Hello all,
Im looking to install led interior lights in the cargo area of my work van controlled by 2 switches. One switch will be in front dash and the other in the cargo area by rear doors. I have 2 position on/off Carling rocker switches (has 3 pins, power, switch and ground). Will i be able to achieve this 3 way with the mentioned switches? If not, can there be a way to do this using a relay?

 

Your switches do not have enough terminals. They are just simple switches (SPST), the extra ground terminal is just for the light in the switch. If you got regular switches with 3 terminals, then it would work.

I don't think yo could even use those switches with a relay and make it all work. And even if you could, those switches are lighted, so if you turned the one on in the front and it lit, then you went to the rear and turned them off, the front switch would still be lit. Notice on a 3 way switch in your house, there is no "on" "off" position marked on the switch, the lights can go off or on in either direction depending on the position of the other switch.

Just go to the store and get simple unlighted switches with 3 terminals, and you can wire the up like you would in your house. Officially, you need single pole, double throw switches or SPDT.

 

Dave is right, you could wire it however where either both switches have to be on for the lights to be on, or so that if either switch is on the lights are on.

 

Thanks guys, i see your points.. Also checked my box van that has it as standard setup. The switches are different.
Thanks again!!

 

I suppose 2 of these would be suitable right? thanks

 

Yes but isn't ideal, that is a 3 position on/off/on switch. You don't need the off position, you'd just have to switch past the off each time. What you need is a SPDT two position on/on switch. Like this one

 

Thank you

 

You do need a SPDT switch for the three way. I like to use digikey to find those hard to find parts personally. While you can use standard house light swtiches, when I had my expedition everything was wired to a small panel nice and need.

Here I've sorted out 12v SPDT switches: Rocker Switches | Switches | DigiKey

You can also add a filter for illuminated if that's your thing (I prefer illuminated switches).

A simpler wiring diagram: http://cdn.instructables.com/F9M/MJ2...50WJ.LARGE.gif

 

http://cdn.instructables.com/F9M/MJ2...50WJ.LARGE.gif

Those switches in the diagram above look like SPDT switches to me.

 

Thank you very much! I have it all sorted out now. I was just messin with the wrong switches at first.