Wiring help needed

[KahneFan]

So, I purchased a light bar which came with one of THESE SWITCHES. However, I picked up THESE SWITCHES that I'd rather use. First an foremost, is there any reason these shouldn't work? I'm not electrically inclined at all, so I figured a switch is a switch. IF they do work, I'm not sure how to wire them. The ORIGINAL SWITCH has a gold tip and 2 silver tips. There was a black wire going to the gold, a white wire in the middle, and a blue wire on the last. The NEW SWITCH has "EARTH - LED - LOAD" written on it, but I'm not sure which wire should go where. I've tried it a couple of different ways and couldn't get it to "work". Any help is appreciated.

 

[stimpy433]

Should be.... that's how I would try it or maybe with the white and blue swapped.

black = ground = earth
white = battery = LED
blue = to accessory = load

 

[KahneFan]

Should be.... that's how I would try it or maybe with the white and blue swapped.

black = ground = earth
white = battery = LED
blue = to accessory = load

I'm pretty sure I tried it that way and the wires got crazy hot. I'll give it a try again though. Black should stay on the (earth), so if anything I'll swap the white and blue maybe? Thanks!

 

[JB1]

you should be using a relay, switch you bought may not be rated for the amp draw

 

[KahneFan]

you should be using a relay, switch you bought may not be rated for the amp draw

The light bar wiring had a relay already in-line. The original switch works fine, I was just wanted to change it to another style of switch.

 

[JB1]

ok, well that's odd that it gets hot

 

[RedFalcon]

Yeah, the switch getting hot is odd. I have and used plenty of the "new" switches that you want to use. Earth should definitely be the ground, led is power to the switch, and load would be sending a signal out to your accessory. If you have a voltmeter or a spare led with lead wires, I would just play with different connections to double check, but what's been stated should work.

 

[sbarron]

I'm betting you got a bad switch.

I am betting on the new switch, the load is power out, the black will be ground for the switch LED and the last post would be power in... the two "power posts" should be reversible as that is just a path for power to travel through the switch, but you'll know when you have them right as the switch LED should only light once power reaches the "out" post.

If something is getting hot, you have too much amperage going somewhere. Could be wired wrong, bad switch, etc....

 

[KahneFan]

/end of thread - unless someone else questions it.

I just ended up going with the original that came with the bar. Not too much of a difference, I just really liked that the "new" switch could be tightened (has a nut), but the original switch just pushes in and you hope it doesn't loosen up after install.