How to wire this?

zach103

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So i found some diagrams on the 4 pong switches and havnt found what i want. So here is what i have i have the first one is a 2 prong push button for the horn than a 6 prong and two 4 prongs.. they all have a 2 prong fuse which as you cas see has one prong on top and one on the side..

This is what i have so far and stupid me i didn't get any pictures of it before hand so im just trying to figure out what goes where. any help is greatly appreciated.

mms_picture-8.jpg

0930101915.jpg
 

LippCJ7

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Re: How to wire this?

Are these lighted switches? if so one of the prongs will be a ground for the light in the switch the other the supply for the switched load or what ever your switching
 

fishrdan

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Re: How to wire this?

Those switches should be pretty simple, (as far as I can see they are all 4 terminal switches...). 2 terminals (+ & -) are for the switch's light, then the other 2 terminals are to switch the accessory. Use some test leads off a 12V battery and figure out which 2 terminals are for the light.

- one terminal will go to ground
- one terminal will go to the fuse holder
- one terminal will go the the accessory
- one terminal will be jumpered to the accessory's terminal, to turn the light on along with the accessory

I had to figure out a 10 terminal double pole double throw switch, that was a bundle of joy....
 

Lyle29464

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Re: How to wire this?

I think what is messing with you is the running and anchor lights

look at the back of the light switch. Turn switch to running lights and hook the wire up that goes to the bow light. Turn switch to anchor and plug in the wire that goes to the anchor light. That switch does 3 things sometimes. It may turn on your dash lights also.
 

zach103

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Re: How to wire this?

ya the 5 prong was confusing me.. ok so what i have right now should the setup from the fuse.. the big orange wire will go to the battery (or ignition??)..

- one terminal will be jumpered to the accessory's terminal, to turn the light on along with the accessory
What do you mean by that.. should i run a ground wire from each accesory to my busbar and than daisy chain the swtich lights and connect those to the busbar also?
 

Lyle29464

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Re: How to wire this?

The switches will not have grounds
The switches will have power to them when you hook the fuses back up to the buss bar.
Your light switch will have a wire to the anchor light
It will have a wire to the lights in the guages ( maybe) and that same post will go to the running lights. The switch will have 2 positions one will just turn on the anchor light and the other will do the running lights and lights in gauges.

I think their is a digagram at the top of the forum that will guide you.
 

zach103

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Re: How to wire this?

Those switches should be pretty simple, (as far as I can see they are all 4 terminal switches...). 2 terminals (+ & -) are for the switch's light, then the other 2 terminals are to switch the accessory. Use some test leads off a 12V battery and figure out which 2 terminals are for the light.

- one terminal will go to ground
- one terminal will go to the fuse holder
- one terminal will go the the accessory
- one terminal will be jumpered to the accessory's terminal, to turn the light on along with the accessory

I had to figure out a 10 terminal double pole double throw switch, that was a bundle of joy....


In this one you said one goes to the ground thats why i was confused and added the ground to the switch..

The diagram helps a little.
 

zach103

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Re: How to wire this?

so are the rest of the spots i indicated correct?
 

fish_on_the_deck

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Re: How to wire this?

The switches will not have grounds...

He said the switches were lighted... right Zach??

If your switches have lights that illuminate when the switch is on, it WILL have a ground. How else will the return current flow back to the source? If they are not lighted switches then correct, no ground.

Unless somone is familiar with that specific switch pin-out (unlikely), you wont be able to get a straight answer here, which may be frustraighting you.

With knowledge and time though it can be figured out. Read this and familarize yourself with different switch types: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch Then remember there will be extra terminals for lights internal to the switch bodies.

I DONT suggest using leads off a large 12V battery to trouble shoot... if you hit a closed switch your going to burn yourself! Use a 9V battery instead. Even better is to use a multimeter with a continuity tester.

First try to ID the 12V input... if you find continuity between one terminal and another with the switch ON and lose continuity when the switch is OFF, then one is the 12V in and the other the switch leg.

If you get tired of messing with it try one of the pre-wired ones like I got:
http://shop.newwiremarine.com/Custom-Switch-Panels_c3.htm
 

Lyle29464

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Re: How to wire this?

He said the switches were lighted... right Zach??

If your switches have lights that illuminate when the switch is on, it WILL have a ground.







OOPS very true a lot of the rocker switches do have lights. ( hey I was up late)

You can worry about the ground for them after everything else works.
 

zach103

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Re: How to wire this?

ya thats what i was thinking lol.. ok so ill give it a try with the 9v
 

wire2

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Re: How to wire this?

Those are not lighted switches, they're just Cutler-Hammer style rockers.
The case is DPDT but there's some tabs missing, indicating that they're "special use".
Typically, 12v comes from the fuseholder to a center tab.
Moving the lever up connects the center tab(s) to the lower one(s), and vice versa.
At this point, you'll have to establish what tab connects to what other(s) when you move the lever.
Remove all the wires from the switch first, so you don't read thru something else.
For lighting, starboard and port lights can go to one outside tab, stern light can go to the adjacent one and jumper to the opposite end, to give you stern only, or stern/stbd/pt.
 

zach103

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Re: How to wire this?

they're lighted i promise you that.... i did some trial and error with the 9v and ive pretty much figure it out and found some old pictures in the archives .. Thanks for the help guys!!
 

wire2

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Re: How to wire this?

Ok, I stand corrected. I suppose lighted qualifies for "special use".
Glad you have it sorted, Zach.
 
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