I am adding some LED accents to my car - under dash, etc - and I want them to operate when the doors open OR when a switch is flipped.

I know where to pickup the door open trigger from another thread - so I know how to make the lights go on when the door opens.

I know how to make the lights go on with a switch.

What I can't figure out is how to do either/or. I want them to *always* go on with the door (then turn off when the door is closed). Then when the door is closed I'd like to be able to flip a switch and turn them on.

Anyone care to draw up a wiring diagram (however simple it is)?

ThankS!!!

 

wire another ground thru the switch...

so when you flip it.. it goes to ground... thus lighting it up.

it's pretty much identical to the dome light circuit.... you have the switch to 'DOOR', the light turns on with the door... you turn that switch to 'ON'.. well... it turns on..

 

Sorry that I am so obtuse - but can you help me a bit more. I think I understand but I want to be 100% sure I know exactly what you are talking about.

In this picture, from the Puddle Lamp thread, it shows the connections for Door Sill light-up:


So in the case of a single light (to simplify the thought) I can connect the negative and positive indicated in this picture to either side of my light.

In the case of a switched, I can grab a positive -> switch -> light and then grab a negative to the other side of the light (or vice-versa).

Now it sounds like you are saying for me to do:
- positive from door sill pic to the light
- negative from the door sill pic to the light
- another negative to a switch to a light

So there are 2 separate negative lines running to the same side of the light.

Is this correct? And if so is there another negative in that door sill pic that's not door switched (to keep everything "together" and clean)?

If this isn't correct can you advise?

THANKS for the quick response!

Thanks

 

I actually have the same thing for mine, except I have it wired into the dome light rather than a direct door open trigger. I have an On-Off-On switch from a local store, that the first On is to the domes and the second is to a 12v source.

I'm bad at drawing diagrams quickly (as you can see), but the back of the switch has 3 prongs where I put all my negative wires. The middle one is from the LED negative (-). One side is grounded to the frame, and the other is tapped into the negative wire for the dome (in your case the door trigger). The positive (+) wire from the LED is given a constant 12v source. You're toggling between two different circuits.

It works for me, so I don't see why it wouldn't work for you. Good luck!

 

yes.. have two lines from the negative side from the light

one that goes to that blue wire that goes to gnd when the door opens.

and another one thru a switch that goes to gnd that's anywhere in the car... the chassis itself is a ground.. so any convenient nut or bolt you can find.

 

OK so here we go:



Blue -> Light (Negative)
Red -> Light (Positive)
Some Screw (Ground) -> Switch -> Light (Negative)

By doing this I will get the lights when:
- Switch OFF, Door OPEN
- Switch ON, Door CLOSED

I assume nothing "bad" will happen with the Switch ON, Door OPEN.

THANKS!

 

OK - final question - what if I have 2 lights that I want to switch separately but still have turn on with the door? Will this work:

Blue -> Light 1 (Negative)
Blue -> Light 2 (Negative)
Red -> Light 1 (Positive)
Red -> Light 2 (Positive)
Some Screw (Ground) -> Switch 1 -> Light 1 (Negative)
Some Screw (Ground) -> Switch 2 -> Light 2 (Negative)

Or will the switches operate both together since at the end of the day they are all tied to the Red and Blue? Or am I being dense?

 

nope.. the light should already be on.

 

So now I see you were answering my question about if the switch is on and the door is open hurting anything - this is good.

Now would what I put a couple posts back work for 2 lights/switches or would I need something else (a relay perhaps) thrown in there?

So how would I get 2 circuits to operate in the manner described:
- Both on when door open
- Circuit 1 on when Switch 1 on
- Citcuit 2 on when Switch 2 on
- Both on when both switches on

 

just use two separate switches

and that answer was meant for
nothing bad will happen.

 

So:
Blue -> Light 1 (Negative)
Blue -> Light 2 (Negative)
Red -> Light 1 (Positive)
Red -> Light 2 (Positive)
Some Screw (Ground) -> Switch 1 -> Light 1 (Negative)
Some Screw (Ground) -> Switch 2 -> Light 2 (Negative)

 

yea.. that'll work.

 

Dome light ground running to both switches, separate grounds running to both switches...should work me thinks....

 

For some reason I keep thinking this *won't* work - and here's why I think that.

Situation - Door Closed, Switch 2 ON
Positive -> Light 2 ON/CONNECTED
Ground -> Switch 2 -> Light 2 ON/CONNECTED
Circuit is complete - light goes on
But doesn't also:
Light 2 -> Blue get ON/CONNECTED
And this is in turn connected to Light 1?
And since the Blue is connected to Negative on the light, and the negative of light 2 is connected to GROUND now, wouldn't that also connect Light 1 to GROUND?

 

I am definately thinking this isn't as simple as 2 switches - I need a relay - here's why - the negative on both lights are connected to 2 places - both go to the door ground terminal and each go to a switch. But by connecting them to the door ground they are essentially connected together - so flipping a switch (either) will connect the negatives (both) to ground.

I think I need a relay that disconnects the link between the 2 light negatives (the ones that tie to the door ground) that is open when the door is closed.

 

Not sure if you noticed my post of the first page, but you can get an On-Off-On switch that can handle both grounds. I drew the diagram quickly and might not have explained it well enough, but look it over and see what you think. Ask questions if its not clear enough.

Otherwise you might have to use a relay of some sort.

 

Or maybe I need a blocking diode somewhere. I need someone *smart* to draw me a circuit diagram

 

Clearly I'm not the "smart" person you're looking for.

All I can tell you (from first hand experience) is that once the doors close the negative dome light wire (the blue wire you speak of) will be inactive. If you want the lights to turn on when the doors are closed, you could do it my way or put a switch on a wire to the ground and turn it on allowing your circuit to be complete. You can hook multiple switches onto wires that all connect to the same ground, and it won't turn on the wrong light as long as the other switch is off.

Don't know if that helps but I've tried.

 

If I just do 2 switches I know it'll work fine. If I just do the door method then I know it'll work fine. I just don't think it'll work in combination with 2 lights/switches since the ground/negative is all common and tied together through the connection to the door ground/negative.

 

will this also end up turning the dome lights on? Cause you will be completing the ground circuit with the ground switch that you have. Im thinking it will turn on the domes when the door is closed and the switch is on...