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Ok my fog lights are wired up, mounted and functioning.  But I really need a new switch.  Current switch is very cheap and just won't do.  I do like the LEDs in the current switch so I might go with a more modern switch instead of a traditional pull switch.  This is the switch I'm thinking about.  My current switch has 3 wires going to it.

Black-ground

Red-power with 5 amp in line fuse to battery

White-to relay

How would I use these 3 wires with this switch?

switch

Phil Luebbert

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Phil, your diagram is a good one.  I think you can get away with only a two prong switch as long as you take the Power from an ignition fed (on/off with key) power feed then the ground goes to the Relay(white).  Once you turn on the switch it will activate the relay and then the lamps will go on.   Here is another schematic. wiring lamp

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"HOOOOOLD ON THERE, BABA LOUIE!

The reason you have a ground on the switch is to complete the circuit for the lamp in the switch.  That's all.  If you don't have a light in the switch, you won't need a ground for the switch.

Other than that, either of your diagrams will work.

You're just trying to close one main circuit (which is normally "off" or "open" if the switch is "off") but consider the switch lamp to be a "slave circuit" that parallels the main circuit.  

So, looking at your first (blue base) switch, "C" = common (12V input) , "NO" = Normally Open (when the switch is off) and "NC" = Normally closed (when the switch is off).  Just to the left of the "NO" tab is the tab for the lamp which gets connected to the "NO" tab.  The wire from the relay also goes to the "NO" tab so that both the relay and lamp will energize (love that word) at the same time, when you push the switch to "ON".

The "-" tab on the right is simply a ground to complete the circuit to the switch lamp.  Other than that, it serves no other purpose.

If you use a Ray-style switch with just two tabs, then wire it up just like his diagram and it'll work.  Doesn't matter what goes to which tab - one side is the power source, the other side is the relay - doesn't matter which (unless your wires are short!).  That's it. 

Hey Phil I managed to get under the dash today to take this pict.... if you can imagine this is shot from the floor of the car aimed towards the back of the car ... using the anatomical position of an acrobat so the small switch is in a small square box and velcroed to the lip of the A/C panel ... you reach with your hand follow the lip to the left of the radio under the panel and you can feel the switch to turn it on.  No dash drilling, or panel to install etc. 

IMG_8077

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OK.  I promise this is my last post about my fog lights.  Fabricating the mounts, wiring them up and installing the switch has been challenging.  But I am finally done.  Installed a nice Hella switch into the dash.  Drilling a 3/4" hole in your dash takes a leap of faith.  The little LED light in the switch comes on only when the lights are on even during the day.  Thanks for everyone's advice.

switch1switch2switch3

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