Lighted rocker switch question

**ddt** · 03-11-2003, 07:33 PM

I know this is probably easy for must but it's my first time screwing with them and google is giving me no love today. Anyways, I am wiring my inverter to extend the switch. I bought a few lighted rocker switches for a few things I want total control of the power for. Anyways on a lighted rocker switch there are three blades labled power, load, and ground. I just need to figure out which goes where. Here's a pic to better describe what I'm talking about.

So how does it go? 1 to what? @ to what? Etc.

Thanks.

Also... can I wire switchesthat control power for the LCD controllers so that I can switch them on and off. Like I'm installing one in the rear but I probably don't want it on @ night generating more light in the cabin. Thanks!!!

**ares** · 03-11-2003, 08:04 PM

aye aye, ground goes to negative....

power goes to the positive.

and load goes to the positive lead of the application. I think thats how I had them, then you connect the negative of the application to the negative of the inverter...

but you actually kinda want a relay for this application. cause your going to run all that current through the switch.

anyway, someone double check me, its been a while. I had a hell of a time with mine tho... one by one they broke and would not switch on, I blamed it on the lack of a relay burning it out.

**mcreedjr** · 03-11-2003, 08:16 PM

Hope this answers your question

**mcreedjr** · 03-11-2003, 08:18 PM

Normally the switch's contacts are rated at a certain amperage and voltage. As long as the inverter doesn't draw more volts or amps than the switch is rated at, there should be no real need for a relay.

**ares** · 03-11-2003, 08:26 PM

ah ok, yeah mine were pepboys special, no clue what amerage, and I was powering various lights with them.

so put the switch in front of the inverter tho, interesting. makes sense I guess.

**mcreedjr** · 03-11-2003, 08:28 PM

Well ares, it depends on the usage. The graphic I provided will control power to the inverter and thusly to everything after it.

If you wanted to control things on the other side of the inverter, that would be more difficult becuase now you're dealing will 110AC instead of 12VDC. You'd need different switches and stuff.

**ares** · 03-11-2003, 08:32 PM

oooohhhh amazing how much you can learn on this board.

cool.

**ddt** · 03-11-2003, 09:20 PM

Okay... so I don't get ANY of this. I labeled them 1, 2, and 3, and A, B, and C so can someone give me an answer in this format?

1 - A
2 - B
3 - C

I wired it up and I think that it might be:

1 - B
2 - A
3 - C where 3 = +12V for the light in the switch.

Is this right?

**samc** · 03-11-2003, 09:27 PM

power
load
ground

I'll use car voltages.

power is 12+ ... this is to light up the switch when its on.
load is what you want to turn on
ground is ..well ground

the light will go on when the switch is in the "on" position

**mcreedjr** · 03-11-2003, 09:40 PM

Alright, lets have another go at it, shall we?

Okay, the Ground (A & 2) as you call them are to simply be grounded to the chassis of the car. Put them underneath a bolt that goes to metal or something.

B is connected to 1. Load in this case means anything that draws power. In this scenario, the inverter is the load.

C is connected to a 12 volt power source, such as a cigarette lighter or your battery. C is connected to the Positive (red terminal).

---------------------------------

Now for a run-through on how this should work. The power (C) is supplied from your battery to the switch. The switch steals a little power from the input to light up the LED.

Once the switch has stolen enough power to illuminate the LED, it is passed out the Load prong to your inverter which recieves the +12V it needs and powers on.

Hope it helps!

Thread: Lighted rocker switch question

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Lighted rocker switch question

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions