How Many Amps Can A Maglite Switch Handle?

[GreyShark]

I want to build a Mag based hotwire. I know I'll need a borofloat lens and metal reflector but without knowing how many amps the Maglite switch can take it's hard to optimize the design. I'm looking at a 4C host right now if that makes a difference.

 

[jasonck08]

Most people say <5 amps is recommended, although you can do 10 amps for short bursts.

 

[GreyShark]

Thanks. I recall hearing the 5 amp figure tossed around now that you mention it.

Unfortunately that isn't as high as I'd like for some of my more ambitious plans. I guess I'll need to get a look at that switch and see if I can either beef it up or make a new one that fits in the same space. Some of the bulbs I'd like to run draw around 12 amps. Cooling probably becomes a major issue at those levels though.

 

[VidPro]

50 amps , ONCE
there are many good mods of the mag switch, some of the coolest i saw in pictures, were , putting copper bypass in, they used solderwick (of all things) copper which flexes really nice, to bypass the spring resistance in the switch. this reduced the resistance on the spring.
just a little resitance, but it can make a lot of difference when running excessive amperage through.

donna forget that if you use higher voltages, you can get as many watts of power through, to something without as many of the AMPS that make these thing harder to do.
like multiple AAs shoved in or 1/2Ds or higher voltage chemestries.

then just recent i saw a cool one, here, thats different
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=223571
6th pic down.

other modifications include using the switch to only change the state on a piece of electronics, and using mosfet , regulators, or whatever to do the actual current handling.

 

[Starlight]

I don't do long runs with my lights, 1-2 min max. I run 10-12 amps on a stock mag switch with several different bulb/battery combinations.

 

[JimmyM]

It's not just how many amps it can "take". But also, how much voltage are you losing in the switch.
Even at 0.1 Ohms of resistance, 12 Amps will lose 1.2V in the process. So you're not getting full voltage. Also you're dissipating 14 watts. Small soldering irons are 20W.

 

[GreyShark]

I've now read of a couple people pushing 10 or 12 amps through their Mags. It sounds like some destructive testing may be called for. Fortunately Mags are inexpensive.