Switches that fit well in-between ceiling lights?

[DFrank]

Looking for some simple rocker switches that would work well up in the space between the two push button dome lights, right behind the rear view mirror.

I assume it isn't hard to pull the head liner and get wires up there.

They will be for a front light bar and possibly some flood lights for the hips.

Aslo wondering if folks tie these into the brights, so they all power down at once for oncoming traffic if I use them on back roads.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[WalterJ]

Carling. I used these for my 7 aux circuits, installed in the "Glove Box" area beneath the HVAC controls; many many options & switch covers for Aux Lights too. Recommend using "Noodle (silicone insulated) Wire" for flexibility when stuffing into spaces. Good Luck.

 

[Ozymandias]

check this out if this would be something for you.
http://www.switchpros.com/

I have it installed in this location you want to use.
It has al the functions built into it, fuse, relays, trigger in.
All in one.


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[EDankievitch]

Amazon has a large selection of rocker switches it just takes time to find the ones you want. Most sizes are listed in the metric system

 

[Motorhead]

I am backing up what Ozy says. Watch the loads you put on switches. I use a lot of the Bosch style cube relays and let the switch just switch the relay. You get better brighter lighting due to less current and voltage loss.

 

[DFrank]

Ozzy, that switch looks perfect, aside from the $550 Price tag!

I'll be running lights along the hips, the rear and either the cabover, or the front bumper.

It does have way more functions than i'd realized, and might need to give it a second look.

I want to run the aux lights in a manner that has them dim when the brights are pulled off.

Suggestions on how to do that?

The camper doesn't come off much, but it'd be nice to keep the lights on the truck when it is camper-less.

 

[DFrank]

This is a duplicate question to a new thread I started, but I was hoping to grab Ozy's attention as he's been quite helpful.

I am running some aux switches for some off road lights. The lights have their own illumination, and I'd like to tie it in to the dimmable dash light circuit.

I could not find a fuse label that seems to go to that circuit, but I'd rather tap into the right wire in the steering column area to keep it all in the cab.

Anyone know the tracer color or suggest how to determine the right wire?

Also, we tried to run one of the switches to be: off, on with brights, and simply on.

We tapped into the bright wire, right out near the bulb. The system almost works as desired, except in the on position, the power to the drivers, lights up the one bright.

My 17 year old son, who is the main impetus for this upgrade, thinks we need a diode somewhere in the system to avoid this.

He ran three switches into the overhead console. One is "hip" side lights, one will be front light bar and the third wil be back up illuminators on the new bumper, or maybe up high on the camper.


Also wondering about how we might add switches to control these items from in the camper, but that might be hard/too late/ overkill.

Thanks in advance,

Dave

 

[y2k17ram]

I had a 2nd Gen - when the lens switches broke, I put these in.

 

[Ozymandias]

Hi Frank
I've choosen the Cig Lighter / Ashtray Illumination for my own instruments, it dimms to and is easy accessible.

For the lights, your son is right, you need a Diode like this one, check amazon for it or a car electric store nearby.
https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/mobile/product/848/category/123

To control such things from inside the camper you could just have an eye on a cheap remote system, costs almost nothing and is widely available. Just watch for the 12v Units.


https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_7?fst=asff,p90x:1&rh=n:573765011,k:remote+control+system+3+channel&keywords=remote+control+system+3+channel&ie=UTF8&qid=1536607454&rnid=2941120011

 

[DFrank]

Thanks Ozy. I think we can just ad that diode in a "chipmunk tooth type of fuse arrangement to keep the power from back feeding.

That site is in the UK, and I am struggling to find a nice little blade style like that in the US.

I see some items in the solar arena that prevent back flow of power. They are a little cumbersome, but should work.

Hard to picture what goes on in that little diode to make power flow one way, but I don't need to understand that to make it work for me.

 

[Ozymandias]

Ford seems to use them.
https://www.amazon.com/Diode-Replac...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HRWA9MZ6SHGEYWY99BT4

So maybe O'Reilly or an other parts Dealer has them in Stock.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Hard to picture what goes on in that little diode to make power flow one way, but I don't need to understand that to make it work for me.

A diode is just a simple semiconductor. No moving parts, no black magic. It functions like a check valve: current flows in 1 direction but not the other.