I'm trying to repair the power switch from a coffee machine and have searched my eyes out for something like it. What worries me about replacing it with a simple round switch is that I see what I suppose is a resistor in there.
Is that a neon bulb inside ?
Is that a neon bulb inside ?
Yes, that’s why the resistor is in there. The orange glow of an old fashioned ionized gas solution. One cent resistor + one cent neon lamp = 2 cent pilot lamp. Hard to beat, especially when it’s built into the switch housing. What you’ve got there is 100% custom.
That is indeed a neon bulb inside and the 150K ohm resistor is in series with the neon bulb. The red dot on the black button looks like it's a colored lens that the neon bulb can shine through. It is a line switch with a 'on' indicator. There are many different shapes and sizes on eBay like the one mentioned below. Finding one exactly like the original will be unlikely so it will depend on how much room you have to mount a replacement switch. If the switch is to be used on 240VAC you'll need a switch with a lamp rated for that voltage or use a 120VAC model with an external approximately 75K ohm resistor in series with the internal resistor to limit the current to the lamp to a safe value.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PC-SPST-ON-OFF-Rocker-Switch-w-RED-Neon-Lamp-20A-125VAC-USA-SELLER/291676726480?hash=item43e949a4d0:g:-Z0AAOSwUKxYhvHm
If it were mine, I’d bust that puppy open and see what I could do to refurbish it. I’ve been know to make FrankinSwitches out of old relay contacts. When you can’t buy it, make it.
I got tired of replacing power switches on my old espresso machine and installed a heavy duty relay for the heating elements so that the power switch only has to switch the much lower current of the electronics and the coil of the relay.
You may be able to clean up the existing switch contacts enough that it will work without the high current load of the heating element.
The switch itself actually works. The problem is that the little hinges seen in the first and second picture broke.
They were what held the switch inside the machine and the button on the outside in place. You could glue the switch into position, but the button would still fall off.
What is the diameter of the button. If your friend isn't concerned about exact match maybe a round 250V rocker switch might just fit the button hole diameter.
