looking for plastic nuts that hold all the switches in place on my dash board.

D

Dave8792

New Member
Jul 24, 2010
37
Geneva, NY
Boat Info
1990 Sea Ray 230CC, Hummingbird 597CI GPS
Engines
5.7L Merccruiser Alpha I
I have been looking for JUST the plastic nuts that hold the electrical switches on my dashboard. All the switches are still good and in operating order but a lot of the round plastic nuts/escutcheons are broken or split so the are not holding the switches in place. I've tried a couple of different automotive switches but the escutcheons are not the same.

Any ideas?

I don't want to buy new marine switches just to obtain the nuts/escutcheons.

I suppose that I could try and get a hold of the switch manufacturer and see if I can get them directly from them but you know how often that actually works out.
 
Dave-I don't like the plastic nuts, so, I replaced mine with the metal nuts that are on the switch:
010-1-1.jpg


You can use the ones that are already on the switches or buy them at a hardware store.
I have all of the plastic nuts from my switches, if you really are bent on getting them, send me a PM. I'll be glad to send them to you.
 
I need 4 of those myself. Jerrys- what size is the metal nut that you used?
 
Never thought of the metal nuts but that is a GREAT idea then I won't have to worry about them splitting and staying tight.

Did you find them any where special or at a place like Lowe's or Home Depot?

GREAT IDEA JERRY...THANKS !!!
 
Big Island Lifer said:
I need 4 of those myself. Jerrys- what size is the metal nut that you used?
Click to expand...

Actually, the switch itself has a plastic nut and a metal nut (SS, I think). The metal nut does not hold the switch together, so, you can take it off and use it on the front of the switch panel. That is what I did recently. But, that requires taking the switch out of the panel, so, it is easier to hunt them down at a hardware store. I don't know what the size is, I would take a plastic nut to the store and match it up. Probably something like 1/2" with 8-32 threads.
Those nuts are pretty thin, less than 1/10". Fastenal, as mentioned by Presentation is probably a good source.

Ok, I did a little looking around this morning. They are specifically electrial hardware. 12-28 stainless steel ips hex nuts. The bad news, Grainger wants $11.64 each for them. (faint!)
I believe that I bought them at Ace Hdwe for a previous boat at about 50 cents each.

Here is the link to the Grainger site if you want to look:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ecatalog/N-/No-16/Ntt-1~~~2%22+ss+ips+nut
Product Name: Panel Nut,1/2-28,Hex,Stainless,Plain
Grainger Item #: 1JLX4


Panel-Nut-1JLP2_AS01.JPG
 
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BTW I have 10 (ten) of the black plastic nuts and one of the stainless steel nuts. If anybody wants a few, PM me. Dave & BIL have first shot.
 
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I bought several at an electrical store. I think these are commonly used for applications other than 12 volt switches. Probably control systems. The counter person knew exactly where to get them. And yes get the metal ones. The sun wont crack them
 
McNally260DA said:
I bought several at an electrical store. I think these are commonly used for applications other than 12 volt switches. Probably control systems. The counter person knew exactly where to get them. And yes get the metal ones. The sun wont crack them
Click to expand...

Excellent! :thumbsup: Also, check Ace, I am pretty sure they carry them.
 
Awesome! Thanks!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I found exact replacements (round not hex) that are metal. If you can hold on till the morning I'll post the link when I get to my office. If I remember correctly, they were like $0.50 apiece. Little pricey, but they look good and should never break.

Ken
 
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