OK All You 12V Guys- Need Some Help, PLEASE!

[Tom and Patty]

Sean,

This is one of the most educational threads I've read. Believe me, I read this 4 times to get it...I think I got it. But wouldn't this have been easier?




Thanks for figuring it out. Now I can do this on my cargo doors.

Now about that refrigerator light.

[Sandman]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Joe-K:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NeilV:

This could work but it would also create a parasitic draw as the relay would be energized to turn the light off. 87A is active while 87 is inactive when the relay is at rest while 87A is inactive and 87 is active when the relay is energized. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Neil,
You're right about 87 being the inactive while at rest. The wire feeding the light should be on 87 instead of 87a.

The feed to the light is correct though so the relay will be at rest and no parasitic draw when the compartment door is closed. The magnet on the reed switch will hold the NC contacts of the switch open when the door is closed. When the compartment door opens, the NC contacts of the reed switch close and energise the relay.

With it set up the way it was, the light would have gone on when the compartment door closed, and off when it opened.

Would have been interesting watching Sean checking the light though Like seeing if the refrigerator light really goes off when the door closes </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thank You...

As I paged through this thread all I could think of is why would he want the light on when the door is closed? (using 87A) use pin #87

Both pin #86 and the gray wire of the light go to ground.. (the -12vdc is very confusing, =12vdc to -12vdc is 24vdc and makes auto bulbs into flash bulbs)

[WWFan]

T&P:

That flashlight would work great if I didn't have a young teenager that still likes to play with those sort of things- just try to find it when you need to, and THEN...you're darn lucky if the batts have anything left in 'em...

Well...good news...BOTH sides are working perfectly! Now I've got three lights inside the basement- two for the curbside, and one for the drivers side- each has it's own switch depending on which door we open. Just how I wanted it.

Thanks to all who contributed to my relay wiring education- special mention: JOE!! They actually work ALOT better- the contact workings are much more crisper. I suspect they'll last a tad longer than before also!

Sean