How do window switches work?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,526
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From: Round Rock, TX
How do window switches work?
Here's what I'm trying to do: I'm putting a momentary switch in my dash, and whenever I push "down" on that switch, I want all of the windows to go down.
I originally tried hooking one side of the new switch to +12V and the other side to whichever wire went to the motor and carried +12V when you pressed "down" on the original switch. This resulted in sparks. A little research with the meter shows that I've actually got about 0.5V on the "down" wire at rest, and it goes to 12V while I'm holding the switch down.
In the end, I'm hoping to run a single wire from one side of the new switch and tapping it into all of the other switches to trigger them down. First of all, should the other end of the new switch go to 12V or to ground (I'm voting on 12V).
Secondly, how exactly can I make the windows go down without actually pressing "down" on their respective switches and insead using the setup I'm describing? Perhaps an explanation of how the window switches work would help me, since they don't seem to work exactly how I thought they did. If they worked how I think they should, I wouldn't be getting transient voltages on them when they're at rest.
I originally tried hooking one side of the new switch to +12V and the other side to whichever wire went to the motor and carried +12V when you pressed "down" on the original switch. This resulted in sparks. A little research with the meter shows that I've actually got about 0.5V on the "down" wire at rest, and it goes to 12V while I'm holding the switch down.
In the end, I'm hoping to run a single wire from one side of the new switch and tapping it into all of the other switches to trigger them down. First of all, should the other end of the new switch go to 12V or to ground (I'm voting on 12V).
Secondly, how exactly can I make the windows go down without actually pressing "down" on their respective switches and insead using the setup I'm describing? Perhaps an explanation of how the window switches work would help me, since they don't seem to work exactly how I thought they did. If they worked how I think they should, I wouldn't be getting transient voltages on them when they're at rest.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
How do window switches work?
In the OFF position, both directions of all the window switches (even Bronco back windows) go to ground. When you press a direction, it goes to 12V momentarily, and the other wire is still grounded. That means you can't just put 12V into that circuit unless you first disconnect the switches, which means you'll need SEVERAL DPDT relays or maybe one 3PDT relay. I haven't totally figured out the circuit, but that's a quick guess. I've been thinking about it for a while, and I wanted to rig ONE express down module to work ALL the windows in up AND down, but I haven't really put any thought into it yet.
The Haynes diagrams show the window circuits pretty clearly.
The Haynes diagrams show the window circuits pretty clearly.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 0
From: Round Rock, TX
How do window switches work?
I considered adding the relays, but I'm running out of space where I'm sticking everything.
You can perfectly fit one module in each "pocket" underneath the switches on the '92-96 door panels; it's such a fit that they don't rattle even if you don't fasten them down. There's also just enough room behind the rear switch and headlight switch, but this doesn't really apply to your Bronco.
To do things with only one module would have an unfortunate side-effect: you'd never be able to control only one window at a time anymore. At least that's what I started to realize when I was hooking mine up. Making the windows go up will require an additional module, but it would certainly work.
Well, I was afraid that my final touch wouldn't be as easy as I planned.
You can perfectly fit one module in each "pocket" underneath the switches on the '92-96 door panels; it's such a fit that they don't rattle even if you don't fasten them down. There's also just enough room behind the rear switch and headlight switch, but this doesn't really apply to your Bronco.To do things with only one module would have an unfortunate side-effect: you'd never be able to control only one window at a time anymore. At least that's what I started to realize when I was hooking mine up. Making the windows go up will require an additional module, but it would certainly work.
Well, I was afraid that my final touch wouldn't be as easy as I planned.
