Three-way switch for LED lights?

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Three-way switch for LED lights?

Postby Chuckles » Sun Aug 03, 2014 7:37 pm

I want to wire some LED puck lights in my trailer and would like to be able to switch them on or off from the doorway and while lying in bed (we have a standy). I bought some rocker switches for 12 volt but I have not seen anywhere you can get a three-way switch. Is there a way to do this using the single pole switches?
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Re: Three-way switch for LED lights?

Postby lrrowe » Sun Aug 03, 2014 7:46 pm

I have not researched this subject and therefore cannot speak about 12v switches. But can someone who is more an expert in this area say why one cannot use a 120v AC 3 way switch?
Bob

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Re: Three-way switch for LED lights?

Postby kayakdlk » Sun Aug 03, 2014 8:33 pm

You can get SPDT 12 v switches almost anywhere. Radio shack, auto zone, ebay, amazon, etc.. They are rocker type, flat, toggle with handle, round whatever type you like. You may have to run a smaller wire to them and clearance in the wall may require shims but all easy to do.

Dan
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Re: Three-way switch for LED lights?

Postby Chuckles » Sun Aug 03, 2014 11:07 pm

kayakdlk wrote:You can get SPDT 12 v switches almost anywhere. Radio shack, auto zone, ebay, amazon, etc.. They are rocker type, flat, toggle with handle, round whatever type you like. You may have to run a smaller wire to them and clearance in the wall may require shims but all easy to do.

Dan


Thanks Dan,

For a non-electrician like me, what does SPDT stand for? Do you wire them same as a 120v AC three way switch? Is there a handy wiring diagram our there?
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Re: Three-way switch for LED lights?

Postby captainkynan » Mon Aug 04, 2014 3:21 am

I think you want a circuit like this
http://www.thecircuitdetective.com/3_way_switch.gif
Either switch will switch it on or off.
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Re: Three-way switch for LED lights?

Postby kayakdlk » Mon Aug 04, 2014 6:09 am

A SPST - Single Pole Single Throw has two post and usually labeled on/off. While a SPDT = Single Pole Double Throw. It has 3 posts on it and would not be labeled on/off since if wired as a 3 way switch off could be off either way depending on which of the two switches you used to turn the light off. Google SPDT and click on more pictures for different types switches.

captainkynan pointed you to a wiring diagram

here are some more examples:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=19864&p=269634
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=60249


Dan
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Re: Three-way switch for LED lights?

Postby Chuckles » Mon Aug 04, 2014 10:02 pm

kayakdlk wrote:A SPST - Single Pole Single Throw has two post and usually labeled on/off. While a SPDT = Single Pole Double Throw. It has 3 posts on it and would not be labeled on/off since if wired as a 3 way switch off could be off either way depending on which of the two switches you used to turn the light off. Google SPDT and click on more pictures for different types switches.

captainkynan pointed you to a wiring diagram

here are some more examples:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=19864&p=269634
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=60249


Dan


Thanks Dan. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Chuck D
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