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switch for boat lights

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Marine Electronics
Forum Discription: Boat Stereos, Security, Navigation, Lights, Switches, Gauges, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=106322
Printed Date: April 24, 2024 at 8:08 AM


Topic: switch for boat lights

Posted By: cobrajet
Subject: switch for boat lights
Date Posted: July 23, 2008 at 2:31 PM

i'm trying to install a switch for my boat lights it;s a 2 way switch when i hook the two leads one to hot the other one to ground when i turn the switch off it blow's the fuess why is it doing that ? i need help

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James J P



Replies:

Posted By: megaman
Date Posted: July 23, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Your two pole switch has two settings: Open and closed.  With one lead to +12v and the other to Ground, when you close the switch you're shorting 12v to ground, thus popping the fuse.  To connect your lights, you have to run +12v from the power source to one input, and the +12v side of your lights to the other input.




Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: July 23, 2008 at 4:46 PM

Do you need to be able to turn one light on by itself, and then the other position needs to turn on 2 lights?   





Posted By: cobrajet
Date Posted: July 27, 2008 at 9:59 AM
no i need them to come on at the same time

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James J P




Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: July 27, 2008 at 10:14 AM
You need to ground both of the lights.  Then connect the positive lead of both lights to one terminal of the switch.  Connect the other terminal of the switch to a power source.  If you want the lights to be able to come on without the key, you need to get power from a constant source.  If they are to only come on with the key, connect it to a wire that is only hot with the key on. 





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