3 way toggle switch question?

[hixsy]

hi guys need a little help on where to put what wires? right i wanna do the battery monitor mod.

ive got the positives from the each battery there and a ground, the switch is a three way, i want it to be off in the middle position and when i flick it right measure me starter, to the left the 2nd battery.

on the switch it has numbers 1-6,the two prongs in the middle are brass coloured. Can any1 tell me where the 2 positives go and where the grounds go please.

thanks in advance !

[AngeloEvs]

You will need to post a picture of it Hixsy, meanwhile you could test each contact in turn using a multi-meter and note which terminals connect to the other as you operate the switch. The chassis connection of the digital panel meter does not connect to the switch, only three terminals are needed, two connect to the positives of each battery and the common conection on the switch connects to the panel meter positive.

[Cafnod]

Hi Hixsy
If it is a double pole double throw switch it is probable that the two centre connections are the common, and the two outside pairs are switched. its likely that the centre will be off and the other pairs are switched when the switch is moved from one side to the other.
If this sounds complicated it is easier to talk you through it or show you. I am in worcester Friday AM, or you can ring from members help section and I can explain it. Best if you have a multimeter or can borrow one.
These switches;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0252838167" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Are the ideal type and if you buy one of them and put the wire to the meter to the centre terminal and the battery feeds to the outside terminals it will work fine. I use exactly this switch for switching my stereo between van and leisure batteries and off when the van is not being used.
Away from home at mo, if you need to ring use mobile and I can ring a landline back foc.
HTH
Regards
Richard

[hixsy]

guys thanx for that, ill check the which is which with me multimeter now. . .

whats this switch from leisure battery/starter for ya radio do by the way ?


E D I T : ok with a little help from the voltmeter ive got it ! why didnt i think to use the voltmeter first time huh ? well its in a working sweet ! thanks for the help

[Cafnod]

As Ralph (Covkid) says batteries get flattened by modern stereos. So my vasn has a three way switch like the one in the link. it powers the stereo off either or I can switch the stereo off. Means that you dont need a leisure battery to listen to the radio if you are driving, and if you are parked up you can make sure it doesnt flatten the starter battery and if the van is put away it can be switched off completely. HTH

[CovKid]

Oh for the Binatone cassette player. I only wish ICE manufacturers would take the same approach in design as early Russian computer programmers who could cram the most amazing graphic programs on to a floppy disk. Wattage is a bit of a diversion in my opinion and manufacturers lazy when it comes to design. I've had 7 watt car stereos that sounded excellent when matched to the right speakers - now you're lucky if you can find anything below 25 watt. Wattage has little to do with loudness and even in a soundproofed T25 its difficult to avoid having a stereo turned up just to hear it above the engine.

One things for sure, I'll be looking for a secondary CD player with a low wattage for use when parked up!

[Cafnod]

Very right Ralph. Most manufacturers arent quoting RMS so its pretty meaningless. When my reference power amp is driving my speakers very often its only kicking out 1/2 a watt but its very loud.
Some 'good' sounding domestic mini systems are only takking a low wattage, prob is running them at 12vdc or on an inverter
BTW see 8 tracks on ebay if you are getting that nostalgic.

[CovKid]

I actually like the sound of the 8-track but no. MP3 pretty much reigns supreme even if purists will argue the case for CD. The difference can hardly be noticed in a wedge. Alternative is a reel to reel on 4" spools but its a bind digging out another reel to play the next track, pulling over every 3 mins to do it. Really slows down long jaunts....

[Cafnod]

Personally I dont think any digital medium is 'pure' but then again we are talking about listening in a T25.
Pull over to change reels? Surely not. Just make sure it has a nice long leader on the tape so that you can thread it in on bumpy roads without ruining the intro to the first track.

[CovKid]

Or, for easier access:

[hixsy]

Or, for easier access:

LOL thats mint ! is that for real ?

[CovKid]

Would imagine it was damped but even so, not much use over pot holes

Be cool to say "hey listen to the stereo" and slide that out though wouldn't it!