modifying stunt saber switch request

[Nayanak]

Not sure if this is the right place, but i am hoping some saber gurus can help me out about to purchase my first US saber and going with a stunt Scorpion, my only gripe is the chunky looking guarded switch i would love to swap it out for a sleeker non illuminated AV switch, now i know the usual av switchs are  rather long and hard to fit into a saber but im wondering if anyone knows a source a latching AV switchs that are shorter or even a place that can pre set up a momentary non illuminated av switch with one of the momentary to lat hing converters so all i have to do is swap the switch out and reconnect the wires

Or is all this wishful thinking and i should just get used to the button stickong out and give up trying to find a way to make it sleek and comfortable without any heavy soldering

[Drahem]

If you check out Vaping mod sites they might sell latching av switches.

[bigBear]

I would suggest sending an email to Emory, I'm sure he'd be willing to change the switch. look at the options from the sound version.

[Nayanak]

spoken to emory already, and because the length / depth of the switch as it goes into the hilt the switches that US stocks would not fit, plus the switches they do have are momentary not latching and require a momentary to latching converter to also be wired up and installed. bit to much work for US which i can fully understand, so im happy to brush up on a bit of light soldering and change the switch myself just looking for the knowledge i dont possess and searchingt he forums has helped a bit but not as much as id hoped

[JediXIX]

Hi Nayanak . . . replacing the switch yourself is possible, here's some tips 

Firstly, if you cut any wiring out of an US you'll void your warranty...

To replace the standard plastic latching switch with a 16mm av switch you will need to drill out the switch hole with a 16mm drill bit, best to do with a drill press...

Momentary to latching converters work great, but when duelling they can be prone to accidental switching off because all you need is a light press . . . momentary switches work perfect with the Obsidian soundboard because a long press is required to switch off and not as likely to happen during duelling...

It is possible to use the long latching switch in an US hilt . . . you can buy high bezels elsewhere . . . or you can bend the pins (be careful because that can ruin the latching mechanism inside the switch) . . . or you can solder the wires to the side of the base of the pins and cut them off (I have done this, but it is very fussy soldering work) . . . also, you can find non-illuminated latching av switches that are shorter and fit easily, I have found some on eBay and elsewhere...

And yes, you can buy pre-wired switches and m/l converters, but this is where you should do the math . . . by the time you spent that money on pre-wired things and shipping you're probably half way to just buying your Scorpion with sound and a non-illuminated av, so it could be false economy...

Having said all that, I've been modifying my US electronics for a while and get great joy from it . . . I started with a simple stunt installing a m/l converter and just did more and more, so if you want to give it a go it is possible . . . here's a link to my first, there is some wiring diagrams on that thread too . . . http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=22628.msg348595#msg348595

cheers

[Nayanak]

true enough, either way im gonna be ordering it tomorrow, see how i feel with the guarded switch and if it bothers me swap it over, if it was as simple as getting sound by paying an extra 100-110 id be happy but after currency conversion into AUD it goes up by near 200 at the moment

thank ou everyone for your help really do love this saber community

[Nayanak]

actually just one last question and sorry for the double post but does anyone have the measurements for the US guarded switches? or failing that the Internal diameter measurement of the Scorpion hilt / standard US saber

[JediXIX]

Here's some info on switches
http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=24480.msg369046#msg369046

And hello to a fellow Aussie . . . Cheers 

[Nayanak]

woo aussies, glad to see im not the only addicted saberfan from down under saw that thread and it got me interested in the first place in the AV switch,  i like the look of the 12mm in the recessed hole, might have to invest in one later down the track, altough i have noticed jaycar sell momentary and latching AV switches but they come in at 36mm depth so not sure they would be to useful without a raised bezel