The SWS48SE switch is the most commonly used switch on Pride lift chairs. The switch has three terminals that normally come out to the side of the switch (although some other manufacturers bend them down), and the mounting tabs on the switch housing (the ones that the screws go through) are even with the top of the switch housing.

Before you order the switch, please follow the testing steps below to see if the switch is the problem, and not the wiring in the hand control.  The wiring in the control oftentimes shorts out, and the symptoms are identical to having a bad switch.  Please also remember that if a switch is installed, even for a few seconds, we can’t take it back, as the switch terminals will have been scratched up; it has been “used”, and no one wants to buy a used part…

If you have a meter:

1. Remove the screws from the back of the hand control and take the hand control apart, exposing the switch.
2. Set meter to OHMS setting.
3. Pull the wire (usually red but not always) off the middle tab on the switch.
4. Put your RED meter lead on the middle tab on the switch.
5. Put your BLACK meter lead on one of the other outer tabs.
6. Press the switch in each direction; a low reading in one of the directions (and only one) means the switch is operating properly
7. Now, move the BLACK lead to the other outer tab and do the same test as #6
8. If you get a low reading on both tests, then the switch is OK. If not, the replace the switch.

If you don’t have a meter, you can do the following steps.

HOWEVER, THE FOLLOWING TEST SHOULD ONLY BE ATTEMPTED BY QUALIFIED PERSONS FAMILIAR WITH ELECTRICITY AND COMFORTABLE WORKING AROUND LIVE POWER.  THIS TEST IS SIMILAR TO CHANGING A WALL RECEPTACLE WHILE THE POWER IS STILL ON; IF YOU WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT, DON’T DO THIS TEST:

1. Remove the screws from the back of the hand control and take the hand control apart, exposing the switch.
2. Make sure the chair is plugged into the wall and all wiring is hooked up.
3. Take an insulated screwdriver (plastic, rubber or wooden handle) and touch the middle connector on the switch to one of the outside connectors (we call this “shorting” the switch); this should make the chair run in one direction.
4. Then, take the insulated screwdriver (plastic, rubber or wooden handle) and touch the middle connector on the switch to the other outside connector; this should make the chair run in the other direction.
5. If the chair runs in each direction with this test, then replace the switch; if the chair still won’t run both ways, then the problem is NOT in the switch, so ordering a switch would do NO good (also, if you order a switch and hook the wires to it, then we can’t take it back as it would leave marks on the tabs and would look make it look used…).