What colour cable for sidelight feed - carling switch?

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huffhuff

huffhuff

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Hi all,

Just getting around to fitting some bits and bobs. I've wired up a rear work light, fitted the Raptor dash and have come to wire the carling illuminated rocker switch (simple on/off with LED). It is currently switching the rear work light as it should, but the switch itself isn't illuminating.

The wiring diagram says it needs a sidelight feed in. Will I be lucky enough to find a spare one in the main loom? What colour cable should I be looking for?

Also, when/if I do, can I daisy chain this to the next switch?

Thanks in advance, did try a search but didn't find anything specific...

Ta

Currently, only got live in, live out and earth on the switch.
 
Switch/gauge illumination is most likely the one you're after. It should be a red wire with white stripe. There shouldn't be any issues with piggy-backing off an existing connection for this application.
 
FlyingPete said:
Switch/gauge illumination is most likely the one you're after. It should be a red wire with white stripe. There shouldn't be any issues with piggy-backing off an existing connection for this application.
Click to expand...

Excrement, thank you ;) Will go and have a looksy now

Ta
 
bankz5152 said:
Hmm on my TD5 its red and orange. Get the rear wiper switch, afaik it should only have 3 wires in, which ever one aint red or black!
Click to expand...

Ahh, makes more sense. I just had look and don't have a red with white stripe on any of the loom by fusebox. Will give red/orange a tap...

Cheers
 
bankz5152 said:
Makes life easier if you have a multi meter :)
Click to expand...

Well, I do have a multimeter. But would rather stick to convention and tap into the right wire :) I've just had a big kerfuffle on a job where somebody extended a cable but used a different colour (which is used for something completely different). Lots of headaches

:)

Also, type two lines and ask on here or faff around with the multimeter, trying all the different coloured cables whilst flipping the lights on and off. I don't have crocodile clip ends and the pokey bits never stay where I want them. Plus doing it in confined space, blah blah blah
 
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Haha i know the feeling, just fitted a new dash to mine with carling switches. Still not 100% but works good enough!

Find the red/orange wire turn jam the meter in and check. Easiest way.

Let me know if you get the red slit 'on' illumination working on all switches. Ive only managed on a handful...
 
How weird is this, a million to one!

I took the faceplate off the raptor dash, and noticed the switch backlight was already on?!? At first I thought it was a trick of the light, but nope, the light was on. Bear in mind i've taken the panel off to try and find a red/orange cable to plug in and get the light working.

Turns out, moving the panel knocked a random wire. That random single wire not only was a red/orange cable, but a crimp had obviously broken in there previously. That left the end exposed, which just so happened to fall on pin 8 of the damn switch! UNBELIEVABLE.

End result, the LED backlight is on regardless of switch position. The slit is not on. When I turn my lights on...the LED backlight goes off! I'll try and find a wiring diagram for the switch.

Then my 12 week baby turned up at work for a surprise visit so I left it like that for now. Will investigate in a bit.
 
I've just had another look. I can get the slit on when it should be, but not the main LED.

I've also only just noticed mine are fake carling switches I think, here they are

BD23C913734636C713EBD25633C983D21353A983C9D2C9469BC6D25A9E73C74316C6169CD263139933A0CC.jpg
 
Hmmm odd. If they are fake then working from a carling diagram wont help as the pins will be different mainly the earths etc.. Did they have a small plastic rod protruding from.the center?
 
Based on the diagrams- switch illumination should be by terminals 6(to gauge lights) and 7(ground). 2 is the power input, 3 is the output. If terminal 8 is also grounded, another light should come on when the switch is on.

The only sure-fire way to figure out what the terminals do is to get at it with a multimeter and 12v supply. You can figure out which terminals are connected together in each position, and which terminals are inputs for the lights.
 
Last edited:
FlyingPete said:
Based on the diagrams- switch illumination should be by terminals 6(to gauge lights) and 7(ground). 2 is the power input, 3 is the output. If terminal 8 is also grounded, another light should come on when the switch is on.

The only sure-fire way to figure out what the terminals do is to get at it with a multimeter and 12v supply. You can figure out which terminals are connected together in each position, and which terminals are inputs for the lights.
Click to expand...

Bingo bango!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DwXdEkRjbo

Thanks to all concerned :)
 
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