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Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:41 pm

I'm working on my Sebring/Sterling and the switch that I use to activiate the electric motors that raise/lower the canopy gave up the ghost. I bought DPDT switch that should do the trick, but I'm concerned about the amps it can handle.

There's no info on the motors that indicate their amperage pull, however, the 2 wire leads coming off them appear to be 16 gauge.

The canopy lift has a spring on the arms that essentially provides a counter-balance to the weight of the canopy. You can pull the canopy down to any position and it will stay there. Provided the car is sitting still. When driving, the wind tends to push it down.

The reason I mention this is that most modern lineaar actuators I've found state the amp draw with no load, and at their fully rated draw. Funny thing is, most I've found in the size I would need to replace mine (future project) tend to draw only 4 amps at max draw weight.

My (possibly flawed) logic is that my two current motors are actually pulling/pushing very little weight, and thusly are drawing minimal amps. Hopefully under 5 amps and I can use the switch I bought.

The switch says "12VDC, 5A lamp, 15A Ind Load." I get the "12VDC" and "5A lamp" statements, but havent a clue about"15A Ind Load".

Questions:

1) What does "15A Ind Load" mean? (15 amps for something, but what and why 3X what its rated for on a lamp?)
2) Think this switch will work for these motors?
3) If you dont think it'll work, anybody got a link to DPDT momentary on/off/on rocker switch? (so far I've checked Grainger, RadioShack, Lowes, and HomeDepot, the switch I purchased (from Grainger) is the best fit so far).

Thanks folks.

Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:06 pm

If there's any doubt as to the load capacity of the switch, install a relay rated for your load. Problem solved.

Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:19 pm

I'd thought of using relays, but wasnt sure how to reverse the polarity.

Doing it on the switch seems really straight-forward. I cant take credit for it, here's the link:

http://www.instructables.com/id/SXTXJXHF3HY3U9K/

Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:30 pm

Ind. load stands for Inductive Load. As I recall, it means the switch can handle 15A momentarily as an inductive load, such as a motor comes up to speed and then stops drawing so much current.

I think I'd do it with relays, too. It will take two: one for forward and one for reverse. Use your choice of SPDT rocker switch(with spring center) to activate each respective relay. You don't want to be able to activate BOTH relays at the same time.

Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:17 pm

Jimmler wrote: Ind. load stands for Inductive Load. As I recall, it means the switch can handle 15A momentarily as an inductive load, such as a motor comes up to speed and then stops drawing so much current.

I think I'd do it with relays, too. It will take two: one for forward and one for reverse. Use your choice of SPDT rocker switch(with spring center) to activate each respective relay. You don't want to be able to activate BOTH relays at the same time. Correct!

Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:19 pm

MDSuess,
Let me see if I can sketch something up and I'll send it in a PM.

Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:30 pm

Thanks Jimmler. Another kit car fan send me the diagram shown here:

http://www.the12volt.com/doorlocks/page3.asp#3wp

listed under the heading "Actuators / Reverse Polarity"

Is this something you were thinking of drawing up?

Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:41 pm