Hood lamp switch.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
From: College Station Texas
Hood lamp switch.
Today I got ambitious and decided to do a little work. I have always wanted a switch on each of my underhood lamps so that I can leave my hood up for extended periods of time without draining the battery. And pulling the plugs everytime is such a pain. So today I bought two 20 Amp switches, drilled holes in the top of the lamp housing, spliced a wire and rigged up the first switch. But the switch, which had been working previously was frozen, I couldn't flip it. So I hooked up my other switch, and put it in the hole. It worked great, exactly what I wanted, on and off in an instant. But probably 30 seconds later it froze also, in the ON position, and the bulb was still getting power.
So my question, do the underhood lamps draw more than 20 amps and I just overloaded the switches? This is what I would think, but it confused me that the light was still getting power. I figured it I had burned up the switch the light would turn off.
How many amps should the next switches I buy be?
So my question, do the underhood lamps draw more than 20 amps and I just overloaded the switches? This is what I would think, but it confused me that the light was still getting power. I figured it I had burned up the switch the light would turn off.
How many amps should the next switches I buy be?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,884
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia Mississippi
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
don't go to that extreem, go to home depot and but one of the inline lamp switches, the kind that has the roller type, put in line on the light wires in the wheel wells and bingo, less than $3.00 and your good to go.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth VA
They'll draw WAY less than 20 amps. You're home microwave oven doesn't draw that much. Those super duper vacuum cleaners advertise 12 amp motors. A 3 amp switch would be more than enough. No great shakes though, the ones you have will work just great!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Round Rock texas
I just put on one myself. Used a marine toggle (12 volt) then cut the wire between the fuse and the lights. That way the fuse is also protecting the switch. Then made a small bracket out of alum, painted flat black. Then using 3m tape mounted the bracket to the top of the left side marker lamp housing in the forward well. Handy but not overly visible. Made for a real clean installation.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,531
Likes: 35
From: Lecanto Florida
Only I cheated with the Mid America kit. You can just see it in the pic with the small red toggle switch.
Yea, I know I should keep my big feet out of the pic.
Last edited by CREWZIN; Jan 30, 2007 at 08:29 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
From: College Station Texas
I bought new switches. They look similar and are also 20 Amps, but made by a different company. They are installed and work great. I couldn't be happier. It's at least a million times easier to turn off the lights now.
I'm showing off.
I'm showing off.
