Dummy headlight switch wiring

I’m not an expert either, but I think it would help if you listed what model you’re wanting to install this into.

Unless there's a problem with the switch or your wiring to it, putting the switch in series with the lead to the headlight would not cause full track power to flow to the headlight.  I'd be checking for shorts to the frame in that wiring to the switch.

More than likely it’s the switch. When I screw the switch in to the frame it should not be grounding?

@a1hobo posted:

When I screw the switch in to the frame it should not be grounding?

My certainly not!  There should be no continuity from the switch frame to the contacts.

That’s what I thought, thanks for confirming this. Now to find a new switch.

Those switches are very common, I presume you're talking about the SPDT slide switch that is used on virtually every Lionel and MTH locomotive.  I have a bag of them myself!

Yeah, that’s it. The hole that is already there seems a tad smaller than the mounting holes I am used to on MTH stuff. It’s on a RK SD60. It’s scale size, I think it’s one that used to be of the premier line until they dropped it down to RK. The hole is perpendicular to the frame, dead center at one end of the fuel tank. I suppose I can alway enlarge it a bit. The hole is close to 4mm x 7mm , I thought for a minute that it might have been the charging port for a ps2, but it’s from the last RK SD60’s released in ps3. Unless they used the old ps2 frames  for the dummies.

The hole is probably threaded for a 2mm screw!  Don't enlarge it, just get the proper screws to secure the switch.

I was referring to the hole for the actual switch. Seems a little smaller than usual. I have the right screws. I’ll see if I can find a switch on line somewhere. MTH is out of stock, not to mention you can probably buy a bag of them for what MTH will charge.

Well, some of the switches are threaded as well, I covet those as they're convenient for chassis that don't have the threaded holes.

Oh yes, those threaded ones work great.

Can you tell me where you get your switches from and what item number they might be

Actually... no.  I haven't bought those switches in many years.  As I am doing upgrades and repairs, I end up with a ton of them.  I just stick them in my parts box and when I need a switch, that's where I look.

I know that Lionel and probably MTH have switches, but I suspect they're overpriced as compared to most parts places.

Ok, thanks for all your help.