How to Remove a Rocker Cover (Actuator) from the switch trunk

The cover part of a rocker switch is called an actuator.  It snaps onto the switch body and creates a consummate unit of measurement.  These actuators snap on in that location pretty tight so it doesn't accidentally fall off.

But it'southward really mutual (in fact, advantageous) to move around, bandy and supplant actuators.  When you're trying to replace your grubby old covers with ane of our new custom actuators yous will demand to remove the erstwhile ones without breaking them.

infographic showing how an actuator can be separated from a rocker switch body

Switch Actuator Removal Tool

Luckily, our friends at Carling fabricated an actuator removal tool specifically for this purpose.  It slides nether the actuator (the side that'south UP), and the small prongs push button back the latches on either side and it pops off!

Hold the tool flush along the base of operations of the switch body

You'll want to agree the tool affluent along the base of operations of the switch body, and push toward the heart.  It's really quite easy, and intuitive in one case you have it in your hand.

image of a carling actuator removal tool for contura switch covers

Switch Actuator Removal Video

Information technology's really very simple, but hither's a short video showing how to remove an old actuator and replace it with one of our custom etched rocker switch covers.

Comprehend Removal Without the tool?

In a pinch y'all tin can pull the the actuator off by hand… you really demand to pull hard.  With a brand new switch & actuator you tin commonly exercise this once or twice without harm, but nosotros don't recommend it.

Can cause the actuator prongs – or even worse, the switch body catches – to break off

This tin can cause the actuator prongs – or even worse, the switch body catches – to pause off, so you'll have to supervene upon them for the actuator to seat correctly.

Putting the Actuator Back on the Switch Body

Once you have the one-time rocker cover, putting a new actuator on is a piece of cake and required no tools.  Merely insert the footling prong on the dorsum of the actuator into the hole in the center of the switch body and press the actuator down firmly on both sides.

Requires no Tool

You will make full information technology "click in" place twice, once on the left, and in one case on the correct.  From hither you tin can pop them on and off to swap or replace labels as needed.

image of a short row of three rocker switch mounting panels snapped together.

Removing a Switch From a Mounting Console

Ane last note, if you're using our snap-together switch mounting panels… which is a smashing way to install a row of rocker switches if you don't already have CNC cut holes for them.

You'll need two Actuator Removal Tools

Once you pop a rocker switch into the mounting panel it's there, forever.  Very difficult to remove.  BUT, the back side of the actuator removal tool has groves made specifically to remove the switch from the mounting panel.  Yous'll demand two actuator removal tools, and slide them in from the back, on the pinnacle and bottom of the switch.

Printing both tools in firmly toward the switch, and the latches will exist depressed, and the switch will slide right out.