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Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep


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Jeepercasey
Novice

Apr 7, 2014, 5:47 PM

Post #1 of 9 (1353 views)
Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep Sign In

Hey everybody, new to the forum and having trouble with some wiring issues. I'm trying to wire up my two sets of rock lights in my jeep to a three position switch. I'd like to have the down position for my rock lights to turn on and off with my dome lights. Center will be a hard off and up will be my other set of rock lights on by them selves. My problem is I've got everything wired up and set up but it's not working out how I want. My set of rock lights spliced with my domes work great whenever my switch isn't powered but I can't turn on my other rock lights by them selves obviously. When my switch is powered my rock lights that are spliced into my domes won't turn off with the domes. They just stay on. I've wired in a 1n4001 diode into the wire that I have spliced from my dome into my switch. Please help!!! I'm obviously missing something and really don't know enough about wiring to figure this out. Thanks in advance!


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Apr 7, 2014, 6:14 PM

Post #2 of 9 (1345 views)
Re: Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep Sign In

Can you draw a wiring diagram of how you currently have your circuit configured?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Jeepercasey
Novice

Apr 7, 2014, 7:14 PM

Post #3 of 9 (1334 views)
Re: Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep Sign In

Absolutely, I'll have it back on here later.


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Apr 7, 2014, 10:24 PM

Post #4 of 9 (1323 views)
Re: Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep Sign In

Are you running direct power through this switch or using it to control relays? I'd be using relays on this one. Control circuit draws just milliapms of current. You can wire it so that the dome light circuit will trigger the relay and them allow the switch to do so as well.


Jeepercasey
Novice

Apr 7, 2014, 10:46 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1321 views)
Re: Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep Sign In

Having trouble uploading photo. Here's a description.

My switch is three position: top is to my rock lights spliced into my dome with a diode and the ground to the "dome rocks" the diode is in the direction of my switch on my wire that connects my rocks spliced to my dome into my switch. I just want these to come on and off with domes.

Middle position is to my battery with an inline fuse. This planned to be my hard off (no rocks atall)

Bottom is straight to my outer rock lights. So only my designated offroad rock lights. No dome

I have two sets of rock lights to make this clear.

I have a 5 pole relay but no clue how to wire it up to make this work.

When I power up my switch it almost works as I want, only problem is my "dome rocks" won't ever dim and when I switch them on to go with my domes both my domes and "dome rocks" stay on at all time.


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Apr 7, 2014, 11:34 PM

Post #6 of 9 (1315 views)
Re: Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep Sign In

Thats because your switch is supplying power to the domes and rock lights in that position. A 5 pole basic relay will have it terminals numbered.

terminals 85 and 86 are your control circuit. If you put power to one and ground to the other you will hear a click, which is the pull-in windings closing the contacts to allow power to your device. Terminal 30 should be where your fused 12v power for the lights is. Terminal 87a will transfer power between it and terminal 30 when the relay is not energized. When it is energized (power and ground at 85 and 86), the contacts close allowing current flow between terminal 30 and terminal 87. Terminal 87 is where you would hook up your power lead to the rock lights.

So if you wire up the relay I think we can make this work. You are going to need to adjust which terminals you are using on the switch and you need to install the relay or you are going to blow the dome light switch every time you open your door. I want you to run 12v fused power to terminal 30. Run your rock light power lead to terminal 87. Connect terminal 86 to chassis ground. Terminal 85 runs to the 12v input terminal of your switch. Run a jumper off your dome light power wire to the top position of the switch. Run another 12v power (small fuse on that circuit, 2.5 or 5 amp. Remember, it takes less than an amp to run that relay) to the bottom position.

When the switch is in the top position, you will have contact between the dome light and the control side of the relay. When your dome light gets energized, power flows to the relay which turn on the rock lights. The added current load of less than 1 amp that the relay uses will not blow the fuse to your dome lights. When the switch is in the bottom position, you are making contact between the control circuit of the relay and the 12v power you have supplied, so the relay will keep the rock lights on.

I would recommend also to get a little cheap LED and wire it's power source into terminal 87. Mount it somewhere on your dash. When the lights are on it comes on. This way if you are driving down the road and accidently turn them on you know about it before the cops pull you over to inform you about it.

Did something similar to this once on my old Suburban, probably going to do it again to my Bronco. I had mounted some cheap fog lights to each side of my trailer hitch. Wired my relay up to be triggered by my backup lights. Had a switch to allow me to keep them on. Worked great when trying to hook up to trailers or when off-road on a trail, as my windows were tinted and the puny factory lights don't help much. I made sure I had an LED to warn me if they were on.

If you don't quite get how I'm telling you to wire this up, send me a PM. Maybe I can draw something up and send it to you in an e-mail. Its actually pretty easy when you go and do it.


Jeepercasey
Novice

Apr 7, 2014, 11:42 PM

Post #7 of 9 (1308 views)
Re: Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep Sign In

This is really awesome. Although I'm going to have to read it a few times before I fully understand what to do. Also I'm going outta town tomorrow for at least a week and a half so unless I can get this done tomorrow morning may be a while to hear how it comes out. Regardless thank you so much and I let ya know if I need a drawing, I have a feeling that would help. Thanks again


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Apr 7, 2014, 11:52 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1306 views)
Re: Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep Sign In

Even though you're in a mostly dry climate, you might want to use some heat shrink connectors and mount the relay up under the dash. I'm sure you're no stranger to getting in wet slimy stuff off road and getting corrosion in the connections will have you out on a trail on a night run and suddenly no rock lights. No fun when that happens. Get some split loom for the wiring you are putting together and zip tie it up real secure. You know how things get bounced around, don't want anything pulling apart. Gives it a nice clean look when you're done.

Post back on your thread when you get this done. If you want to upload pics of it, Photobucket works very well on this site. Happy wheeling.


Jeepercasey
Novice

Apr 9, 2014, 6:45 PM

Post #9 of 9 (1273 views)
Re: Need help with wiring a three position switch in my jeep Sign In

Actually down in houston (swamp) but yeah I heat shrieked everything but thanks for reminding me. Still out of town and will be until next Wednesday probably so haven't been able to try your suggestion yet.






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