5 replies to this topic

[fikasteve]

Just ordered a 4 pole double throw changeover toggle switch from maplins. Does anyone know if i can change the connectors on the existing wiring and do a straight swap?

Also had trouble finiding the correct off/on/on switch for the headlights so planning to do this with 2 ordinary single pole toggles, one for side and then the other for dipped. I cant see a reason myself why this couldn't be done but would appreciate if someone could confirm or tell me it's a rubbish idea.

The reason for change is both aesthetic and i also think the toggle switch will be more reliable. I'm finding the original rocker switches to be a problem as the headlight one seems to jam sometimes and the hazard switch is a little temperamental. They've never felt the same after being opened up either.

Thanks for any advice.

[phil hill]

There is a circuit kicking around for the hazard circuit using a DPDT toggle switch somewhere, maybe Kernow has it to hand.  It's not a straight swap for the original switch and the circuit does need some modification in order for it to work.  

 

I've use a push-button hazard switch in the past like this > http://www.polevolt..../info_8256.html to do away with the standard rocker switch, which also allows you to go to a single flasher unit instead of the two as standard.

 

This > http://www.polevolt....info_MTS54.html is the type of switch you need for dual side and headlights.  It takes a little trial and error to work out the connections to allow both sets of contacts to work.

 

Phil.

[fikasteve]

Thanks phil. I think i'll stick with the toggle type so will have to rty work out how it goes. Thank you for the other link for the headlamp switch. Was looking for ages for one like that but with no luck.

[Dan]

Does anyone know...

 

  Yes, and I've written it out here many times!  You need to short together the common terminals of all 4 poles of the switch.  Then one side of any 2 poles will become equivalent to the pair of terminals from the original switch that control the indicators.  The other side of all 4 poles will become the block of 4 terminals at the other end, one for supply from the flasher, one for tell tale (you need to fit a tell tale remember) and one each for each side of the indicators.

 

  The switch for the headlamps should really be an off/A/A+B type.  They are not uncommon and if you can get one it will be a direct swap for the headlamps with no connections to puzzle over.

 

  The original rockers are rated 16A so to be a direct swap you need to aim for this, ideally though the headlamp switch will be rated around 20 as 16 is marginal.

Edited by Dan, 14 December 2013 - 07:50 PM.

[fikasteve]

Thank you dan that's perfect. I did manage to find a lot of what you had posted before, even your first post you ever wrote on mini forum, but nothing about wiring a 4pdt in for this specific application.

I have only managed to get a 10A switch for the headlights, but i have already added a relay for the side lights and a relay for the dipped, both fused and placed on the bulkhead so the switches are fine now.
Thanks again

[Dan]

  Great, but remember to relay the main as well as dip beam.  Sidelights don't need relays really.  Make sure that you aren't building it in such a way that a single fuse or relay failure will take out all of your forward lighting.