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illuminated negative wired rocker switch

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Lights, Neon, LEDs, HIDs
Forum Discription: Under Car Lighting, Strobe Lights, Fog Lights, Headlights, HIDs, DRL, Tail Lights, Brake Lights, Dashboard Lights, WigWag, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=136561
Printed Date: April 28, 2024 at 2:06 AM


Topic: illuminated negative wired rocker switch

Posted By: chris.s
Subject: illuminated negative wired rocker switch
Date Posted: May 04, 2014 at 1:35 PM

Hello.
I'd like to install an illuminated rocker switch to turn the lights in the rear of my van on and off, the problem I have is that the lights have a constant 12v live and are switched on via the negative connection.
Could someone tell me if it is possible to wire an illuminated rocker switch in such a way that it lights up when the switch, and the lights, are on in this type of set up?
I'm planning on leaving the door switches connected and using the rocker as an override if that makes sense.
Thank you in advance.



Replies:

Posted By: oldspark
Date Posted: May 04, 2014 at 5:36 PM
Unless it's a LED illuminated rocker, merely invert the switch connections - ie (usually...) outer lamp (GND) to +12V; the opposite pin power/+12V to GND; and its center-out to your ground-switched lights.

Please doublecheck my logic - t'was a heavy gig last night (I'm all DRI'd out, but far from Nursing Home Blues!).




Posted By: chris.s
Date Posted: May 04, 2014 at 6:35 PM
Hi.
Thanks for the reply oldspark.
The switch I was thinking of getting is an led illuminated one, I take it from your reply that this is probably not a good idea.
Is it in any way possible to do this using an led switch or should I just go for an incandescent, or non illuminated one, I only ask because I think the led ones look a lot nicer.
Thanks.




Posted By: oldspark
Date Posted: May 05, 2014 at 12:07 AM
You'd have to reverse the direction of the LED - ie, swap its connections to the terminals.

The exception would be if the LED is in a bridge rectifier (4 diodes or a 4 pin bridge rectifier) but I don't think many if any switches would have that unless specifically stated as being bipolar or polarity free etc.





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