Looking for weatherproof push button switch

[soldar]

My neighbor has a doorbell switch which is very exposed to weather, especially sun, rain, etc. and they last him a couple years and have to be replaced. I have tried several which claim to be outdoor, weatherproof, but they just do not stand up the the elements.

The two main problems are contacts failing due to corrosion and dust and housing failing due to, mostly, sun exposure.  I cannot find anything reliable and I do not understand why because it cannot be so difficult and there must be some demand for this type of switch out there.

If I were to design a weatherproof switch I think I would go with a reed switch and magnet housed in some durable plastic or metal enclosure. That should prevent any problem with the contacts.

I am trying to think if I could build anything myself with my limited means.

I have here a reed capsule and a a magnet but I cannot see how the very small displacement of a push button could make it work. I see a small rotation can make it work. When the magnet is exactly at right angle to the reed switch the switch is at rest but if I rotate the magnet to make it 45° with the reed then it closes.

I suppose I could fit a knob "rotate to call" but it feels a bit unconventional.

So, ideally I am looking for a reliable, commercially available, switch.

Lacking that then I am looking for a way to build one myself. I think the reed solution should be quite reliable but I would need to solve the mechanical design and build.

Ideas?

[tooki]

Can you share what switches you’ve used so far?
And share exactly how they were installed. (In a box? What kind of box? How was the switch installed? What kind of cable seals? Etc.)

[nali]

How about a piezo switch? I presume they use a MOSFET to do the switching.

Here's a random example off the web https://www.switchelectronics.co.uk/products/off-on-19mm-metal-momentary-piezo-switch-spst

(Our doorbell failed after a year exposed to Atlantic weather. Unfortunately water got to the "press to select tune" button so we were awoken by the doorbell continually cycling its tunes selection at 2AM. To make matters worse I couldn't just turn off the receiver as I'd put a supercap inside to prevent it ringing when the mains power glitched off/on as it frequently does round here)

[themadhippy]

Dont be a cheapskate,buy a properly IP rated switch and enclosure

[soldar]

Dont be a cheapskate,buy a properly IP rated switch and enclosure

I did and it failed after only a couple summers.

Do you have one you can recommend?

[soldar]

How about a piezo switch? I presume they use a MOSFET to do the switching.

Here's a random example off the web https://www.switchelectronics.co.uk/products/off-on-19mm-metal-momentary-piezo-switch-spst

(Our doorbell failed after a year exposed to Atlantic weather. Unfortunately water got to the "press to select tune" button so we were awoken by the doorbell continually cycling its tunes selection at 2AM. To make matters worse I couldn't just turn off the receiver as I'd put a supercap inside to prevent it ringing when the mains power glitched off/on as it frequently does round here)

Thanks but that seems unnecessarily complicated and probably more prone to failure. And I don't even know if it would work because I need to close an electric circuit for a length of time.

Plus I do not know how it would stand up to the weather, especially sun.

If it were for my own use, say to turn on an outdoor light, I might think of putting a switch in an enclosure open at the bottom and use a string to activate the switch. It would work for a doorbell but it would seem a bit strange to people.

[themadhippy]

Do you have one you can recommend?

yep,but sit down before you see the price,MK masterseal
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/1808493-10a-dp-1-gang-2-way-weatherproof-switch-marked-bell-ip66-grey

[soldar]

Do you have one you can recommend?

yep,but sit down before you see the price,MK masterseal
https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/1808493-10a-dp-1-gang-2-way-weatherproof-switch-marked-bell-ip66-grey

I am not the one paying for it. Last time we paid about half that for one that looks very similar and which has not stood up to the Spanish sun.

I am thinking of placing the switch inside some kind of metal box with some lid or flap which needs to be lifted to activate the switch but when it is down it will protect it from the direct sun.

The sun is probably not such a serious issue in the UK. 

[TimFox]

Interesting:  Cloudflare is blocking me from the cef website.

[soldar]

Interesting:  Cloudflare is blocking me from the cef website.

I often have issues with Clodflare as well. Sometimes Captcha, sometime a mysterious "wait while we check you are a real human" , sometimes blocked.

[PCB.Wiz]

So, ideally I am looking for a reliable, commercially available, switch.

The most reliable are the standard 12.7mm or 19.8mm Microswitch, and you can get industrial switch capsules that are designed to take a microswitch.
Pick a sealed, long life rated switch, and a switch front that is not 'too industrial'

[tooki]

@soldar: Again:

Can you share what switches you’ve used so far?
And share exactly how they were installed. (In a box? What kind of box? How was the switch installed? What kind of cable seals? Etc.)

[peter-h]

OTTO in the US are a good start. Expect to pay in the region of 20 quid for an IP68 momentary switch.

[soldar]

I am thinking probably the best bet is to put whatever switch inside of some metal enclosure which will *really* stand up to the weather. Something with a cover or flap which can be lifted to access the push button. It should totally protect from the elements, especially the sun.

I was thinking of using a reed switch because that would seal the contacts but now I also think about using a tilt (mercury) switch.

[floobydust]

I get stainless steel, anti-vandal, waterproof pushbutton switches cheap from Aliexpress and they work fine.
Not sure how good the seal (o-ring?) is with cold weather and heat aging.

[nali]

What do you think the failure mode is from sun exposure - UV, heat?

Also you mentioned closing the circuit for a prolonged time, does that imply it's an old-fashioned electro-mechanical type bell? I'd check the reed switch specs if so as that's going to be a fairly high current inductive load. You might want to add a relay.

I'm curious why it's such an extreme issue though. What does everyone else use in Spain - or are doorbells not a thing? We have friends who live in the Southeast although I can't for the life of me remember if they have a doorbell or not.

[tooki]

What do you think the failure mode is from sun exposure - UV, heat?

Also you mentioned closing the circuit for a prolonged time, does that imply it's an old-fashioned electro-mechanical type bell? I'd check the reed switch specs if so as that's going to be a fairly high current inductive load. You might want to add a relay.

I'm curious why it's such an extreme issue though. What does everyone else use in Spain - or are doorbells not a thing? We have friends who live in the Southeast although I can't for the life of me remember if they have a doorbell or not.

Exactly. This is why I asked (twice, so far) for him to explain what kind of switches he's tried, and how they were mounted, but he's ignoring it.

[tooki]

I also wonder if this is in any way related to OP's query, some years ago, about weatherproof keypads: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/iso-cheap-outdoor-keypad-for-access-control/

[Terry Bites]

You need it illuminated of course. Easy....


 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804529173172.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.14.11eeSfzxSfzxoA&algo_pvid=cfc87a69-6836-4b9c-9b85-2a81fabbc697&algo_exp_id=cfc87a69-6836-4b9c-9b85-2a81fabbc697-13&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%22133%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22fromPage%22%3A%22search%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%215.72%214.86%21%21%2140.44%2134.37%21%402101f70717639840706691701e9b9b%2112000030211750713%21sea%21US%210%21ABX%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29910%3Bd%3A6ed51be9%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=QbqMk3S2Zhzd&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005004715487924%7C_p_origin_prod%3A

[soldar]

I get stainless steel, anti-vandal, waterproof pushbutton switches cheap from Aliexpress and they work fine.
Not sure how good the seal (o-ring?) is with cold weather and heat aging.

Yes, the more I think about it the more I think a metal button switch on a metal plate front should be pretty resistant. and the front could even be PVC. It seems to be quite resistant to sun and I could paint over it for good measure.  Make sure the mechanism of the switch does not get wet or dust and it should be fine.  I might go that route. Thanks.

[soldar]

What do you think the failure mode is from sun exposure - UV, heat?

Also you mentioned closing the circuit for a prolonged time, does that imply it's an old-fashioned electro-mechanical type bell? I'd check the reed switch specs if so as that's going to be a fairly high current inductive load. You might want to add a relay.

I'm curious why it's such an extreme issue though. What does everyone else use in Spain - or are doorbells not a thing? We have friends who live in the Southeast although I can't for the life of me remember if they have a doorbell or not.

I suppose the plastic degrades more from UV than from heat although I would think both contribute. A friend I talked with told me he paints over the plastic in order to protect it. So it may be the best solution. Repaint every two or three years.

The problem with this particular location is that it is in direct sunlight all afternoon until sunset. The rest of the neighbors on that side of the street have replaced their intercom covers several times. It is one thing to be just vaguely weatherproof, meaning weather tight and it is another to be able to resist the direct sun all summer.

At this point I think I am not going to attempt a "final solution" but just do whatever will last another couple years. I mean, they are my neighbors.

The original intercom pcb had one of those mini switches you see on modern electronic device panels like TVs, etc. I can try to salvage a similar one from some junk board and if it lasts another two or three years just replace it again. This is the simplest solution.

[nali]

Ah, so it's an intercom not a doorbell.

Do you mean tactile switch? They can be pretty rubbish, although you can get sealed versions e.g.
https://www.e-switch.com/product/tl6800-series-sealed-long-life-smt-tactile-switch/