Are rocker switches just not a thing anymore?

[chorky]

I was mistaken in my original post, I didn't mean to say Rugged Ridge, the kit I was referencing is Rough Country, but in reality, its nothing more than a cheap Chinese knock off.

but the more I look at it, this may be exactly what I was looking for. I don't need BT controls and the price is hard to beat. And I can customize it with @chorky s suggestion.

what are your thoughts on it? (looking at you @ShadowsPapa )

Amazon.com: Rough Country Multiple Switch Light Controller (fits) 2018-2020 Jeep Wrangler JL | Gladiator JT | 6 Button | 70963 : Rough Country: Automotive

@Cburd61 I'm looking at the Rugged Ridge one as well. I like the over the dash location.

@Rockabillyroy and @HooliganActual that is indeed fancy, but I'm weary of anything that needs a battery plus I have the safety group in mine and I'm not sure if their mounting plate is compatible with it.

@RangerG I had looked at this before. but my understanding is that the buttons are set and there is no changing it, is that still the case?

I would definitely make sure you make a cardboard mockup of the control panel and see where and how it fits in various locations

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[ShadowsPapa]

I was mistaken in my original post, I didn't mean to say Rugged Ridge, the kit I was referencing is Rough Country, but in reality, its nothing more than a cheap Chinese knock off.

but the more I look at it, this may be exactly what I was looking for. I don't need BT controls and the price is hard to beat. And I can customize it with @chorky s suggestion.

what are your thoughts on it? (looking at you @ShadowsPapa )

Amazon.com: Rough Country Multiple Switch Light Controller (fits) 2018-2020 Jeep Wrangler JL | Gladiator JT | 6 Button | 70963 : Rough Country: Automotive

@Cburd61 I'm looking at the Rugged Ridge one as well. I like the over the dash location.

@Rockabillyroy and @HooliganActual that is indeed fancy, but I'm weary of anything that needs a battery plus I have the safety group in mine and I'm not sure if their mounting plate is compatible with it.

@RangerG I had looked at this before. but my understanding is that the buttons are set and there is no changing it, is that still the case?

I like the looks and arrangement of the Rough Country setup. Quality relays will have diodes to prevent a voltage spike as the relay coil field collapses. Not a big deal on many applications but can be problematic with some electronics as when the power is cut for the relay coil, the collapsing magnetic field induces a current in the coil in reverse direction. A diode shorts that away.

 

[Stan H]

Yeah, no offense to the users of some of those other products out there, but when I see the amount of space they take and the complexity - but mostly the wasted space, the bulk, I cringe.

I wasn't really happy with the bulk and complexity of the wiring for my snow plow - I get it that it has to be sort of universal, but it's a ton of bulk, IMO. But that's what happens with wiring kits that fit a dozen different vehicles.


With that cost you get the work/engineering to make it compact and neat. Worth it to me if I went that route.
I rerouted the engine bay wiring for the power steps on my wife's Jeep twice as I just wasn't happy with the route and other factors. I wanted it out of the way, easy, to look stock, etc. and I'll do that sometimes - I'll take one of my projects and re-do it however many times I need to until I'm happier with it.
I've redone the wiring on my alternator test bench 4 times now and am finally happy with the switch box and connection setup.
one of these days I'll redo the aux switch terminal block and mount I have under the hood of my JT - the part that holds the 12v outlet isn't totally straight and it looks like the after-thought it was. I can see ways to make it all more tidy.

Let me ask cause electronics and wiring are not my forte by any means. Wiring trailer lights is as in depth as I get but let me ask. Why ..or can... the aux box you all are describing be mounted under the dash seeing how the battery is dead nuts in the other side of the firewall or possibly up inside the fender on the battery side. The aux battery is mounted up under there???

 

[Mr._Bill]

Let me ask cause electronics and wiring are not my forte by any means. Wiring trailer lights is as in depth as I get but let me ask. Why ..or can... the aux box you all are describing be mounted under the dash seeing how the battery is dead nuts in the other side of the firewall or possibly up inside the fender on the battery side. The aux battery is mounted up under there???

The Aux battery has nothing to do with the Aux switches. It is to keep the computers stable during ESS events. The easy access through the firewall is up behind the brake pedal. It is the hole that would normally be used by the clutch. You can get through the firewall near the battery, but it is a dangerous route due to how packed the factory harness is. This is the area that causes the biggest problem for those that add the Aux switches after purchase. The other switch kits are designed around the use of the hole on the driver's side. The kits that are not intended to be mounted in the Aux switch hole in the dash, can be put wherever you can make them fit.

 

[Stan H]

The Aux battery has nothing to do with the Aux switches. It is to keep the computers stable during ESS events. The easy access through the firewall is up behind the brake pedal. It is the hole that would normally be used by the clutch. You can get through the firewall near the battery, but it is a dangerous route due to how packed the factory harness is. This is the area that causes the biggest problem for those that add the Aux switches after purchase. The other switch kits are designed around the use of the hole on the driver's side. The kits that are not intended to be mounted in the Aux switch hole in the dash, can be put wherever you can make them fit.

Well, If it is dry enough for a battery up under that fender . Would it be dry enough up under either fender ?

 

[Mr._Bill]

Well, If it is dry enough for a battery up under that fender . Would it be dry enough up under either fender ?

There have been some reports of the Aux battery holder having water in it when the battery was replaced. It stays fairly dry under there, as long as the factory fender liner remains intact and attached. There really isn't room under there to mount anything, especially if you are going to need access to it. The Aux battery is stuffed in where it is because there is no other place to mount it in the gas models. In the diesel, the Aux battery is mounted in a box underneath the Main battery.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

I put these in my truck. Looks factory

I really like these. When I need more switches, one of these will go in.

 

[tobyw]

Another vote for the Trigger 6-Shooter here... My Gladiator is a poverty model without the factory aux switches and like the OP my preference is for a rocker-style switch rather than a push button. I have long been a fan of Ford's location and use of overhead switches for their aux setups, and the Trigger setup is somewhat reminiscent of that:

 

[MPMB]

I have the Auxbeam switch pod and it's fine. Just sucks that there's not a lot of convenient mounting locations that don't stick out like a sore thumb.

If you want something serious and hardcore, get a racing switch panel.

 

[Edub]

Another vote for the Trigger 6-Shooter here... My Gladiator is a poverty model without the factory aux switches and like the OP my preference is for a rocker-style switch rather than a push button. I have long been a fan of Ford's location and use of overhead switches for their aux setups, and the Trigger setup is somewhat reminiscent of that:

"Poverty model", that got a good chuckle out of me. if it weren't for the big box already above my mirror, I would probably jump on this. it does have a lot of functionality and I love the idea of having it overhead.

It looks like it's going to be rough country for me though.

 

[Edub]

I have the Auxbeam switch pod and it's fine. Just sucks that there's not a lot of convenient mounting locations that don't stick out like a sore thumb.

If you want something serious and hardcore, get a racing switch panel.

where did you actually mount this?

 

[MPMB]

where did you actually mount this?

In one of these. :D

I have an Auxbeam switch pod. It's mounted to a JCR Offroad overhead MOLLE panel.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I had rockers at first in my JK and then got rid of them in favor a Fienix switch panel. Preferred it because the buttons were programmable to be momentary, on/off, etc. Easier to replace labels, and I could even set up two of them to 'wig wag' the outputs, so I could make front offroad lights alternate flash. It could be programmed to stay illuminated at night so I could see it better, or be dark. It could have audible feed back if you pressed a button (beep sound) or you could turn that off, along with that the button would light up when pressed (or get brighter if back light was already active). The panel was also smaller and took up less space in my interior. It was mounted on a small socket and arm like a cell phone mount so that gave me more flexibility in location as well.

I wouldn't run an old fashion rocker panel again. I prefer the features the newer type panels tend to bring.

 

[cranbiz]

Personally I prefer rocker switches. Something about the positive feedback you get from them. You know if they are off or on. The disadvantage is you need to buy the correct switch for your application.

I have the "soft" switches in the Gladiator, a VOSwitch JL300. While it offers many positive features and fits in the spot of the factory aux switches, I find them lacking the feedback a rocker switch has. When responding to a fire call, I find myself sometimes hitting them multiple times to turn on my lights. They need a solid press to activate while a rocker switch just needs a tap in the general direction of the top or bottom of the switch (depending on orientation or function).

Because of the clean look and factory fit, I will make due as I like the programmability of the switch and the clean terminations in the relay box. I will still recommend them but they do have caveats.

I run rockers in the JK. I need to reconfigure a switch or 2 now and that means instead of programming the switch for the function, I need to buy a new switch or two. It's a trade off either way.

 

[Dickster]

I saw this today looked pretty simple.

https://www.roughcountry.com/product/mlc6-multiple-light-controller-70955

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