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At 10:45 AM 09/09/2000 -0400, Klaus and Debbie Boehmke wrote:

>> Hi all,
>>
>> After close examination and disassembly of my Pro 6 lite, I have come to
>> the conclusion that the only thing between a working lite and a flooded
>> lite, is a thin rubber membrane over the on/off toggle switch.  Why is
>> this
>> more desireable over a reed magnetic switch such as those used on DPVs? 

A reed switch is not designed to carry large current loads. Some of the
reed switches (like the ones use in scooters and electronics) will however
carry enough current to actuate the coil in a 12 volt relay made by any
number of manufactuers.
The relay used also must be capable of handling the current that the
selected bulb draws.
You could build the light this way, as long as the above conditions were
met, however, it would cause an increased amperage drain (as the relay must
have a constant current flow to hold the coil) on the entire system.
This of course would decrease the burn time of the light, as well as reduce
the voltage the bulb sees, thus making the light output somewhat less.

Hella manufactuers a solid state relay that enviromentally sealed and only
draws a few mah. 
Also a latching relay would work. It takes a voltage pulse to close the
relay (completing the current path) and another to open the relay (closing
or breaking the current path). Latching relays do take a small amout of
current to operate but the interval is very brief(a few milliseconds). They
only draw current when the pulse is recieved they by making them the choice
for applications where the need to keep the voltage drain to a minumim is
desired.

A switch on the other hand, has only a very small amount of resistance and
is the less expensive method of curcuit completion for said purpose.
Because of its simplicity, it is less prone to failure.
Rubber boots come in varying thickness, I'd say that might be the direction
to the solution.

Regards JD



"SILT HAPPENS"JD   JEFF DISLER
  SAFE CAVING       NSS 26000
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