Single switch for multiple courtesy lights

[sberl]

I want to wire in several courtesy lights and be able to turn them on/off with a single switch. What is the proper way to do that? Run all the leads back to a pos and neg bus bar, then from those run a single line to the fuse block and then from there to the switch?
Thanks in advance!

 

[tpenfield]

Essentially, you are running a parallel circuit, and the switch feeds the common + side of the circuit. You can "daisy chain" both the + and the ground wire to reduce the amount of wiring needed.

I can draw a picture if you want . . .

 

[sberl]

That was my first thought too but I'm not sure how to accomplish it with the lights I'm looking at getting. It's just a fishing boat so I don't need anything too fancy. Maybe I'm looking too cheap though? Here is a pic from the package. If it can be done with these then yes, I could use a drawing haha.

 

[tpenfield]

The circuit would look like something like this . . .

Assuming the Red wire on the LED's is the '+' side and the black is ground. You'll need a bunch of "Tee" connectors to attached the lights to the main + and ground wires.

 

[sberl]

Perfect! I found some 3 way heat shrink terminals on Amazon. Problem solved! Thanks much!!!

 

[sberl]

Actually.... will these even work for a marine environment (with the exposed center ring)? Don't know why I didn't think to ask this BEFORE I spent $40 on them! :facepalm: