Wiring question?

I was wonder what would be the best way to wire my lights to come on together but still be able to control them individually? I have two light bars and two sets of pods. right now there on four different switches. I'd like them to stay this way but also add a switch or two so I can turn both the bars on at once and the same with both pods or turn all of the lights on at once haven't decided yet. Thanks

 

should be able to do that with a couple of relays and 3 switches. 1 switch could trip both relays to light both at once, or leave that one off,and have 2 more switches,one for each, that handle independent operation.

 

Will I still use a SPST relay or something different? Currently the lights are wired with SPST relays and switches just trying to figure out how hard this will be and what ill need to do it.

 

Yes, you could. Lots of ways to skin this cat, but since you have the switches and relays already wired up, let's think about it that way. I don't know for sure how your relays are wired,but typically, you have pin 85 and 86 that are the lower current "trigger" circuit that makes the big power connection between pins 30 and 87. for my example pin 30 will be your big gauge wire from the battery and 87 will go to your lights. those could be reversed, doesn't make a difference.

I'm assuming you have it wired where pin 86 is 12v (from your toggle switch), and pin 85 is usually wired to ground.

If you had a 3rd switch, you could wire it to pin 86 on each of your relays, but you'd need to have a diode on each wire to allow 12v current to only flow from the switch to the relays. something like a 1N5401 (12V, 3watt) or 1N5349 (12V, 5Watt) should be plenty for the trigger wiring.

 

Yea I think this is over my head as far as wiring goes. I didn't know if there were different relays I should use and replace mine or what. I've never done any wiring that needed diodes. I've done basic light wiring and stereos but I think this is over my head.

 

If you wired up what you have already, then you can handle it. Diodes are simply one-way valves for electricity. Each light needs to be on it's own relay, and you already have the hard part done.

If I have some sitting in my parts bin, I could whip up a harness for you to connect to your other switches or relays, whichever uses shorter runs of wire.

 

So my relays are in the engine compartment so what I would do it would take the wires off the back of the four switches for the switch pin on the relay and split them into eight wires four for the original switches and then tie the other four together to run to the all on switch. Will I use eight diodes or four? Do they just wire in line to the wire or what

 

If you used diodes, the new wiring doesn't have to leave the cab, just run the out from the new dual-unit switch to the lines running to the appropriate relays where the come off the current switches in the dash or wherever they're mounted in the cab

 

I need a diagram I can't picture this in my head

 

Basically this is what I have going to my switches now what do I change to do this
This is a poor picture but it shows the wires going to my switches and where they come from

 

All on switch will have a pair of 12V output wires coming off it-> diode on each wire ->each wire connects tothe output from 1 of your independent switches. done. I'll MS paint something up real quick.

 

Ok- I intially missed that you are looking to turn everything on all at once, but the concept is the same. In this drawing, the all on switch is switch 3. According to your pic above you have a 12v fused lead feeding all your switches - extend that to your "all on" switch. From that all on switch you come out with however many leads you need to connect to your other switches. Have a diode in-line with each of these leads and you're good to go.

 

Makes more sense now. Do the diodes only wire up one way?

 

yes - they are a "gate" for power flow:

 

I get it now I already have 12v power ran to the all on switch an ground so I just splice a wire into each light switch wire from the relay an add a diode inline to each