Hello everyone

I have a basic understanding of circuits. I can solder and make basic connections. I have just never encountered this problem to date.

I want to be able to power my led light bar with my vans fog light switch and/or a switchboard. All power is sourced and grounded from the 12v car battery system. I need at most 10 amps and 100w.

I want both switches to power it if flipped on at the same time but also power it if only one switch is on. I looked into diodes but it’s not enough amps.

Thank you in advance.

 

Hello everyone

I have a basic understanding of circuits. I can solder and make basic connections. I have just never encountered this problem to date.

I want to be able to power my led light bar with my vans fog light switch and/or a switchboard. All power is sourced and grounded from the 12v car battery system. I need at most 10 amps and 100w.

I want both switches to power it if flipped on at the same time but also power it if only one switch is on. I looked into diodes but it’s not enough amps.

Thank you in advance.

Don't need diodes.

Wire the two switches in parallel so that either switch will turn on the Fog lights.
Both switches will have to be off to turn the lights off.

 

Diodes are the solution. You can get 10A diodes. If you don’t want to suffer the voltage drop, use the diodes to switch relay that switches the light bar.

 

Am I reading you right: You want to turn on the light bar by itself if the situation calls for it. And/Or you want to turn the fog lights on and have the light bar also come on. Is that right? It could be as simple as a SPDT Center Off switch. No need for diodes. But before I work that out it would be good to be certain to have the correct understanding.

 

I think he has two separate switches, one for the light bar and one for the fog lights.

 

No relays, no diodes, just a switch with a center off just in case you don't want the bar on regardless of the fog lights.

 

No relays, no diodes, just a switch with a center off just in case you don't want the bar on regardless of the fog lights.
View attachment 278304

Looks to me like if the center off switch is in the center off, the light bar will not be lit. if the center switch is toggled to the left, pins 2 & 3 connect and turn the light bar on regardless of the fog lights. If the switch is toggled to the right, pins 1 & 2 connect. IF the fog lights are on the light bar will also be on. You MIGHT want the fog lights on but not the light bar. Center off gives you that option.

I can think of a few scenario's where you wouldn't want the light bar on. Fog or heavy snow. The light bar will likely cause excessive glare. So I think I like the idea of a center off switch. Good call @Tonyr1084 .