I'm putting up some lights in the back of my van. these will be for loading equipment late at night. I dont want these to automatically come on when the doors are opened. I'd like to put a switch in by the back door and the side door. and possibly one on the dash but that isn't a priority. is there any way to hook up two switches to the same circuit? I know you can on 110AC but I've never run across it on 12vDC. not that it makes much difference but they are two 8' LED rope light strips that run along each side of the van. I'd like to be able to turn on with one switch and off with the other if possible.[/i]

_________________
64' Valiant Signet 5.9, 64' Dart 170 moredoor 3.7, 67' A100 3.7, 00' Dakota SLT 4.7

Sure, you just need two single pole double throw switches. Wire them just like 3-way switches for house lighting and you're set. Find switches that don't have a center off position if you can.

_________________
Joshua

any barbaric wiring diagram would be ideal. I cant turn a SPDT switch to a 3way house switch in my head. on top of that I think of AC and DC wiring as totally different animals. that neutral always screws me up.

_________________
64' Valiant Signet 5.9, 64' Dart 170 moredoor 3.7, 67' A100 3.7, 00' Dakota SLT 4.7

Neutral is simply the return. The ground wire on a DC system is also the return. Both neutral and ground wires should be at zero potential to ground.

_________________
Joshua

Josh has it correct. Just draw a ground symbol where white conductor comes off of the light bulb.

If you want more than two switches just add in a four way between the two three way switches.

More helpful diagrams:

http://www.wfu.edu/~matthews/courses/p2 ... esTut.html

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

thats perfect! these should just be standard on /off switches then? your center off position comment has me puzzled. or do I need on/ on /on?

_________________
64' Valiant Signet 5.9, 64' Dart 170 moredoor 3.7, 67' A100 3.7, 00' Dakota SLT 4.7

If you have center off SPDT switches and leave one in the off position the power will stop there and you will be unable to control the light from the other switch.

_________________
Joshua

I faced a similar thing with my truck; I used a small SCR and switch at the back wired to the running lights. W/ the running lights on, I'd turn on the aux light with a NO momentary push button to turn the SCR on; then I could turn the lights off by either turning the running lights off momentarially or by using a NC momentary push button in series with the aux lights. In practice, the 2nd switch wasn't really needed.

cool, bench tested the configuration today. works killer!

_________________
64' Valiant Signet 5.9, 64' Dart 170 moredoor 3.7, 67' A100 3.7, 00' Dakota SLT 4.7