.com/series.aspx?stid=13&id=5079

Here is a tact switch that I found while looking:
http://www.e-switch.com/product/tabid/96/productid/16/sename/tl1290-series-right-angle-illuminated-tactile-switch/default.aspx

[ch1naski]

I knew they were out there....

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[DuctTapeRiot]

Ok update based on my recent research.  NKK Switches makes 3 different kinds of lighted toggles, regular size, sub mini and ultra mini (there is a bunch of options for each) all with isolated LED circuits.  The ultra mini and sub mini are only available in SPDT, and the normal size is SPDT and DPDT.  There are a number of different LED colors and mounting styles, and they all seem to come in on - on, and on - off - on configurations, and have options for a single or bi-color LED (on - off - on only have bi color option).  Here are links to the datasheets for the three model types, including how the part numbers break down (important when ordering):
Large Size: http://www.nkkswitches.com/pdf/M2100.pdf
Sub Mini: http://www.nkkswitches.com/pdf/BIllumToggle.pdf
Ultra Mini: http://www.nkkswitches.com/pdf/gtogglesilluminated.pdf

The only place I have found so far to order these  is Allied Electronics http://www.alliedelec.com (there must be others, I didnt actually do too much more searching once I found Allied).  The easiest thing I have found to locate the specific switches on the Allied site, is to use the data sheets from NKK and figure out what the first part of the part number is going to be and do a search for that.

Also, they ain't cheap!! About $5-7 each for the minis and $6-$9 for the larger ones.  I just put an order in for a couple (got at least one of each size) and will report back when they get here.

[DuctTapeRiot]

Gahhhh, just went to put in my order and they have 0 in stock on any of these, all on back order    Will email Allied to see when they will be in, if at all.

Update: Spoke to Allied on the phone, these switches are essentially a special order. I am going to put together an email with part numbers etc and she is going to give me a quote and lead time. 

Soooo I suppose if there are other brave souls out there who would like to try a few of these out let me know asap and I will tack some onto my order.