In search of: Short bat DPDT On-On-On Mini Toggle Switch

[Beo]

I really like the short bat toggles, and have quite a few SPDT and DPDT in On-On and On-Off-On configurations. But I have not been able to find an On-On-On toggle switch with a short bat. Parameter searches on mouser don't identify bat length and often use generic pictures. Anyone have any leads or suggestions?

[davent]

Checked Digikey, which does allow filtering by bat length and they don't have anything either, i have used a saw in the past to get a shorter toggle when needed.

dave

[Mark Hammer]

I've "shortened" longer-bat toggles too.  It's feasible, but you need the right tools.  As well, consider that the bats are only chrome-plated, and generally brass underneath.  So the part that sticks out will not be the same colour as the remainder of the bat.  Not that big a deal, but I realize some folks understandably prefer the more "professional" appearance of a single finish to the bat-handle.

Now that you've got me thinking about it, I wonder if bat handles simply fall out when you pry the tabs up on the toggle, such that one could take the bat from one switch and sub it for the bat in another?

[Cozybuilder]

If you have to cut the bat down, maybe you could cover it with something like this:

[Cozybuilder]

Better, Small Bear has your switch

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/dpdt-on-on-on-sub-mini-short-lever/

[Beo]

Better, Small Bear has your switch

http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/dpdt-on-on-on-sub-mini-short-lever/

I've searched smallbear in the past, so this must be somewhat newish? Thanks for the link!

[PRR]

I too thought you could saw-off a bat.

The one I tried, it turned out the *spring* was inside the bat! The first try, the spring flew out, the bat flopped uselessly.

I was able to crimp the next bat, to retain the spring, and snip above the crimp. It was stiff, and scratched your finger, but held-up for a long time in a public hallway.

Obviously not all switches are built with spring inside the bat.