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Have any other pilots had reliability problems with the button switches on Ray Allen stick grips?

I have been using the Ray Allen G403 model. It has a PPT button and two micro switches on the top. One micro switch I use to enable/disable the auto pilot; and the other to acknowledge EFIS warnings (traffic alerts and the many terrain warnings I get flying in the mountains of western New Jersey). The acknowledge switch on my first G403 failed after about 2 years. I tested all the wiring and system configuration, but the problem was only resolved by replacing the entire stick grip. 1-1/2 years later that same switch has failed on the new stick grip. I don’t use that switch so much that it should fail that often. Has anyone else seen this problem? Never any problems with the PPT switch.

Fortunately I kept the first stick grip and will be able to remove the working micro switch and use it to replace the bad switch in my new grip.

Today I looked at the broken micro switch from my old Ray Allen stick grip. It was fairly easy to remove and open the switch. Inside I found the spring, a very small metal contact plate and a very small plastic contact rocker. That plastic rocker was broken. Pretty cheap construction for a moving part that is subject to frequent use. I’ve decided to replace the switch with a different switch of a similar size. I have about 20 of these new switches, so if it breaks I’ll be able to replace it easily.

My building buddy has over 700 trouble free hours on his G403 Ray Allen stick grips in his Cozy MKIV.

9GT wrote:My building buddy has over 700 trouble free hours on his G403 Ray Allen stick grips in his Cozy MKIV.

Lucky.