master power switch 12v

[rhltechie]

Hi all,

I wanted to have a "master" power switch for my 12v battery stuff. I saw a switch at radio shack that was only a dollar or two that i liked so i picked it up. its a 12v - 30amp deal but the poles on it say "power, acc, ground". How am I to wire this thing coming from the battery? When it says "ground" does that mean to the trailer?

thanks,

mandy

[Larwyn]

Hi all,

I wanted to have a "master" power switch for my 12v battery stuff. I saw a switch at radio shack that was only a dollar or two that i liked so i picked it up. its a 12v - 30amp deal but the poles on it say "power, acc, ground". How am I to wire this thing coming from the battery? When it says "ground" does that mean to the trailer?

thanks,

mandy

Mandy,

Is it a lighted switch? If not, I am still trying to figure out what the ground terminal would be used for. If it is a switch which includes a pilot light then the ground would be for the light, and should get back to your negative DC/ground buss. If that is the case and you do not need the light, the ground lead could be ignored completely (not wired)

[rhltechie]

Hi Larwyn,

it is indeed one of those lighted switches. nothing says "turn me off" more than a red light switch!! lol so power=positive and acc=negative??

[brian_bp]

I agree that it seems likely that the "ground" connection is for the light.

Power would be input (from the battery or where ever), leaving ACC as the output to your 12-volt "stuff"... apparently it is labelled as an on-off switch for an automotive accessory.

To test, I would use an ohmmeter between terminals: Power to ACC should be open (infinite resistance) when the switch is off, and nearly zero resistance when the switch is on. Power to Ground should have some resistance - the resistance of the light; if it is an LED light, it may show high resistance because the tester voltage isn't above the LED threshold, but if you see high resistance there you can just hook it up to 12V (+ to Power and - to Ground) and confirm that the light goes on.

Does this switch light up only when switched on (likely, and what you want), or only when switched off (done on some switches so you can find them in the dark), or all the time (pointless here, but indicates that power is available). Lighted switches come in all of these versions.

[Gerdo]

"Power" is the positive wire from the battery.
"Acc" Is the wire going to your fuse block/everything 12 volt in your tear.
"Ground" does go to the negative of your battery. This is only needed to make the light light up. It is not needed to make the switch work.

I have a disconnect "key" on mine. I also have a main fuse inline a couple of inches from the battery. If the switch ot wire is overloaded or shorted it will protect from fire.

[mikeschn]

Mandy,

You got a picture of that thingie? (You know how we like those pictures.) Besides, we can give you a much better answer if we see the thingie!

Mike...

[rhltechie]

hehe...that thingie...so technical




i tried to get a close up of the words..but my camera just blurs them.

[asianflava]

I have one similar to what Gerdo has. I found one like his on the West Marine website, It costs over 6 times more than your though, it is $6.50.

[Larwyn]

Mandy,

Okay,

Power goes to the battery.

ACC goes to the fuse block.

Ground goes to battery negative.

I would be a bit reluctant to put a $2.00 switch in my main DC line, and also would choose not to waste milliamphours powering a light to tell me the switch was on. But if you choose to do so, I would never hold it against you......

[rhltechie]

thank you for all of your postings on the subject..

and also would choose not to waste milliamphours powering a light to tell me the switch was on. But if you choose to do so, I would never hold it against you

LOL

thank you larwyn...i guess i was thinking of what would be cool to have and should rethink my ideas....thank you for not thinking less of my because of my lighted switch