1969 convertible top switch

[Roger Zimmermann]

Who has a good switch to raise and lower the top for a 1969 convertible?
Thank you for looking at your left over!

[76eldo]

Have you tried Hydro Electric?
www.hydroe.com

Does anyone know if there is a relay used on 69/70 converts?

If full amperage is going through the switch that might explain why these burn out.

If there is no relay, it wouldn't be too hard to modify the circuit to include a relay that would take the shot when you use the switch.

Just a thought.

Brian

[cadillactim]

No relay. That's why these plastic switches melt and go bad.  Bad design.

Tim

[76eldo]

Tim,

I design commercial and upscale residential security systems for a living.  One of the products we install is card access systems.  The main board on the system is over $1000.00 just for a replacement board.    An access control system is just a fancy way of switching a door release.  Some are electrified panic bars with a solenoid that pulls in, some are magnetic locks that are switched off by opening a circuit, and some are simple door strikes.

We protect the $1000.00 board by adding a $5.00 relay to the design.  Basically, the load gets attached to the relay and the on-board relay, or in this case the hard to replace top switch, only powers the relay, not the high amperage load.

When the weather gets nicer, I think I will work on this for 69/70 (and possibly other years).  It might be as simple as adapting a 76 style setup, but lets save those hard to find switches!

Brian

[Roger Zimmermann]

If there is no relay, it wouldn't be too hard to modify the circuit to include a relay that would take the shot when you use the switch.

Thanks for your comments Brian. It's not my car, I don't know if the switch is bad or missing. If it's bad, a relay could maybe help.
I prefer not to ask the company you suggested.

[76eldo]

Roger

If the switch is bad, unless you can repair it, it won't work.
It's possible that the contacts are pitted, oxidized, or burnt up or there is another problem.

Adding a relay will preserve a good switch since its only going to control milliamperes to power the relay, not have 30 amps flowing through it and arcing the contacts.

I have had many dealings with Hydro with no issues.

Brian