Lighted Switches??????????
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Lighted Switches??????????
Ok i am trying to hook up rear back up lights on a switch and i bought a lighted spst switch. I get it all hooked up and the light on the switch will not come on. The other to lights mounted on my reese do turn on. They are self grounding and work just fine i just cant get the light on the switch to come on. It has 3 connections coming off the back. I am so frustrated i just quit and came in side so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 28,286
Likes: 6
From: BLT, MN
I am no electricity whiz. Jim (Megawatt) is our resident expert but I would think one wire will be poewr to light the switch, one to bring power to switch and then to the lights? Hopefully someone with knowledge of that type of switch will chime in. Anyway you can post a copy of the wiring diagram? Did one come with the switch?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
It's hard to make a determination without knowing what the switch is supposed to do. Is the switch always lit? Is it only supposed to come on when you activiate the lights (turn the switch on). These can both be done without separate wires, which is what it sounds like with only 3 wires. I can only guess that they are power, load and ground. If this is the case my guess that the bulb/led inside the switch is kapoot and you need to either replace the bulb in the switch or the switch itself. Radio Shack usually has a really good selection of switches to fit most people's individual tastes. Just make sure they know it's for a 12VDC auto electrical system.
Just my .02
Just my .02
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 367
From: Fallon,NV & Bainbridge OH
Like already said one is for power, one to the load and one to the ground. There should one connector by itself and the other two together. Usaully the single is for power and the other two get split between ground and load, most don't care which is which but take a look just in case. hope this helps a little.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 203
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From: Austin
that is true! i just did the same job this afternoon by hooking up some KC lights as additional back-up lights. i had power to the switch and the lights connected to the switch just to test. not until i grounded the switch with the 3rd terminal did the switch light up.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Austin
It's hard to make a determination without knowing what the switch is supposed to do. Is the switch always lit? Is it only supposed to come on when you activiate the lights (turn the switch on). These can both be done without separate wires, which is what it sounds like with only 3 wires. I can only guess that they are power, load and ground. If this is the case my guess that the bulb/led inside the switch is kapoot and you need to either replace the bulb in the switch or the switch itself. Radio Shack usually has a really good selection of switches to fit most people's individual tastes. Just make sure they know it's for a 12VDC auto electrical system.
Just my .02
Just my .02
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