Harry Flatters Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 I have just bought an R500 starter button from Caterhams parts department, for which the charged me the princely sum of £14.89 (incl VAT). When it arrived this morning, I noticed it was still in it's original distibutors packet, Farnell Electronics. Just out of interest I had a poke around Farnell's website and guess what, they only want £8.05 + VAT and that's for a 1 off quantity. Buy 250 and they only cost £6.60. So CC are making about 100% profit! For anybody interested here are the details from Farnell's site. Tel 0870 1200 200 Fax 0870 1200 201 Email enquiries@farnell.com Web www.farnell.com Order Code 109282 Description SWITCH,FLUSH RED Manufacturer ITW SWITCHES Manufacturer Part Code 76-949023 œIND BAG] Pack Quantity 1 Pricing Family 0 Catalogue Page Number 4:490 Volume prices: Quantity Price £ 1+ 8.05 10+ 7.80 25+ 7.65 50+ 7.29 100+ 6.87 250+ 6.60 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 100% is pretty normal retail markup on lots of things you buy. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Steve, no doubt you´re right but personally I think that´s the price we pay for driving a low quantity sports-car. Somehow Caterham have to gain some money somewhere and as far as I know no one around Jez Coates or Graham Nearn can call himself a millionair. Personally I don´t know any other car-brand where you can call the technical-director or even manager just for a small technical advise. They have to pay their stuff somehow.... Don´t get me wrong, I´m not happy about their prices but I think it´s worth keeping companys like Caterham alive by spending little more on little things. wink.gif Marius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R500 CYA Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Err hang on, I paid 30GBP for mine. Oh that "MUG" tattoo on my forehead has just got to go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Flatters Posted January 11, 2001 Author Share Posted January 11, 2001 Mike, £8.05 is Farnell's retail price, available to every man and his dog, so CC are marking up what is already a retail price. Marius, I agree broadly with all that you say, I just think it's a bit strong to simply buy in a product from one source, mark up the retail price by 100% (and not even re-package it) and then sell it out to us poor saps. You're probably right, this maybe the price we have to pay to own and drive a great car. CC could of course avoid any criticism if the simply stuck the part in an unmarked poly-bag and in which case none of us would be any the wiser. Anyway - moan over - I'll go and fit the damn button now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Have fun pushing it !! thumbsup.gif Marius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick M Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Actually, when you take into account carriage and VAT, Caterham charge about 15p more than if you were to order it direct from Farnells or RS Components. Hope that makes you feel a bit better !! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dent Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 farnell also sell Mobil 1. Cant remember what flavour it was, but definitely in 4l packs. It also help when you buy loads from them and slip in little extras like swiches LEDs etc. Farnell also have a range of LEDs that can be used as direct replacements for the crap lamps Caterham fit. All colours available. I currently have replave ignition, indicator, and main beam. The hyper bright blue hurts your eyes at night. Any want their p/numbers let me know Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted January 12, 2001 Share Posted January 12, 2001 Andrew. My car's a '93 with VDO instruments that give a nice green glow ( & legible) dial at night + switches that are dim but easy to see.thumbsup.gif It was only looking at new cars did I realise the change of approach on new cars. The dials are almost unreadable at night 'cos they're so dim, yet you're blinded by the switch gear ones!!!thumbsdown.gif PS. Those starter buttons do look good though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Russell Posted January 12, 2001 Share Posted January 12, 2001 Andrew, Are you saying that the replacement LED lamps are very bright, or the original Caterham fittings? I have had to paint the bulbs on the original warning lights, as I have found them to be very distracting at night. I would be interested in the Farnell LEDs if a little on the dim side.... Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Flatters Posted January 12, 2001 Author Share Posted January 12, 2001 Andrew, Please supply details of the LED replacements you got from Farnell. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dent Posted January 15, 2001 Share Posted January 15, 2001 All LEDs bought were specified 24v. High eff RED 301 4484 2.83 ea green 3014496 2.83 yellow 301 4502 red 301 4230 2.90 ea gren 301 4241 2.9 ea yellow 301 4253 2.9 ea blue 301 4265 6.36 white 301 4277 6.36 there is also a sunlight readable series, but they are bright. the blue hurts your eyes at night. all can be toned down by adding more series resistance. circa 1000 ohms at a time to the desired level. green can be used to replace the indicator by using 2 diodes. the supply through the current lamp flows both ways. not liked by leds in one direction. i have found the original lamps on my slr to be crap. the 10mm LED looks so much better. brightness controlled by series resistor. the indicator lamp could have been on all day and you would not have noticed. I gave Andy Ball a HE red for his blackbird. Caterham had fitted a green lamp, and you could not see when it was in neutral. fairly important on a blackbird car. now ther is no doubt. andrew Edited by - Andrew Dent on 15 Jan 2001 22:17:09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Flatters Posted January 16, 2001 Author Share Posted January 16, 2001 Andy, Thanks for the details, just a couple of questions. Why 24v and not 12v. Do the 10mm ones fit OK cos the hole in the dash is nealy 13mm. On the indicator, what happens if you connect the LED without diodes. What diodes would I need and how does the wiring look. Sorry to be a pain Regards Steve Mell PTM 88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted January 16, 2001 Share Posted January 16, 2001 I contacted VDO direct and got a selection of holders, bulbs and the little condom rubbers for absolutely nowt.teeth.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dent Posted January 17, 2001 Share Posted January 17, 2001 the 24v led has a higher resistance than the 12v led. it just means it will be a little dimmer. with these leds, they are very intense. tuning levels of intensity by serial resistance. the leds are a direct fit straight into the existing holes and then onto teh spade connector. holes might need a little work with a round file. to use green led for indicator. cathodes of diodes joined together and forming the feed to the anode of the led. anode of the diodes to the spade connectors that once made the connections. cathode of the led to 0 volts. that should work. use a 1A diode, something like a 1N4001. I have several thousand of these at work if you are struggling to get some Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul22uk Posted November 22, 2001 Share Posted November 22, 2001 sorry to drag this one up again !!! but i have brought the following for farnell r500 push button red led m14 mat chrome 24vdc blue led m14 mat chrome 24vdc green led m14 mat chrome 24vdc to begin with the Push button what do i connect the "Starter motor signal" a red/white wire and the "Constant live " a brown wire as the r500 push button has four termials on the back !!! any ideas will help or maybe you could have a look !!! how do i wire up the leds !!! are thay a straight swap ? cause these have 3 termials any help tips would be great many thanks Paul "Lets see if i can get it ready for next summer";) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted November 22, 2001 Share Posted November 22, 2001 Be aware, I spoke to GWR motorsport on a starter related subject, and on many starter motors the current required to kick the solenoid is in the region of 30A If you use wire of too smaller gauge the starter solenoid will not kick with the force required to engage and it will "miss crank" GWR reccomended I use 1.5mm² section cable for this as a minimum. Fat Arn The NOW PROVEN R500 Eaterid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul22uk Posted November 22, 2001 Share Posted November 22, 2001 thanks for that ! but does anyone know where to connect the wires to on the back of the r500 push button as it has 4 termials and i only have two wire to connect it to !!! anyones help would be good !!! thanx in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted November 22, 2001 Share Posted November 22, 2001 Its a two pole switch - i.e two swithed pairs of contacts. There is no specific orientation for the connections - they will either work or not work. Try at random until you get the latter, or you may find a small diagram moulded on the switch body which shows you the terminal wiring. Fat Arn The NOW PROVEN R500 Eaterid=red> See the Lotus Seven Club 4 Counties Area Website hereid=green> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul22uk Posted November 22, 2001 Share Posted November 22, 2001 thanks for you help ! i'll take a look tonight ! though i won't know if ity works as i have no engine in the car at the moment !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Brother Posted November 22, 2001 Share Posted November 22, 2001 Paul22, take a look here Steve www.Se7en-Up.co.uk id=limegreen> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Brother Posted November 22, 2001 Share Posted November 22, 2001 DOH! www.Se7en-Up.co.uk id=limegreen> Edited by - steve motts on 22 Nov 2001 13:29:45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul22uk Posted November 22, 2001 Share Posted November 22, 2001 thank you !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangers quotNquot Mas1697456953 Posted January 7, 2002 Share Posted January 7, 2002 Is the R500 starter switch an "extreme Duty" unit? :-))) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philwaters Posted January 8, 2002 Share Posted January 8, 2002 If I recall it is the outer two connectors - but get a multi-meter and test it... oh and enjoy! Phil Waters 1600 X/flow - soon to be 2000 Zetec wink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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