Electrical Help

[lone_star_dsl]

I built myself a new console to house my CB, ice melt spreader controller, some gauges and some switches.

I have a subwoofer that has the remote wire on a switch so that I can control when the amp is on or off. I didnt pay the best of attention when I pulled the old switch bank apart and now I cant get the wiring right.

I have a 3 pole 2 position switch with a built in LED. The poles are labeled GROUND, POWER and ACC .

I assume that I need to connect 4 wires to it although I remember only 3 last time I had it hooked up.

A power wire, a ground wire, remote wire from the radio and remote wire to the amplifier.

For some reason it seems as though power is backfeeding to the radio as I have to have the switch on the ON position for it to come on. When I switch to the OFF position the radio display turns off and the clock loses memory although the stations are not wiped out.

Somebody please help!! I'm pulling my hair out over this one.

Here is a picture of said new console.

 

[RSG]

Console looks nice! Your switch terminology has me a bit confused, and the ACC circuit's function, too. I'm a dummy about audio, but I guess "remote" and "acc" is the same in this application...?

Anyhow...if it is 3-pole switch then you should be able to simultaneously switch 3 different lines. If it is 2 position (double throw) then instead of open/close circuit, each pole can be attached to 1 of 2 different circuits. Is that what your switch is when you say 3 pole 2 position? (the table in this link is how I learned).

Assuming you need to provide power, ground and "acc" to the subwoofer then you connect one set of (3) throws to the subwoofer for that, with 3 separate wires. The other set of throws is left unconnected so that it is effectively off (open circuit) when switched that way. The "input" side of the switch throws (common side of throws) gets your power/ground/acc circuit feeds. Make sense? Or am I way off on understanding what you're trying to do?

If I am, "never mind" !! Good luck!

 

[lone_star_dsl]

There is a remote wire coming out of the radio, through a switch then on to the amp. Thats the easiest part. I am getting confused with providing power to the switch to illuminate the LED on the switch.

I assume that the ground pole on the switch is to ground the switch itself in order for the LED to come on.

As far as the radio being on the switch, I dont know whats going on there. I had to pull the dash bezel out to gain access for the power strip and I think something may have come loose.

 

[JLDickmon]

"ground" would be for the LED
"power" is supply voltage
"acc" is the output to the device

you could node the feeds for the radio and amp, or you could use the switch to control a couple of relays..

your radio (I assume we're talking like "Bob & Tom Show" radio, not the CB) is going to have two power feeds, one for the main board, the other for the KAM (presets)...

sounds to me you interrupted the main feed (which should be hot at all times - there's only like 25mA draw)...

 

[lone_star_dsl]

OK, I figured everything out but now I dont have power at the #32 fuse. It is the radio (start) fuse.

The fuse is fine and I have tried a few different ones.

I do have power at the #11 radio (main) fuse.

I hate electricity!

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[JLDickmon]

if I think about it, I'll pull you a wiring diagram tomorrow...
I did my truck today..

 

[RSG]

What's the symptom of having #32 fuse circuit w/o power? How'd you notice? Does your LED switch light when on, and does the subwOOfer have power now?

 

[lone_star_dsl]

What's the symptom of having #32 fuse circuit w/o power? How'd you notice? Does your LED switch light when on, and does the subwOOfer have power now?

I went through the fuse panel with a test light. I tried everything key off and key on.

I thought it might be the VSM but my windows still work.

I have yet to ground the switch to see if the LED is coming on and I have to pull the amp out from under the backseat to see if it is getting power.

I spent the majority of my afternoon scratching my head about the #32 fuse.

I managed to get the radio out (without the pulling tools) to see if there were any loose wires but everything is tight.

Maybe I will just hot wire the radio. My cab will look like an airplane cockpit by the time I finish putting everything on switches.

 

[lone_star_dsl]

OK, I got everything figured out once and for all. I was pulling another power wire to the amplifier switch when the remote wire coming from the radio should have been used as the power wire.

I was sitting out there about ready to set the truck on fire when the little light turned on over my head.

Three minutes later and I had everything working normally. The radio even works correctly now.

Thanks for the input guys.