basic toggle switch question

[fordmxracer]

Can someone explain the wiring of a boat toggle switch...(on/off not on/off/on)

I took my dash off and put it back on and also added some lights to the acc. switch. Now when I hit one switch the lights on other switches come on. The switches work and so do all the components but its just a little annoying to have my whole dash light up.

 

[arks]

Re: basic toggle switch question

Very simple. An on/off toggle switch should be connected to the positive wire ONLY. The negative wire goes directly to the component being controlled. When ON, the switch completes the circuit and when OFF it breaks it.

From your description it sounds like you might have tapped into the positve wire beyond the accessory switch, which would cause that switch to control everything past it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: basic toggle switch question

Just to be clear, these are on/off switches with lights to show on?

Do they have 3 blades or 2 on the back of the switch?

 

[Phantom_II]

Re: basic toggle switch question

Electricity confuses many people because they can't visualize what is going on. The method I use to explain it to people is to think of plumbing.

Think of your battery and/or alternator as a water tank, the wires are pipes, a toggle switch is a shut-off valve, your lights/motors/CD player/etc. are lawn sprinklers.

The water (power) flows from the tank (battery) through the pipes (wires) to the valve (switch). When you turn on the valve, water flows past it and out to your sprinkler (lights). The water must then be able to leave the sprinkler and return to ground for the system to work.

Between your valve and the water tank there may be other valves. Tee fittings (splices/junction boxes/buss bars) will run water to more than one place. If you put your valve on the wrong side of the tee, the valve will still turn the sprinkler on and off, but it will also turn off the water to something else as well.

There are many different types of valves. some are simple shut-off valves (on/off), some are diverter valves (on/on) which send the water in different directions depending on which way the valve is turned. Some diverter valves have an off position in the middle (on/off/on).

You just have to keep in mind which pipe you are putting your valve in and which sprinkler you are trying to control.

The analogy goes further with check valves (diodes) restrictors (resistors) remote valves (relays/solenoids) and so on, but doesn't have a bearing on this subject.

Hope this helps.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: basic toggle switch question

Here is a diagram of a simple Toggle switch circuit. While it doesn't show the built in indicator, the indicator gets it's power from the load side of the switch and a third terminal on the switch provides the ground connection. You apparently hooked something incorrectly to the indicator light ground.

 

[fordmxracer]

Re: basic toggle switch question

I know a good bit about wiring its just these switches are new to me...t

They have the 3 prongs on the back. Guess the wire that is already connected is the ground for the light?

 

[bhammer]

Re: basic toggle switch question

The three terminals on the back: 1 is for ground, 1 is for hot in and the last is for the hot out. With the switch off/open, the third terminal will NOT have power to it, only when you close th switch. The ground is for the lighted tip in the switch.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: basic toggle switch question

You need to ensure the +12V going into the switch is actually on the "line" side of the switch. If you put it on the "load" side, the light will be on all the time. The internal light gets its power from the load side of the switch. Yes, the third tab goes to ground as the internal light cannot work without it but the switch and whatever it control would function normally.