Wire 2 Switches to 1 set of lights? Can It be done?

I have a set of lights in the back of my truck. I'd like to wire one switch in the cab and another switch in the back of the truck. Can it be done? If so how? Does anyone have a wire diagram?

 

Yes, it can definitely be done and it's not too hard. Don't have a diagram, but I will see if I can find one.

 

http://micahgallant.com/2011/06/25/visualizing-3-ways

 

You want a 3-way switch. You would need 2 DPDT switches and 2 positives running parallel between each switch.

 

Pardon the crude drawing.
You wouldn't tap in to where the switches prongs are, there would be 2 sets of them for each DPDT switch, just put them in the right spot or you will keep popping fuses.

 

I should probably read the other posts before I whip out paint this is a better diagram.

 

Here is how I wired mine for that exact purpose, But I also wanted the switch to illuminate with the lights in the bed as an indicator. End result with my setup is one light on my switch comes on with the headlights, the other when the bed lights are on, no matter what position the in cab switch is in. Only difference in wiring is that I tied the dash lights to the lower light and the bed lights to the upper light in the switch. That way the words illuminate with the headlights. After I did this I also discovered that tapping into the dash light circuits also ties into the dimmer.



Bed switch:


Cab Switch:

 

Nice work ROGU3! Love that switch! Did you need a relay?

 

Thanks, and no, I didnt bother with a relay mainly because I didnt think it was necessary for just an led strip. That and I wanted the lights to work with the truck off. And I guess I should point out that I am not taking power directly from the battery. The circuit is fused via an Aux fuse block which is where the power comes from.

 

Do you have a picture of the lights in the bed? I'm curious how the "marker" set up is.

 

Not sure what you mean by marker set up, but here are the photos:

Daytime:


Nighttime:

 

^^ I read that wrong, my bad.

That's a awesome set up... Putting it on my To-Do list!

 

How do you have the high lift and cables attached up there? Looks good!

 

Never mind....saw it in your build. I like it.

 

Great circuit Rogu3.

Large... Dafuk is that?

Rogu3... that is a very creative way to maintain an indicator light on the dash. Most switches won't allow for that because one leg of the indicator is connected to the "output", and of course, that alternates with the 3-way switch.

Caution to those planning this that you are going to need a specific OTTRAW switch that has isolated terminals for the indicator.
A SPDT will work fine if that is available with the isolated lamps.

 

That sir is Microsoft Paint

Jkjk Large, better than anything I can do and more than I have contributed to this thread

 

Ya... I use paint all the time.
I used it to make "CAD" drawings that I'd send to our San Jose office because the boss wouldn't buy a 2nd license.

But he's got an extra wire going to the light from the left switch.

 

Thanks, I ended up using the switch OTRATTW offered that had two independently wired amber LEDs, but having looked for another one recently, I could not find the same switch body on their site.

The extra wire is what provides power to the top light in the switch and acts as an indicator, but is unaffected by switch position. That way whenever the bed lights are on, so is the top portion of the switch.

 

Thanks for all the great info and diagram!!

 

I was referring to Large's cluster that didn't show where anything was connected to anything and showed two wires running to the light plus the ground.

Ya, I was looking for one for a thread a while back and the only solution I could come up with was to run a separate indicator light.
Too bad the OEM FJ Cruiser switch is a SPST... if it were a DT you could use it since the indicator is separate.