SPST Lighted Rocker Switch is not Lighting Up

[Eddie]

I just bought the following SPST lighted rocker switch from RadioShack but I
can't get it to light up:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=275-692

This is a 3 terminal switch (power, load, ground) and so far as I know, I
have everything hooked up correctly. Power is coming directly from a
switched 10A fuse in my Jeep's fuse block. The switch activates the solenoid
I have it hooked up to just fine but the light in the switch will not come
on when activated.

I have hooked up two different switches I had laying around (one
incandescent and one LED) and both worked and lit up just fine. I have
purchased a second identical switch and tried it out just in case the one I
had a bad bulb but it didn't work either. Based on what I have read, but I
think the bulb might be neon? If so, is there something special I need to
do to get this thing to work correctly?

I apologize if this sounds like a really stupid question but I really know
very little about electronics and I'm at the end of what I can figure out on
my own. I really would appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Eddie

 

[Andrew Holme]

I just bought the following SPST lighted rocker switch from
RadioShack but I can't get it to light up:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=275-692

This is a 3 terminal switch (power, load, ground) and so far as I
know, I have everything hooked up correctly. Power is coming
directly from a switched 10A fuse in my Jeep's fuse block. The switch
activates the solenoid I have it hooked up to just fine but the light
in the switch will not come on when activated.

I have hooked up two different switches I had laying around (one
incandescent and one LED) and both worked and lit up just fine. I
have purchased a second identical switch and tried it out just in
case the one I had a bad bulb but it didn't work either. Based on
what I have read, but I think the bulb might be neon? If so, is
there something special I need to do to get this thing to work
correctly?

I apologize if this sounds like a really stupid question but I really
know very little about electronics and I'm at the end of what I can
figure out on my own. I really would appreciate any help you can
provide. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Eddie

It sounds like it's intended for mains votlage. Neons fire at about 90V,
and your jeep's electrical system is only 12V.

 

[Richard]

I just bought the following SPST lighted rocker switch from RadioShack but I
can't get it to light up:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=275-6
92

This is a 3 terminal switch (power, load, ground) and so far as I know, I
have everything hooked up correctly. Power is coming directly from a
switched 10A fuse in my Jeep's fuse block. The switch activates the solenoid
I have it hooked up to just fine but the light in the switch will not come
on when activated.

I have hooked up two different switches I had laying around (one
incandescent and one LED) and both worked and lit up just fine. I have
purchased a second identical switch and tried it out just in case the one I
had a bad bulb but it didn't work either. Based on what I have read, but I
think the bulb might be neon? If so, is there something special I need to
do to get this thing to work correctly?

<snip>

Spec shows this switch is rated at 10A 125 VAC. The key here may be that it
is designed for AC, not DC, voltage.

Richard

 

[Rich Grise]

I just bought the following SPST lighted rocker switch from RadioShack but I
can't get it to light up:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=275-692

This is a 3 terminal switch (power, load, ground) and so far as I know, I
have everything hooked up correctly. Power is coming directly from a
switched 10A fuse in my Jeep's fuse block. The switch activates the solenoid
I have it hooked up to just fine but the light in the switch will not come
on when activated.

I have hooked up two different switches I had laying around (one
incandescent and one LED) and both worked and lit up just fine. I have
purchased a second identical switch and tried it out just in case the one I
had a bad bulb but it didn't work either. Based on what I have read, but I
think the bulb might be neon? If so, is there something special I need to
do to get this thing to work correctly?

I apologize if this sounds like a really stupid question but I really know
very little about electronics and I'm at the end of what I can figure out on
my own. I really would appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks!

No apology necessary - this is the basics group, after all. The
only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

And yes, it's because that particular switch has a neon bulb, which
needs mains voltage to operate. So, the short answer is, yes, you
_could_ make it light off 12V, but it's so not worth it that most
people wouldn't even say it's _possible_. ;-) (you'd have to build
a little 120V power supply, which is possible, but - OK, I'll say
it: _THAT_ would be stupid. )

If it's hackable, you could open it up and replace the neon and the
120K with an LED and, say, 470R, but for three bucks, just go get
one that has an LED. The rest of the specs are fine.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Jasen Betts]

I just bought the following SPST lighted rocker switch from RadioShack but I
can't get it to light up:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=275-692

This is a 3 terminal switch (power, load, ground) and so far as I know, I
have everything hooked up correctly. Power is coming directly from a
switched 10A fuse in my Jeep's fuse block. The switch activates the solenoid
I have it hooked up to just fine but the light in the switch will not come
on when activated.

I have hooked up two different switches I had laying around (one
incandescent and one LED) and both worked and lit up just fine. I have
purchased a second identical switch and tried it out just in case the one I
had a bad bulb but it didn't work either. Based on what I have read, but I
think the bulb might be neon? If so, is there something special I need to
do to get this thing to work correctly?

You need over 70 volts to light that one up. It's a neon illuminated switch.

Complain to them that their online description doesn't mention this clearly
(it doesn't it only mentions the resistor for the neon)

Bye.
Jasen