Problem with Switches..................I'm SOOOOO confused!!

EarlsflyinCobra · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 07:26 PM

Okay, heres the problem......I put in 6 lighted toggle switches, 1 for turbo controller, 1 for intercooler fan, 1 for fog lights, 1 for accusump, 1 for brake cooling fans, and 1 for snow methanol system.

They all are supplying the needed voltage to their end user....

Five of the six LED's are lighting.........

The SIX one TURNS ALL THE OTHER LED'S OFF WHEN I TURN IT'S SWITCH ON.................

I tried another switch in the same spot, same thing......

3 of the switches get their power from the accessory side of the ignition switch (through an inline fuse) and 3 get their power thru the fuse box.........the one in question gets its power from the ignition switch...

Barnsnake · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 11:25 PM

A couple of things to consider:

1. Daisy-chaining the wiring for switches is a bad idea. It's OK for something like instrument lights, but for control circuits it can create troubleshooting nightmares. Each should be independently fused.

2. If those switches are triggering relays, one or more of the circuits may be switching the ground rather than the power. A relay can be wired either way and if there is a thermal switch involved it's likely controlling the ground.

Do those switches have separate connectors for the LED indicators or do they get their power from the controlled circuit? If there are not dedicated connectors for LED power and ground, item 2 above would cause strange behavior, especially if the switches are chained together.

EarlsflyinCobra · #3 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 07:43 AM

The LED connection of each switch is daisy chained, the other 2 connections of the switch are dedicated. The funny thing is the daisy chain is not hooked to anything else, power or ground, and the LED's still work???????

Barnsnake · #4 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 10:15 PM

You should probably test one of those switches with a continuity tester to determine what is actually happening inside the switch when it is flipped. Make a diagram of continuity between any of the connectors in both the on and off positions.

trularin · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 06:01 AM

It is a wiring problem. Each LED is a diode. That means it flows current in one direction and not the other.

Keep that in mind.

EarlsflyinCobra · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 10:06 PM

Well I moved a few wires around and reconnected a few connections and fixed the problem of the Accusump switch turning off the other LED's but now I have another problem.....

the Accusump circuit has BLOWN the LED out of 2 switches

Good thing I bought a FEW extras!!!!!!!!!!!

trularin · #7 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 06:55 AM

Wire the LED as a parallel circuit to the switch.

There should be power going to the switch. You toggle the swwitch and then power continues to the Accusump. Have that circuit also connect to the positive side of the LED. Ground the other side of the LED. So, everytime you toggle power to the Accusump, you will toggle power to the LED.