LCDBC rotary switch in the ashtray

[j2k4]

I don't smoke, so I can indulge my idea of mounting the rotary control in the ashtray:


Innocent-looking spare ashtray purchased from Mitoska Enterprises:



But...under the hood:



I used my Dremel to carve a crescent out of the bale that attaches the lid, using the crescents at the corners of the bale as a pattern - I mounted the switch in the corner just to gauge whether or not it would clear everything, opening and closing.



Had to get the lead out of the ashtray:



Used a wire-tie as a simple strain-relief - you can just make it out inside the ashtray:



And, in the car:







I'll be doing a bit of cosmetic work to clean things up, but it's handy, and falls right to hand, exactly according to plan.