How to Wire a 12 Volt Rocker Switch

Do you know how to connect a 3 wire rocker switch to a 12 volt led light? Well in this short video I'll show you just how easy it is! #12volts #rockerswitch

[@davidjolly5218]

Just a note, the ground is only needed to power the switch's light if your switch has a light in it. Typical SPST switches are just two wires.

[@ibrahimkadiku5443]

So the ground wire is also the bare wire?

[@the_OCD_Garage]

@@ibrahimkadiku5443 let’s just call it as should be called “negative “ and stop this naked wire ground wire redneck BS.

[@brizzle8797]

​@_kademan_v6086 I wonder if they're thinking about romex you know how it has the bare groundwire.

[@invictusbp1prop143]

There’s no bare ground wire on automotive switches or lights or anything else. And it’s not a negative. You can run an automotive ground to the negative terminal, but you can also run it to bare metal to ground it. Why would You run a wire all the way to the battery from lights at the back of the vehicle when you can run it to a chassis ground way back there by the lights..,?

[@damon323]

This is 12V DC…wow man😂

[@Wheelingoffthewrench]

Depending on what the switch is for. If the accessories draw more than 10 amp consider using the switch to charge a relay and run the full load through the contact that is rated for what you’re trying to power Most switches only carry a rating of 15amp

[@asaleemeadows]

+1 for the relay. Why risk having a hot wire going all through the cab. With the JL's having the aux switches prewired and things like Spods or other devices, why go this route.

[@orcoastgreenman]

Great advice! As to why... the higher the amperage, or the closer to the 15 amp current limit of a 15 amp switch, it is switching directly, the shorter the life of the switch contacts will be. Switching just a relay, the plastic of the switch body will probably fail before the electrical contacts inside do.

[@LegendOfKarogane]

I can’t believe you just taught me something I already know but the way you explained it was so beautiful it’s like learned it for the first time like ooooh 😯that make sense 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lordj.8962]

I’m doing this today! lol I bought an old cop car and it has lights in it that are not wired to a switch. I have the switches and now I know how to hook it up thanks!

[@jacobm9263]

I'm gonna need this in a little bit, thanks

[@llewellyn56]

Great video. Been doing this since early 80’s. Love making projects. Ammo cans radios.

[@beakfish7319]

im just learning this stuff, and videos like this are very helpful! thank you!

[@bradbeck2601]

Small correction. Fuses typically protect your wires, not your devices. The fuse is only there to make sure your wire doesn't turn itself into a resistive heater.

[@davidjolly5218]

I would argue that fuses are used to protect either the wires or the device depending on which is the bottleneck. Or maybe double fused, one to protect the wire and one to protect the device if the wires are oversized for the device you're running.

[@bradbeck2601]

@@davidjolly5218 your wire is never the bottleneck unless you're actively trying to burn your car or house to the ground 😅. 10amp bulb with a 5 amp rated wire = 🔥. The wire and fuse don't determine the amps to the device, the device determines the amps running through the wire and fuse.

[@davidjolly5218]

Right, you couldn't run a 10A device with a wire rated at 5A. I'm saying that if you oversized your wires, let's say a wire that can safely provide 10A paired with a device that will only use 5A, then a fire could break out within the device if there's a short in it if you fused it with a 10A fuse. Right?

[@schrodingerscat4737]

You should redo this video using a relay and fusible link. Relays can handle more draw, and we always need a fuse. Good video none the less.

[@devinstratton5929]

Also, the fuse is not for the accessory. It’s for the wire. Rate the fuse for the wire, and rate the wire for the accessory. This will prevent some unexpected glowing wires!

[@99shadows66]

If the switch doesn't come with wires already on it then look at the color of the terminals on the switch. The gold terminal is for the ground, and the two silver terminals are for the powered wires.

[@roncrate6424]

Thirsty for knowledge here. Thank you.

[@KsvTech]

can we use same fuse for car subwoofer

[@airgliderz]

Lot easier without a vehicle to properly install, secure, weatherproof and wire.

[@elephantrockfarm1447]

The hard part is using it in a 72 volt system cus the led will in the switch will fry needs its own low voltage supply. I burnt a few of those up.

[@ammardelreal3802]

i’ve actually wanted to use a switch like this to turn on my backup camera

[@nicholasmanson8615]

My eyes were blurry from just waking up and I thought your hands were dog paws and I was like excuse me

[@andyneipert2527]

Wair did you get your leds light from?

[@martinpcn6750]

You can connect + battery to yellow and have lighting switch all the time.

[@Spankytrucker69]

When did we stop using relays.

[@TrailRecon]

Relays are great if you are pulling more than 10 amps, these lights don't pull much and the rocker can handle it.

[@oldirtytrezzo2981]

Would I bought a accessory with that prewired but I have a switch pod?

[@2AToday]

Butt connectors are not the best way to go. If not using solder + heat shrink tubing, then it would be best to use automotive crimp caps (NOT wire nuts like for wiring a building) + zip ties to prevent the wires from pulling out if ever stressed. Source: full time custom automotive technician for years before the pandemic.

[@timothy098-b4f]

Those butt connectors have solder in them. I started using them a few months ago and they’re fantastic. Strip and insert the wires all the way to the solder plug, then hit it with a flame or better yet a rework heater. The solder melts and the tubing shrinks, so the connection is strong and watertight with a built in strain relief.

[@2AToday]

@@timothy098-b4fsolid info, those sound like a great product! I wish I’d had them a few years ago haha

[@brizzle8797]

I was going to add though that there is an ultimate best way to do something like a professional does it but what do we think about an amateur doing something? would you trust an amateur to get a perfectly penetrated solder joint or would you think it would be easier for them to get a solid connection out of a crimp splice? Besides commercial DC installations use crimp connections and never solder.

[@Mr.Thermistor7228]

​@@brizzle8797 yes those buttconnectors that have solder built into them in the middle are literally made for ametuers. All you have to do is make sure both the wires meet in the middle and then have your heat source melt the solder and your good to go it's pretty much fail safe

[@Mr.Thermistor7228]

​@@2AToday I just got a huge assortment of them on Amazon for like 25 bucks. I have sizes from like 4 gauge to 26 gauge and they are amazing I use them all the time with zero failures

[@81396xman]

Holy shit I just was working on a heater that had one of these go out.

[@Itemsforsaleontario]

Hey Just curious. If I want to do 4 sets of lights in a cabin fed by 12v through an inverter (solar) how do I add switches

[@davidsutherland4367]

I've got a question I have a two-wire rocker switch for my boat with two rocker switches they're all pigtail together how do I hook that up I'm confused

[@brodyrichard263]

What about a two prong switch on a motorcycle audio amp. Also the switch dosent Spotify the voltage it’s for?

[@donking3578]

can i ground rocker and led to two different chassis grounds?

[@xravenhairsexgod]

Klein Tools 8-1/4 in. Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper and Cutter for 10-20 AWG, 12-22 AWG, 12/2 and 14/2 Romex Wire

[@FF7623]

Problems with this video 1 don't use pig tails on your switches the more breaks you put in the line the more resistance you build up along the way ( resistance creates heat) 2 use connectors that are the right size for your wire these are to big as you can see by the shrink not shrinking all the way down onto the wire 3 always build your systems to with stand 20% more amps than it will actually draw and 4 for the love of God if your using rocker switches of any kind please use them to activate a relay that then powers your aux equipment rather than relying on the switch to carry the load ( most common failure point that starts fires is a worn switch that used to carry say 10 amps and is now only partially making contact meaning its amp rating has gone down plus its is now creating much more resistance than it was which creates heat and starts fires)

[@garyisaac5634]

A s

[@remyfeldman5918]

What wire strippers are those?

[@xravenhairsexgod]

Klein Tools 8-1/4 in. Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper and Cutter for 10-20 AWG, 12-22 AWG, 12/2 and 14/2 Romex Wire

[@MykeHunts]

Personally I prefer to use the switch to power on a relay. Less load going through the switch. Just a 12v signal.

[@wilurbean]

Should've talked about how the yellow is used as a relay trigger

[@brizzle8797]

Well that's only if you're going to use a relay.

[@wilurbean]

@@brizzle8797 almost all automotive applications are going to use a big relay for lights, pumps, or power

[@brizzle8797]

@@wilurbean Yes those larger items will definitely require a relay. I guess maybe what you meant is that he could have mentioned that if you planned to use a relay then the yellow wire would be the one that powers the coil of your relay. But for his video it was just an LED light and the purpose of the video was how to wire a switch not all the things that you can connect to a switch so yes there could have been more but really the video was quite accurate you know. Also once you start getting into explaining all of the things that are downstream of the switch you have to mention to use the appropriate gauge of wire and all of this other stuff that would likely be a different video I would think.

[@BrandonCartwright04]

I dont run loads through a switch. Instead use the switch to turn a relay on and off, let the relay carry the load. However that switch could power that one led, i would switch ground instead of power with it

[@chillis28]

👍👍

[@christopherpaige406]

Need O'Keeffe's

[@dannycoots9503]

👍

[@SylvainCharbonneau]

Yeahh super ez just do it while I make you a coffeee...

[@ComputerGuyAndy]

You mentioned which is power in but you aren't explaining the lighted switch and what you're doing to power that. It's what the 3rd wire is for.

[@Fidel55]

my switch only has a red and black wire

[@davidpatrick1813]

Battleborn Battery 😄

[@dontcallmemarty2177]

Even though I can’t see you I know your moving your hands a lot while your narrating this .

[@seanware719]

Brad you need some lotions on those hands bro!!

[@BlackEpyon]

"comes with wires on the back" clearly shows spade connectors pre-installed.

[@fawlesssmartspiderman2437]

Like a kill switch in a car diy

[@milescarter7803]

No, cause it has a picture on the side that shows how to wire it.

[@mckreations5160]

Why the hell are you using 10-12ga butt connectors for what looks likely 16ga wire. I mean you dont make it actually seem like you know what you are doing properly if you cant even use correct crimp terminals...

[@pokefan5022]

Who ever designed that hates you. Black wire is ground? Black always = hot.

[@PPNStudio]

Not in Low Voltage and/or automotive uses. Red = hot or positive, Black = ground or negative, and yellow, in this case, = load

[@matthewholzinger1042]

This really doesn't give you any important information. Very few switches come with colored pigtails. You have to look at the markings on the back of the switch.

[@pavletrnic1433]

“Use good wire connectors” *uses bad connectors*

[@carter4627]

Some "good" wire connectors. Haha, prolly 2 cents a pop and using yellow crimp connectors which don't seal enough. But it's a rookie way of doing it, so I'll let it pass🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@userunknownanonuser]

Can you wire 2 lights to the same switch? If so please tell me.

[@brandonmahan7306]

Black is ground and yellow is hot?? Wtf?

[@RobC1999]

Or think of yellow as the load wire. The red and black are powering the switch light. The switch will pass power from red to the yellow load wire when on.

[@HH-zg8zm]

Should have used green for ground. Blk red hot in out green always ground it saves mistakes from happening later. If your going to show it do it right. Colors that get mixed up can cause fires later. Be safe bro.

[@RobC1999]

This is DC. Black wire is the standard for negative. It’s commonly called ground, but isn’t earth ground used in AC and can use a green or bare wire. Don’t use green (or green yellow) wire unless it’s earth grounded. Some DC systems use positive as common and some use negative as common.

[@paulrattray8121]

Oh save me! Wiring a f'in switch needs a f'in video nowadays?!

[@arjankraaijeveld9587]

Wouldn't it be easier and SAFER to just use the connectors on the switch instead of stripping and clamping the wires?

[@brizzle8797]

This is my opinion but I think he used them just so that he could easily illustrate which wire was doing which because if he put spade connectors on the wires to the LED all of the terminals on the switch would look exactly the same unless you read the tiny little print on the switch so it was probably a lot easier to illustrate the process using those colored wires.

[@peteolson3848]

Way too fast. I had to watch it 10 times

[@scootermcgee3451]

Might need a relay if you’re running LED’s too!

[@BentonL]

Failed. You over complicated to satisfy the armchair experts, and left out one important detail that explains the light.

[@tomcole4736]

Did not see or hear you talk about crimping the weatherproof butt splices and you did not specify that this is a 12v dc application

[@richardweinberger2756]

Can you please speak slower? Too complicated for me.

[@cm0cm]

You had a simple video to make, yet you couldnt even elaborate on the ground being for the lighted switch feature?

[@rickblue7002]

Is he color blind cuz the green wire doesn't look yellow