On my old layout, I had over 80 DPDT toggle switches installed on a series of control panels to activate Tortoise-controlled turnouts. I no longer need the DPDT toggle switches since I use spring-loaded Peco turnouts on my new layout. Last winter, I sold most of my Tortoises on eBay, and I am now wondering whether I can sell used DPDT toggle switches.
The issue is the soldered wires on each DPDT toggle switch on all six tabs. Do I leave the wires attached? Or, do I remove the solder and the wires, no easy task? I also wonder if the amount of heat applied while removing the wires and the solder will damage the internal circuitry of the DPDT.
As a potential buyer, I ask myself, would I want to buy a used DPDT with wires attached. On the one hand, it would be convenient to have the soldering done already and I could extend the wires by butt splicing longer lengths of wire to the short lengths of wire that would already be soldered to each DPDT. On the other hand, would I prefer a clean DPDT that I could wire and solder my own way.
I know that as a buyer, I almost always prefer new, and the cost of a high quality Miniatronics DPDT is only around $5. However, someone on an economy budget might prefer used DPDT toggle switches if the price were low enough.
So, I have three questions. One, do you think that I could sell used DPDT toggle switches with the wires attached? Two, if the used DPDT toggle switches are more likely to sell with the wires and solder removed, if there an efficient way to remove the solder and wires? It seems extremely labor intensive to remove the solder and expose the holes on all six tabs. Third, do I risk damaging the DPDT internal circuitry, given all the heat involved?
I welcome your advice and comments.
Rich
Alton Junction
I think wire stubs say they are good as opposed to a cleaned up one that still looks used but out of service for some reason. Makes me wonder if the guy used them to throw at squirels and that is why they are beat up
ndbprr I think wire stubs say they are good as opposed to a cleaned up one that still looks used but out of service for some reason. Makes me wonder if the guy used them to throw at squirels and that is why they are beat up
Not personally knowning the seller - I'd prefer the wire stubs as I can desolder them myself and clean the holes. Someone I don't know, whose soldering skills I don't know, could perhaps damage them in cleaning them all up.
Someone I know, when I know they know what they are doing, if they're going to do all the grunt work for me - have at it.
It's really multiple operations, although sometimes you get lucky. First, just heat each on and pullt he wire out - if you get lucky, the hole gets cleaned, if not, come back to it. Once all the wires are aff, make a second pass using deslodering braid or a desoldering tool and clean the holes - also a quick operation per tab, so at no time will the heat be held on for an excessive amount of time. ANd if you arte paranoid - do one terminal of ALL the switches, then start over and do the second terminal, and so forth - so only one terminal of a given switch gets heated at a time, and then it all has time to cool down. Takes longer, but like I said, if you are paranoid... If selling on eBay, might want to take some pictures of this careful paranoid method of desoldering and include them so the buyer can see how you didn't just boil all the switches trying to clean up the solder.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks, Randy, as always a very comprehensive reply.
For the most part, those DPDT toggle switches were wired up and soldered way back in 2004 - 2005 when my soldering skills were much less perfected than they are today. I used the proper solder, but my chosen soldering iron back then was a 100 watt Radio Shack model with a rounded end. So, the solder on most tabs is a blob whereas today I would use a pencil-type soldering iron.
I did try to remove all of the solder from one of the DPDT toggle switches, and the good news is that none of the plastic enclosure was melted or damaged. And before selling any of the DPDT toggle switches on eBay, I would test each one to make sure that there was no damage or failure.
Thanks again for all of your comments and advice.
Why are we worrying about cheap switches, the name brand from them is $2.56 or as little as 50 cents from off brands. Funny but buying direct is as cheap as e-bay. Amazon is 80 cents each. All this on a short search.
rrebell Why are we worrying about cheap switches, the name brand from them is $2.56 or as little as 50 cents from off brands. Funny but buying direct is as cheap as e-bay. Amazon is 80 cents each. All this on a short search.
If I don't try to sell them, my only alternative would seem to be toss them in the garbage which means they wind up in a landfill. If someone else can use them and I make a few bucks, it is a win-win situation.
I would agree with Randy, sell them as they are.
Sheldon
The only used electronic goodies I have bought are Faulhaber 2224RS motors and they had short wires attached. Every motor worked like brand new.My experience with newer manufactured toggles is the heat from a soldering iron can ding them easily. I use suture hemostat clamps as a heat sink on my toggles to prevent damage.Would I buy a used toggle switch, sorry but no. I can buy a new unused DPDT toggle for under $1.50. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Sell them with wire attached, if I were buying them I would be happy if the wire was already long enough for the job at hand.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
richhotrain rrebell Why are we worrying about cheap switches, the name brand from them is $2.56 or as little as 50 cents from off brands. Funny but buying direct is as cheap as e-bay. Amazon is 80 cents each. All this on a short search. I should have mentioned that these are Miniatronics DPDT toggle expenses which each cost $5 or more even on eBay. So, if I were to sell my used ones on eBay, say for $1 apiece, that would seem to be a good deal for someone looking for a quality switch. If I don't try to sell them, my only alternative would seem to be toss them in the garbage which means they wind up in a landfill. If someone else can use them and I make a few bucks, it is a win-win situation. Rich
I should have mentioned that these are Miniatronics DPDT toggle expenses which each cost $5 or more even on eBay. So, if I were to sell my used ones on eBay, say for $1 apiece, that would seem to be a good deal for someone looking for a quality switch.
rrebell I went to their website fror prices, now are these ones that are high amperage.
I went to their website fror prices, now are these ones that are high amperage.
MINI TOGGLE SWITCH-DPDT-5 AMP-120 V-1/4 IN DIA [4 PCS]
36-250-04
$16.58
richhotrain rrebell I went to their website fror prices, now are these ones that are high amperage. These are the 5 amp DPDT toggle switches. MINI TOGGLE SWITCH-DPDT-5 AMP-120 V-1/4 IN DIA [4 PCS] 36-250-04 $16.58 $16.58
These are the 5 amp DPDT toggle switches.
FWIW, and a point of reference, someone on HOSwap today listed a package of 4, 36-260-04 toggles for $5. Not the same item number, but I presume similar.
36-250-04 is DPDT, no center off. 36-260-04 is DPDT center off.