so i have this switch who can handle 50volts and 1 amp ,how many amp it can handle in a 12 volt system or 4,16 amps ?? Second question how many amps are needed for a window wash reservoir pump ?
50 volts at 1 amp is its rating. I would imagine it can handle no more than one amp. Amperes Voltages and Power are all different. There is a simple formula to help figure everything out P=IE or PIE, Power = current x voltage. So 50v at 1I would = 50watts so as long as what you are running doesn't exceed its power rating you might be ok, but I wouldn't run more amps than the switch is rated for, current is a whole animal in its self. Remember its not voltage or power that damage things it current.
That's a 1 amp switch, so it can handle one amp. The current (ampere) rating is based on the contacts, and the voltage rating is based on the insulation. Heavier contacts, more current. Better insulation, higher voltage. A washer pump probably draws a few amps. I'm just guessing though....you could measure it if you have a suitable ammeter.
One more thing...you can probably use that light duty switch to run the pump if you use a relay in the circuit. The switch will turn on the relay, the relay will turn on the pump.
Just use Ohms law, as indicated above... Current x Voltage = Power (watts) .... 1 x 50 = 50 Watts To figure the current rating at 12V: Power / Voltage = Current ..... 50 / 12 = 4.16 A Careful, most switches show the AC voltage rating. DC voltage (like your car battery) ratings are always (much) lower, as DC voltage invites arcing across the contacts. Check your switch rating for the DC rating and use Ohm's law. If you don't know, just get a common large power toggle switch rated for 125Vac around 15 amps.
When a switch or fuse has a voltage rating, it is referring to the max voltage that can be applied without arc over, that is a spark jumping the gap. As stated by others, the amperage rating is what it is.
So how well would it work on one of the small 30 amp relays from Radio Shack if it was wired to Ground to switch the Relay closed? The Wizzard
IMO forget the Shack **** and grab a good Bosch relay out of any euro car. The wiring is etched into the housing, and they plug in with standard spade terminals. I've used hundreds of em. The coil side of the relay draws like .2 amp. 50V and 1amp is a pretty light duty switch, BTW. I don't think I'd try to power anything 12V direct with it.
From the radio shack site: Coil rating of 12VDC, 160mA (miliAmps or 0.16 amps), 400 ohms should work fine...
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