want to add another light switch

[fryman62]

Does anyone know how to wire up a new light switch for a new 12v- 1156 socket? I want to light up my grab handle outside. I'm not sure I can do this. The 1156 socket only has the hot wire and ground wire. I really want to be able to light it up by itself if I can with the switch. Any help would be great. Thanks.

[logansrun]

12v power to one side of switch-other side of switch to one side of bulb-other side of bulb to grd.....

[fryman62]

Sounds good. I will give that a shot. thanks again.

[Ramblin]

...or you can switch the ground side if its more convenient.

[RickO]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Originally Posted by fryman62

Does anyone know how to wire up a new light switch for a new 12v- 1156 socket? I want to light up my grab handle outside. I'm not sure I can do this. The 1156 socket only has the hot wire and ground wire. I really want to be able to light it up by itself if I can with the switch. Any help would be great. Thanks.

I completed the project you're contemplating a few years ago. The grab handle on my Winnie didn't come lighted but I thought it was a nice touch and wanted to do it.

I bought a lighted, 12v rocker switch from Radio Shack. I installed it on the control panel just to the right of the copilot seat. I tapped in to the 12v from a "lighter socket" housed in the same panel.

I had to remove the grab handle and drill a small hole through the wall in to the coach interior behind the panel with the new rocker switch.

I didn't use the 1156 socket. I'm not sure how I would make that fit inside the grab handle housing. Instead, I bought the OEM light designed to fit inside the handle housing. The one I bought was from a Monaco dealer but I think they're pretty standard size. It cost about $12 as I recall.

It's worked well for three years now... except the lighted feature of the Radio Shack rocker switch quit working.

Best of luck.

Rick

[Paul R. Haller]

I did the same thing to a Jayco I had but an 1157 is pretty bright... I used a smaller side marker light instead. I was worried about heat in such an enclosed space. If I were to do it again, I would use a blue led light to prevent a heat issue. I just ran a 2 wire lead from an existing switch where black was ground and red was +12. I switched the +12 volts. I drilled a hole in the fiberglass skin under the handle mount, pulled the wires through it and calked it up good and put it back togeather. Worked great!
-Paul R. Haller-

[wa8yxm]

I think you will find a 1156 is a bit . .. er.. much in that job, My handle has a single LED from Radio Shack (Fraction of a watt, the 1156 is like 25 or more)

Ground-- (net)Battery(pos)----Fuse----Switch----Lamp---Ground

The Neg and Pos refer to the - and + sides of the battery.
Ground is the chassis.

Try a smaller lamp first

Or use an LED type.

[fryman62]

I bought this and this 9-Led bulb I want to put it beside my other two light switches with it's own switch by my entry stairs with this light switch Can I tie into the other switch for power and run my ground wire from the socket straight to the chassis ground?

[Ramblin]

Originally Posted by fryman62

I bought this and this 9-Led bulb I want to put it beside my other two light switches with it's own switch by my entry stairs with this light switch Can I tie into the other switch for power and run my ground wire from the socket straight to the chassis ground?

Whether you can tie into the existing power would depend on how much load is already on the circuit. I'd guess you'll be OK, but if that circuit is already close to max with its other loads, you might start burning fuses.

You can ground to anywhere that is grounded. Typically any metal part that is connected to the chassis. The socket you chose is designed to be grounded by way of its mounting base. You will have to run a wire from there if the base does not screw down to a metal chassis component.

And when you finish this project, your grab handle is gonna be able to be seen from the space station.

[Jim_HiTek]

Since that bulb only draws 0.03Amp, pretty sure you're not going to overload any 12V source you find convenient. So, yes, you can tie into the 12V of the other switch. Ground the bulbs case to anywhere you find metal attached to the chassis.

If it's too bright, you can add a resistor in the hot lead to the LED bulb...for half brightness, use a 220 ohm, 1/4Watt resistor.

[RobRV]

Our's is connected to the same switch that turns on/off the "Outside Over The Door"
convenience light. Both go on and off together.

[fryman62]

Thanks everybody!! I will take the advice and give it a go. I'll let you know how it turned out.....