srvctec said:
I believe the type you mention are much better, however their main drawback is their extremely low current handling ability. .05A
Yep, it's limiting. I was simply showing a switch from a company with global reputation for making swtiches just so you can see the quality difference. The actual spec is one thing, but you could look at different designs and often time, quality of design or workmanship still shows regardless of size.
Remeber 0.05A is the current rating for guaranteed service life though. In reality, some small switches aren't even rated and classified "general purpose" unless they have to bear a rating for regulatory compliance (i.e. power switch has to be UL rated).
I believe is much less current than the L1P and the majority of lights in this form factor put through the switch and so these could not be used anyway. Besides, I have worked on copiers, printers and fax machines for the last 18 years and have replaced numerous switches of the "tick switch" type made exactly as depicted above.
It's clearly exceeding the spec, but it might survive 1A at 3v as there's not much arc at that voltage. Who knows though. Also, copiers used in locations where service techs have a contract tend to be in an environment with frustrated button masher type users and this maybe a contributing factor to a failure.
I agree totally with this statement, however, if the switch can't handle the current flowing through it, then it doesn't matter how good the surface finish is.
Good is relative. There's an appropriate type of contact mechanism and material depending for each application. Use of generic switch is acceptable and inevitable on a $4.99 cheap light, but there's higher standards of expectation for a flashlight that cost $45.
The relay inside microwave oven switches about a dozen amp of highly inductive load at 120v AC. It cycles on and off every ten second or so if you're using defrost mode or reduced power and it still works fine after tens of thousands of cycles.
Try that with relay contacts made from something like the Fenix switch.