Switch Position

[sreid]

Please feel free to provide rude, pithy comments.

I'm told that the Brits not only drive on the wrong side of the road but that "Down" is the preferred ON position for toggle switches (which is, of course, backwards to Yanks).

Is this true?

 

[evelrod]

In my early Fords/Lotus and a Sunbeam/Hillman or two...yes.
A couple of Minis and MG's...yes.
An Austin and a TR...no. hey had either push/pull or twist.
Late model stuff I've seen have rockers or push on/off.
Racing seems to have settled on shielded, therefore up/on.
Aero use seems now, with shielded switch covers, up/on.

Perhaps the DOT has some rule that covers electrical switches in automotive use as FAA has in aviation.

I still miss the mechanical solonoids the Brits used. I sold a 58 Morris a while back and the guy called me a few hours later and asked,"... how the heck do you start this thing"? I guess the "Pull Start" had worn off the knob.

Do the Brits do things a bit different? A friend of mine went back home after being in California since 85 and the "culture shock" was rather severe. His dad has a older car that had NEVER had the fuel tank filled to capacity and was totally shocked to see the needle point to the "F" when Dave, as most Americans do, filled it.

Rod

 

[ajack1]

Whilst I tend to always fill my tank, many in the UK do not especially older motorists. It does make sense when you think about it, why would you wish to carry all that extra weight around and up your fuel consumption? I am sure the amount of tax we have to pay is a factor the average price of a gallon in England is now $6.77.

The last time I was in the States I was surprised that some stations make you pay before you fill up. Whilst I have a pretty good idea what the cost of filling my little golf will be I had no idea with the 4x4 I hired, especially as I had no idea of the fuel consumption, tank capacity and the price is very different to back home. Is it normal to pay before filling up and if so how do you know the cost?

BTW it is us that drive on the correct side of the road. ;-)

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/driving on the left.htm

 

[evelrod]

Yes, I guess that in most places I have driven lately it is the rule. Too bad as it was not that way in years past. Too many dead beats running off without paying, I suspect.
Since I always use either a debit card or gas card it is not a bother as I just "pay at the pump".
Fill ups have always been normal for me and, I suspect most Americans. The distance traveled to and from work are often extraordinary, on the order of 200 miles per day when I was working. My wife still does 100 miles a day!

RHD? I'll agree that in the begining there was no right or wrong (pun?). I'm not sure when the U.S. standardized on the LHD...my uncle had an early teens Caddy that was RHD.
My two race cars are-Lotus Cortina, LHD and Mini Cooper, RHD. I actually prefer RHD on the race track since most are configured for a majority of right turns, ie, clockwise.
Sportscar racing had it's beginnings with a heavy British influence, I suspect.

My motorhome (tow for racing) only gets about 5/6 mpg...my personal make/break in fuel cost is around $5.00 per gal.
At that point I will need to rethink the number of races I attend and how far I am willing to tow. I am 65 now so that particular scenario my be moot, we had a little earthquake centered about 30 miles east of me!

Rod

 

[patprimmer]

The first time I visited the States, I was quite surprised by the pay first system, and was left standing at a bowser wondering what was going on when it would not work.

I was also surprised to find that fuel cost about the same as Germany, until I realized I was buying gallons, not liters. That fact became obvious when I saw how little it took to fill it. In my defense, I was on the tail end of a long hard trip to Germany and the US, and had just traveled from Leverkusen to Koln, to Frankfurt to New York to LA to Orange County, Then next day to Palm Springs and back. That is when I filled the renta car I got at LA.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[evelrod]

Since we are on this odd subject anyway...
I also noticed that in my house, built in 1972, all the light switches are "up/on", also. I think all the homes I've been in lately are the same. Is this also the case in the rest of the world? I recall my parents home, built in the 1920's had "push on/ push off" switches originally installed.

Rod

 

[patprimmer]

In the land of Oz, electrical switches in houses are typically down for on, up for off. Switches with horizontal action are confusing.

Two way switching is also now very common for household light switches, which of course also adds confusion along with the convenience, especially in multiple switch, switch plates

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[GT6Steve]

At least in the US, the switch convention carries over from the old time switchboards with Knife switches. For safety, you did not want equipment starting if the switch fell, hence it would fall to the "open" position.

Steve

 

[Peter7307]

sreid,
To answer your original question of some time back ; YES "Down" is considered the ON postion for switchgear for UK (and some of the ex colonies thereof) vehicles.

Not really sure why since many were fitted with LUCAS electrics which seemed not to work regardless of the switch position.
Joseph Lucas was not know as the Prince of Darkness for nothing!

Cheers , Pete.

 

[sreid]

Q Why do the British drink warm beer?

A They have Lucas refrigerators.