plunger switch

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=132008
Printed Date: July 04, 2025 at 10:05 PM

Topic: plunger switch

Posted By: petel
Subject: plunger switch
Date Posted: August 15, 2012 at 5:21 PM

Hello.
Could I please ask if anyone out there knows of an off-the-shelf plunger switch, which makes contact only at mid travel?

By this I mean a switch (similar principal to that used on a fridge door)which makes no contact when fully extended or retracted, but which does make contact as it passes through the middle of its travel.

Thank youy Pete.

Replies:

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: August 15, 2012 at 7:14 PM

It may be possible with 2 separate switches. What exactly are you trying to do?

Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: August 17, 2012 at 3:28 AM

I can't visualise anything like that but do yourself a favour and go to their site or contact RS Components, they're a UK company and carry a larger range than Farnell or Mouser in the US.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Posted By: petel
Date Posted: August 17, 2012 at 6:48 AM

Many thanks to you both for your replies.
Regards Pete.

Posted By: tommy...
Date Posted: August 17, 2012 at 7:24 AM

i am an idiot wrote:

It may be possible with 2 separate switches. What exactly are you trying to do?

Either something he is trying to Patent... or a bomb...?? posted_image

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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

Posted By: oldspark
Date Posted: August 17, 2012 at 7:01 PM

A magnet and reed or Hall switch....

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: August 17, 2012 at 10:13 PM

He is over there near Howie. I'm not helping anymore if it is a bomb.

Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: August 18, 2012 at 12:41 AM

Oh Craig so many comments I could make there.
Do you and Tommy realise that you've both been caught by Echelon and you're now on the Homeland Security watch list?

-------------
Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Posted By: petel
Date Posted: August 18, 2012 at 1:14 AM

Hello Oldspark and thanks for your reply. Unfortunately this needs to be a mechanical plunger switch. To use anything electronic I would have to run a power supply the length of both front and rear gardens.

Hello Howie. It is nice to find I am not the only one who knows about Echelon.

Thanks again Pete.

Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: August 18, 2012 at 1:20 AM

And for Tommy and Craig, I know Peter (Oldie knows), Echelon is officially a security agreement between the UK, US, Australia and possibly Canada and NZ for Elint, ALL your phone, and Cell calls email, Skype, etc.
The US gov. doesn't officially listen in to US citizens, WE do and vice versa, whilst the Israelis listen in to everyone!

-------------
Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Posted By: oldspark
Date Posted: August 18, 2012 at 1:54 AM

Oh you silly people. Echelon is a myth started by Hollywood.
Yes, that's right - the Jennifer Garner series "Alias" was penned for her back in 1949...
(I'm merely preempting future answers on the subject posted_image

)

It does include Canada & NZ.
And as I describe it - "ALL electronic communications".
(Or so the TV-script reads...)

Oh, did I digress?

petel] wrote:

nfortunately this needs to be a mechanical plunger switch.

I'm not sure what you therefore want...
We tend to deal with electrical stuff, though mechanical and electrical are essentially equivalent, or can be converted, etc.

Maybe if you describe what it is you are trying to do.

BTW - fridges AFAIK use ordinary switches, not any "mid way" switching.
And if they were mid-switches, I expect they'd be 2 (or 3) switches combined electrically rather than a mechanical set up. (Maybe like my tank or sump pump that switches between 2 levels, or an extension thereof.)

PS - I wish this site had adjustable font sizes - I'd write smaller to make it harder for Echelon to intercept.
Maybe you guys can ctrl-down_arrow or ctrl-down_mouse_scroll to help me out...?

Posted By: petel
Date Posted: August 18, 2012 at 6:45 AM

Hello.
I will let the matter rest here and thanks to all for your contributions.
Regards, Pete.

Posted By: tommy...
Date Posted: August 18, 2012 at 7:20 AM

petel] wrote:

Hello Oldspark and thanks for your reply. Unfortunately this needs to be a mechanical plunger switch. To use anything electronic I would have to run a power supply the length of both front and rear gardens.

Hello Howie. It is nice to find I am not the only one who knows about Echelon.

Thanks again Pete.

Howie, what is a "Front & Rear Garden"...? Unless it Literally means front and rear gardens?

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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: August 18, 2012 at 8:30 AM

English houses tended to have a front garden (now the driveway for your cars) and a back garden*, just realised, translates as YARD.
*I'm in an apartment but if your Jewish like me the back garden becomes a bar-b-q patio and a pool.

-------------
Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.