Did I just destroy/fry my switches?

[ilpostino]

Tonight I started to do the wiring for my first light saber. I am going to use two LEDs and two buttons (amber and red 16mm anti vandal short momentary ring switches) for switching color on the light saber easily. (I am building Visas Marr light saber which where both a Sith and Jedi). After soldering the wires on the switches I connected a battery holder with 2x AAA batteries to see if the connection where ok. The first button where illuminated for a few seconds before the light on the ring faded and the secound one didnt light up at all. I am now wondering if I have destroyed the switches or if I have tested with batteries that are too "weak" to illuminate them. I have a 20 mA variable resistor that I am going to attach when I complete the wiring tomorrow.

[Forgetful Jedi Knight]

Which switches did what? I am guessing you may have at least blown your Red LED. The switch itself would still be fine.

[ilpostino]

I used 16mm Anti Vandal Short Momentary Yellow Ring Switch (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/16mm-Anti-Vandal-Short-Momentary-Yellow-Ring-Switch-P617.aspx) and its red counterpart (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/16mm-Anti-Vandal-Short-Momentary-Red-Ring-Switch-P580.aspx). I don't remember which of them I tried first but if I blown the LED shouldn't the second one "fade away" like the first one did if I destroyed the LEDs in the switches? As long as the switches themself work I guess I can connect everything as scheduled tomorrow and order new switches.

[Forgetful Jedi Knight]

I used 16mm Anti Vandal Short Momentary Yellow Ring Switch (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/16mm-Anti-Vandal-Short-Momentary-Yellow-Ring-Switch-P617.aspx) and its red counterpart (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/16mm-Anti-Vandal-Short-Momentary-Red-Ring-Switch-P580.aspx). I don't remember which of them I tried first but if I blown the LED shouldn't the second one "fade away" like the first one did if I destroyed the LEDs in the switches? As long as the switches themself work I guess I can connect everything as scheduled tomorrow and order new switches.

My point is that you probably fried one, but if the other never lit up, you may not have wired it properly (so it may still be OK), and if you try again using a resistor, it might still work. Both have a Vf of about 2.1V.

[ilpostino]

I will check the wiring tomorrow when I have connected the resistor and everything else. Hopefully I didn't do the wiring properly on the second one.

[Forgetful Jedi Knight]

Try the one switch (with the right resistor) by itself before you wire everything up.

[ilpostino]

I am planning to use quick connects, placing the resistor between the quick connector and everything else on the positive lead.

[Forgetful Jedi Knight]

I am planning to use quick connects, placing the resistor between the quick connector and everything else on the positive lead.

That's fine, but it makes a difference when you wire the LED part of the switch. Only one pin is the (+) LED and if you reverse them, the LED won't light up.

[Silver Serpent]

As an FYI, when testing red or yellow LEDs, you can often use a single alkaline battery to verify that you have them wired correctly. They should illuminate, but be very dim.