Need cheap slide switches

[Chris333]

For my turnout controls I have been using Slide switches to throw the turnout and power the frog. I've been using C&K S202031MS02Q switches and they just happen to be a perfect size that I can screw a RC ball stud into. The problem is the last time I bought them online was some sale called "son of a cheap slide switch" I got 100 of them for $9.99. Now the cheapest I can find them is here:
http://www.onlinecomponents.com/c-k-components_s202031ms02q.html?p=11123835
100 would be $85 bucks   
100 at Mouser would be $333, Digikey is $225 
Can anyone point me to something cheaper?

The only thing I "need" is a bigger actuator. These are .335" high x .220" wide x .280" long.



Help me be a cheap 

[Scottl]

Faced with the same issue, I'm testing with some I picked up at Radio Shack for about $1.50 each.

A thought though, is this a component you want to cheap out on?   How difficult would a replacement be?  I'm debating the same issue.

[Chris333]

I haven't had one fail yet. Sometimes I get them hot when I solder wires to them and they won't move. Wait a few min. and they are fine again.

Just sayin' $10 vs. $300 is a lot for the same exact thing. 

[C855B]

... The problem is the last time I bought them online was some sale called "son of a cheap slide switch" I got 100 of them for $9.99. ...

You lucked into a surplus lot, acquired by the seller from a distress sale for pennies on the dollar. Electronics surplus is a strange biz. Not only can you not depend on getting the same "great" price twice, you can't even depend on getting the same part twice. Fortunately in this case we're talking about something very common.

Oh... 85¢ each is a fairly good deal, those are surplus, too. Your original 10¢ each was once-in-a-lifetime, or nearly so.

[peteski]

Chris,
you hit a bargain of a lifetime and I don't expect that you'll easily find anything that cheap.  Have you checked all the electronic surplus vendors? Like All electronics, Electronic Goldmine (those two are the ones that currently come to my mind but there are many others).

[wm3798]

I've got a handful leftover from my yard throat.  Not sure when I'll be allowed back in the house to inventory them, though...

If I get a chance, I'll see what I've got and let you know.

Lee

[Chris333]

I went and ordered 25. I was hoping to buy 200 so I would have another "life time" supply.

It was around 2002 when I got 100 for $9.99. Life times must be getting shorter. 

[DKS]

Can you use these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Size-2-Positions-3-Pins-SPDT-Vertical-ON-ON-Slide-Switches-50-Pcs-/330769858494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d036b7fbe#ht_1891wt_1396

50 @ 4.58, 500 @ 45.80

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-Pcs-Black-Side-Knob-SPDT-3-Terminals-Vertical-Slide-Switch-/320952661465?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aba44f5d9#ht_1848wt_1396

50 @ 4.32, 500 @ 43.20

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-Pcs-Mini-2-Positions-ON-ON-SPDT-3-Terminals-Vertical-Slide-Switches-/320936777629?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab952979d#ht_1872wt_1396

50 @ 4.30, 500 @ 43.00

[Chris333]

Those would probably be too small. My post are .335"x.220"x.280" and those are .040"x.040"x.080".

I made this original post after buying 25 on e-bay that looked big. When I got the the post was too small to work.

[DKS]

Bigger? Yikes, I thought those minis were too big.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CW-Mini-slide-switch-DPST-50-pcs-PN-GF1240111-/160527344121?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25602ce1f9#ht_500wt_1180 ?

50 @ 10.00

[Scottl]

Shipping on that last one showed as $79!

[Chris333]

No size listed.

Here is what I just bought on the left:


There isn't enough meat on the post to drill a hole for the RC ball joint. I also have to drill a .020" hole for a brass rod to fit in.

[DKS]

Shipping on that last one showed as $79!

Huh? I just checked it again: $5.45 Economy Shipping

And the three before that were all free shipping.

I made this original post after buying 25 on e-bay that looked big. When I got the the post was too small to work.

You know, it would be easy enough to cast a bigger slider in resin that would just slip over the small one. A little CA and you should be golden.

[Scottl]

Crazy, I just checked that shipping and it was $5...  I was sober, really!