12 Volt 3-way?

[prohandyman]

I have wired ac all my life, including 3-way switches. I want to turn the interior lights of my tear on from both sides. Does a 12 volt 3-way switch exist? Or is there a better way of wiring the same?

[Dale M.]

Just use any single pole double throw ( SPDT ) toggle switch. Or one side of a double pole double throw. (DPDT)....

Wires exactly same way as AC 3 way circuit....



Dale

[Tcurr]

Why not just use a ac 3 way switch does the same thing doesnt it?

[mikeschn]

Are you talking about a double pole double throw switch? They have them at Radio Shack.

Mike...

[prohandyman]

Thanks
I figured it was simple. I considered an ac 3-way, but I want something a little more compact.

[brian_bp]

Number of poles
The circuit drawings show only the "three-way" switches, which are single-pole double-throw (SPDT), and are used as the first and last switches in the sequence. If you want even more, they are "four-way" switches, which are double-pole double-throw (DPDT) with some cross-connecting of the contacts built in (you can wire those connections externally if using normal DPDT switches).

AC switches on DC
DC is inherently harder to switch, because of the problem of a DC arc being maintained across the contacts as they are pulled apart, so a current interrupting rating for switchgear in AC use cannot necessarily be applied to DC... but we're talking a couple of amps of 12VDC here, so I assume home light switches (rated for up to 15A at 125VAC) would be fine.

I agree that more compact would be good, and there are lots of DC switches. The ones used to turn on lamps at two different settings should be centre-off SPDT... the centre position is unwanted, but they would work, and the ideal SPDT with no centre position should also be available.