Wiring mistake?

[Brodek2024]

Hello all.

I'm installing a light bar, using my Aux wiring bundle (under hood) and a dead pedal switch on the floor. After hooking it all up today, in the 90 degree sun, no luck.

What I am attempting is to wire the lights to work "from" the Aux switch, through a dead pedal on/off switch. I've got my red wire (power) wired into the Aux 3 wire. The wire I am using to run over to the dead pedal is a 2-wire line, so I've got the hot/red into the Aux connection, and the black grounded near the bundle. The red terminates at the dead pedal, into the center terminal. From the dead pedal, I am running the red (hot) to the light bar. The light bar line is also a pair, so I have the black grounded near the fire-wall where my hot/red power goes through to the pedal/switch.

In theory, once the Aux button is pushed to "on"...and the pedal switch is "clicked/on", I should have light...should being the challenging word here. Also, here is my rough schematic. What have I missed/done wrong?

Thanks!
Kevin

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[Vtur]

You don't need the ground at the aux switch. Also, verify the switch poles with a multimeter.

 

[Brodek2024]

So I can just run the red/hot from the Aux line to the pedal switch, then ground from the light back to the pedal? Correct?

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Why are you trying to wire lights to a switch…to another switch instead of just wiring the lights to the aux?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So I can just run the red/hot from the Aux line to the pedal switch, then ground from the light back to the pedal? Correct?

You only ground the light bar like normal - you run nothing as far as ground to the pedal.
Ground the light bar under the hood or similar. But get rid of that ground you have at the dead pedal.

 

[Brodek2024]

The Aux switch insures that the light is not "running" inadvertantly....and the foot switch is for easy on/off when I'm using it.

KB

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Why are you trying to wire lights to a switch…to another switch instead of just wiring the lights to the aux?

Good question - just run it to the aux switch. (unless he's trying to run it on the ROAD/STREET and quickly kick it off in traffic - illegal)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The Aux switch insures that the light is not "running" inadvertantly....and the foot switch is for easy on/off when I'm using it.

KB

I hope like hell you aren't running this on public roads.

Why do you need to have such easy on-off otherwise?
And you can tell if it's on - it will be shining light!
This sounds fishy to me.
they are for off-road, and you can simply use the aux switch to turn it on when off on the trails needing more light, then turn it off when back on a public road.
But this sounds like you want a quick way to turn it off for some other reason...............

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

Setting aside wiring a switch to a switch...what exactly is this dead pedal switch? Can you share a link? And what light bar is it? Because most light bars I've seen (even LED) draw a bit more than you want running through a little switch, which is why you go through relays.

And on that note, I assume you verified that the Aux 3 switch is even lighting up?

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

The Aux switch insures that the light is not "running" inadvertantly....and the foot switch is for easy on/off when I'm using it.

KB

The light can’t run when wired directly to the aux switch unless the aux switch is on. You’re needlessly complicating things.

 

[Brodek2024]

i've got a little over 900 acres that I tool around in before dawn...many days. With coffee in one hand, reaching for my Aux switch is not always the most convenient. And while I don't need the foot switch for speed...it is convenient. And being old enough to remember dimming my headlights with a foot switch, it works for me. And, I can always check the Aux switch off/on...when I'm still out later in the morning and I don't have to hop outside to see if my light bar is on or off.

And, I've got enough info (and opinions) to move forward. I'll shut this down now.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

i've got a little over 900 acres that I tool around in before dawn...many days. With coffee in one hand, reaching for my Aux switch is not always the most convenient. And while I don't need the foot switch for speed...it is convenient. And being old enough to remember dimming my headlights with a foot switch, it works for me. And, I can always check the Aux switch off/on...when I'm still out later in the morning and I don't have to hop outside to see if my light bar is on or off.

And, I've got enough info (and opinions) to move forward. I'll shut this down now.

You could skip the aux switch and power from an acc feed like the lighter fuse or similar.

 

[kb5zcr]

I hope like hell you aren't running this on public roads.

Why do you need to have such easy on-off otherwise?
And you can tell if it's on - it will be shining light!
This sounds fishy to me.
they are for off-road, and you can simply use the aux switch to turn it on when off on the trails needing more light, then turn it off when back on a public road.
But this sounds like you want a quick way to turn it off for some other reason...............

ShadowsPapa. Why the suspicious attitude? No need for it, he's a grown up and can make his own decisions on how he runs the lights. He did come back and explain his use case to satisfy you.

Now, to the original poster, you really only need to run the positive line from your aux switch, through your foot switch, and then to the positive on your light bar.

The ground (negative) will be through your light bar being grounded to the vehicle (and it does need to be grounded), if your light bar has a black negative wire, this is your ground wire, otherwise your ground is a metal mounting bracket.

To troubleshoot this, I would get a multimeter (set to DC volts) and check for 12v at your aux line (between that line and ground), if you have it there, then check for 12v at your foot switch (going into the switch and coming out of the switch), if this is working fine then your lightbar should be working. Just make sure you have 12v at each point along the circuit.
PS. Some foot switches have three terminals, center to one side for on, center to the other side for off (This is from the older use of switching from high beam to low).

 

[Brodek2024]

ShadowsPapa. Why the suspicious attitude? No need for it, he's a grown up and can make his own decisions on how he runs the lights. He did come back and explain his use case to satisfy you.

Now, to the original poster, you really only need to run the positive line from your aux switch, through your foot switch, and then to the positive on your light bar.

The ground (negative) will be through your light bar being grounded to the vehicle (and it does need to be grounded), if your light bar has a black negative wire, this is your ground wire, otherwise your ground is a metal mounting bracket.

To troubleshoot this, I would get a multimeter (set to DC volts) and check for 12v at your aux line (between that line and ground), if you have it there, then check for 12v at your foot switch (going into the switch and coming out of the switch), if this is working fine then your lightbar should be working. Just make sure you have 12v at each point along the circuit.
PS. Some foot switches have three terminals, center to one side for on, center to the other side for off (This is from the older use of switching from high beam to low).

Tim,
Thanks for this

KB

 

[tysongladiator]

The Aux switch insures that the light is not "running" inadvertantly....and the foot switch is for easy on/off when I'm using it.

KB

I seriously think you're making it more complicated that it needs to be. Simply pushing the aux button for the light is just as easy as a dead pedal switch seeing as how the aux button is right there by your hand. It's literally a split second action.

But... maybe you are a person that drives around with a coffee cup in your hand and never use the cup holder. Jeep gave you two extra wires that aren't even aux wires. One is a switched and one is a non-switched. Just use one of those.

Or a wire from the battery with a relay. Seems like a lot just for lights.

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