proper way to wire 3 switches
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=134096
Printed Date: July 05, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Topic: proper way to wire 3 switches
Posted By: fronzizzle
Subject: proper way to wire 3 switches
Date Posted: April 24, 2013 at 6:32 AM
Hello All,
I have a project car (1985 Camaro) that I've been working on. I've already added two extra fuse boxes for various engine components (upgraded ECM, fan, amp, etc.). I'm sort of short on fuse locations and I'm trying to figure out how to wire this.
Above my radio, I installed a switch panel that has three lighted 20-amp toggle switches. One is going to run a 6-foot LED light around the front of the grill, the second is going to run a LED light under the hood and the third...well, I haven't decided yet, though I'm 99% it'll run another LED light, probably in the hatch.
My question is, what is the best way to wire power to the switches? I know I can combine all of the ground wires, but I can also combine the power wires? The radio power wire is right there, I would love to be able to tie into that but I'm not sure if that is acceptable. I hope I don't have to run 3 separate wires from the battery or something like that.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Replies:
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: April 24, 2013 at 7:53 AM
LED lights are low consumption so you can use the switched ignition power from the radio to drive the power of the LED's and ground at the location of the LED lights. You can combine all the wires for the power for the switches ( fuse at 10 amps ) and then you can run the other side of the switch to all the lights. The reason you want to use switched ignition instead of constant power is because if you forget to switch the lights off in the trunk or the grill, it will drain your battery over time and having it on switched power, the lights will turn off when you shut the car off.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: fronzizzle
Date Posted: April 24, 2013 at 8:07 AM
Thank you for the reply.
Where would I fuse the wire? Would I fuse it before it splits to the radio and three lights, or (I assume) after it splits so this 10 amp fuse is only protecting the lights & not the radio, too?
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: April 25, 2013 at 9:19 AM
Fuse the wire after the connection to the switched igition behind the radio.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
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