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Thread: Off/On switch wiring question

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
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    Default Off/On switch wiring question

    I'm in the process of putting a Kwik wire harness in my truck. It's been converted to 12v. The four wires coming off the switch are 11, 11, 27 and 12. 27 would be keyed power, 12 goes to the ballast & coil, and the 11 and 11 get power off of the alternator wire splice. My question is do I need to splice both 11s together or could I use one and cap off the other?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
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    North Central Wisconsin
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    Default

    I would guess that it depends on how much you need to go to your new ignition switch or whatever you are connecting to the 2 #11 wires...how much draw they will have.

    The factory wires are 14 gauge with thick insulation that is the same as 12 gauge wire...so whatever the max safe amp load for 14 gauge wire is what 1 stock #11 wire will flow...if you need more than that, use 2...

    Hopwe that helps...
    Lord send your Holy Ghost into our hearts and make the desire of our hearts Your Will.

    Pro-choice, that's a LIE, babies don't choose to die!!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    Middleville, mi.
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Nomad View Post
    The four wires coming off the switch are 11, 11, 27 and 12. 27 would be keyed power, 12 goes to the ballast & coil, and the 11 and 11 get power off of the alternator wire splice. My question is do I need to splice both 11s together or could I use one and cap off the other?
    May be too late on any helpful answer for you but future searches that land someone here may benefit from this anyway.

    There are several "types" of on off switches. They are usually described by letter designations like SPST or DPST or even DPDT. What those letter signify is the pole and throw of the switch. SPST is a single pole single throw switch. For further clarification a "pole" is the number of circuits being switched. So a DPST means two separate poles open or close on a single throw of the switch. In this case you could have two separate circuits being controlled by a single switch.

    DPDT would typically be an on off on type switch but could also be an on off momentary switch. It would typically be center off and on in either up or down position.

    So after the somewhat lengthy explanation it depends on what type of switch you have. If you have a SPST switch then yes you can leave one number 11 capped off and unused.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
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    North East Georgia
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    Default

    Thanks for the reply Jeeper. I figured it out with some help from my multimeter.
    I figured i would post my findings here to help someone in the future.
    I should have made it clear in my first post, im referring to the factory ignition on/off switch.
    YES, both #11 wires need to have power going to them. The way my factory m715 on/off switch is set up is that it has four holes that packard connectors seat into on the back of it, two #11 wires, a #12 wire, and a #27. The two #11 wires bring power into the switch, and carry it out on #12 & #27.
    Each #11 wire supplys power exclusively to its adjacent wire, being either #12 or #27.
    Last edited by Nomad; March 25th, 2020 at 08:05 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
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    Thats interesting...I never checked it to see...makes sense now that you say it...so each out is limited to the power of a single in.
    Lord send your Holy Ghost into our hearts and make the desire of our hearts Your Will.

    Pro-choice, that's a LIE, babies don't choose to die!!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Middleville, mi.
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    Default

    I have to confess I wasn't actually thinking about the M715 on off switch when I made my reply. I was thinking about generic toggle switches because that was what was on my brain as I was replying. So apparently the military on off switch is a DPST.

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