Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Replacement toggle switch for Schmidt Lumotec Oval Plus

Have any of you replaced the toggle switch on a Schmidt Lumotec Oval Plus? You can see a picture of the light to which I'm referring here: Peter White Page (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schmidt-headlights.asp). (disregard the caution about not using this light with a Shimano dynohub -- it works just fine as described HERE (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=40245).)

Anyway, I'm not sure when it happened, but my bike must've tipped over recently because yesterday I noticed that my light, which I have mounted to the fork crown, was askew. I straightened it out and didn't think much of it until I needed to turn it on and found that the toggle switch moved freely back and forth without engaging in either position.

If possible, I'd like to replace the toggle switch, but I'm also considering just replacing the entire light with an IQ Senso Fly. In any event, I need to decide soon because even though the days are starting to get longer, I'll need to be riding after dark quite a bit for at least the next two months!

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Well, I gave up on fixing the old Oval Plus and got the IQ Fly Plus (not the Senso) from Harris Cyclery. Like others have said, it is impressive. It is so much brighter than the Oval Plus (which I already thought was pretty good) that I may have replaced the Oval Plus even without it breaking.

It appears to be a small standard toggle switch. Take the light apart, remove the switch, take the switch to your local Radio Shack and see if they have something that will fit. Alternately, you could remove the broken switch then connecting the wires so it always on and then seal the hole. Then splice in a switch in the power cord and mount the new switch where it will be easy to control. If you decide to purchase another light and dispose of that one could you send it to me? I like to modify/upgrade stuff and this would be a good candidate to see if upgrading the halogen bulb to something like a Cree high power LED and matching optics is possible.

What you describe was my intention (i.e., replacing the toggle switch). However, it is not clear to me how to take the light apart in a non-destructive way. Furthermore, the switch cannot be removed without disassembling the light. It may simply be a matter for forcing the plastic housing apart (I've removed all metal hardware), but without knowing where the internal latching pieces are located it would be too easy to break them in the process.

If you'd like to give it a shot, however, you're welcome to it. I thought about listing it on eBay, but it probably isn't worth the trouble, and I hate to potentially useful stuff just sitting around (or ending up in landfills). The 3W bulb was still working last I used the light, but I can't guarantee that the filament didn't break in the fall. If you're willing to pay shipping, it's yours. Send me a PM if you're interested.

-D


It appears to be a small standard toggle switch. Take the light apart, remove the switch, take the switch to your local Radio Shack and see if they have something that will fit. Alternately, you could remove the broken switch then connecting the wires so it always on and then seal the hole. Then splice in a switch in the power cord and mount the new switch where it will be easy to control. If you decide to purchase another light and dispose of that one could you send it to me? I like to modify/upgrade stuff and this would be a good candidate to see if upgrading the halogen bulb to something like a Cree high power LED and matching optics is possible.