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Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

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Old 12-17-2009, 06:12 PM   #1
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Rocker switch won't turn off

Hey everyone - I am at wits end here. I have hooked up my fog lights using an illuminated (3 prong) rocker switch that came with the set. Despite the fact the instructions only showed a TWO prong switch, I was able to figure out the correct wiring. So the lights switch on/off just fine. However, the illuminated rocker switch STAYS lit regardless of whether or not the lights are actually on.

I have two switches (each switch powering two lights) and am testing two different methods - one set contains a relay wired to the specs found here: http://www.classictruckshop.com/clubs/e ... glites.htm

And the other switch bypasses a relay completely (connects directly to battery). BOTH switches work fine, but again, neither one of them turns off. They both remain lit even with the car and lights are completely off.

In case you think to mention this, I'm definitely going to take the RELAY route once I figure this all out. I just thought I'd try bypassing the relay for one set temporarily to see if that was causing the problem. Of course it isn't. And I want to say I've tried every possible wire combination to the switch terminals. None of them seem to work unless it matches the configuration below (result in blown fuses or or unwanted 'sparks').

Here's the way I've got the SWITCHES wired:

NO RELAY SWITCH
POLE 1 - GRND
POLE 2 - POWER (direct to battery)
POLE 3 - FOG LIGHTS

RELAY SWITCH
POLE 1 - GRND
POLE 2 - POWER (direct to IGN fuse in fuse panel)
POLE 3 - FOG RELAY (per diagram link above)


Does anyone know what i'm doing wrong here? Why won't the lighted switches themselves turn off?? Thanks gang.
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Old 12-17-2009, 06:24 PM   #2
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Re: Rocker switch won't turn off

normaly if the light stays on all the time you can swap the load and the 12v as in poles 2 & 3

see if that helps, i dont know if you tried that yet other wise it would have to be a defective switch
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Old 12-17-2009, 06:31 PM   #3
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Re: Rocker switch won't turn off

i did a crude paint of a switch and how it is wired inside hopefully that will help show you how it needs to be wired and how if the 12v and load is mixed up how it would cause the light to light all the time
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File Type: jpg switch.jpg (16.8 KB, 7 views)
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Old 12-17-2009, 06:51 PM   #4
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Re: Rocker switch won't turn off

Unreal - something so simple. Your suggestions seem to have worked! Thank you SOOOOO much! Simply switching the load and 12v did the trick!

On a side note, just in case you're able to assist, how can I wire this new accessory to the fuse panel? My thinking is that, if there are open slots (which I'm pretty sure there are), to just incorporate a new fuse (20AMP?) into the block and connect the four fog lights (2 switches) to this fuse. Is that something fairly easy to accomplish? Though I know it would work, I don't want to rig the 12V power by wrapping the wire to an existing fuse (i.e. IGN) and the plugging the fuse into the box with the loose wire attached to it.

Or any other suggestions you have to get these lights connected to a 12V power source without wrapping wires around a fuse prong would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again guys!
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Old 12-17-2009, 07:00 PM   #5
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Re: Rocker switch won't turn off

i use fuse taps, i use them on the hot side of the fuse, not the load side, you can find that out by pulling the fuse and useing a test light or muti meter to find what side is hot its normal the left side i think (cant remember), but use the tap, then a inline fuse to protect the circut put the inline fuse in as close to the fuse tap as you can and it not be in the way

i posed some pics to help to

i also see you are useing a relay GOOD lol
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 1c4adfe6-eff3-4dd3-9dc6-0d727a44c382.JPG (22.4 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg 64e28a12-17cf-4d2c-8713-d83ac5b0646a.JPG (31.7 KB, 2 views)
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Old 12-17-2009, 10:22 PM   #6
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Re: Rocker switch won't turn off

Thanks for the tip about fuse taps. Never knew they existed. I'll give them a try!
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Old 12-20-2009, 08:03 PM   #7
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Re: Rocker switch won't turn off

Just a quick update - fuse taps - AWESOME! I also learned they sell something similar for the car battery. What a great yet safe way to hook up accessories!
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Old 12-21-2009, 05:30 PM   #8
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Re: Rocker switch won't turn off

yea man they work out alot better than the old school way of wraping wires, plus you dont hack factory wires to and its easy to remove if ever wanted

i havent used a batt terminal tap thing, i always buy dual post batts, in the case of the maro i use the side term for factory, and all add ons are on the top post, works good for me i got a spair fuse pannel under the hood for my air compressor, rad fan, fog lights and the high for the blower motor on the HVAC, i didnt want to tackle replacing the fusable link that ws on it so i loomed a wire up to the HVAC box from my underhood fuse block to run the high on the fan, i was going to put a fuse in the facory place, but it works just fine like this and you would never know looking at it that its done that way

on that subject i love a under hood aux fuse pannel, works great for any add ons you may want and it keeps things safe to
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Old 12-21-2009, 05:30 PM
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