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Lighted Rocker Switches & VPX

AviatorJ

Well Known Member
I'm using the V series of Carling rocker switches on my project. These are SPST with two lights, one independent and one dependent. Seven of these I will be using to trigger functions on the VPX, which just needs to ground out the switch pin on the VPX box.

The challenge comes in with the dependent lighting. This is how these look operating:


OFF


ON

Want to ensure I have these wired up correctly before connecting them up and that I'll be able to utilize the dependent lighting as well as sending a switched ground to the VPX. The basic schematic for these look like this.


The VPX manual schematic looks like this.



The way I have it now is Positive connected to 8 which is then daisy chained to 2. Then a negative connected to 7. That method gives the correct lighting results as above and sends the volts across to 3 as expected.

Now for the switches using the VPX, if I put it the diode on pin 3 would that 'ground' it? Testing with a multimeter I put the black lead on pin 2 and the red at the end of the diode I hooked to pin 3. I verified that no current was coming across and then tested resistance. Unswitched it's open as expected and switch it's about 5 mega ohms. I'm new to messing with diodes so don't know what to make of all of it.
 
Options

This one might be better -

https://spemco.com/vad2u66b-v-series-contura-double-pole-on-off-rocker-switch-carling-2-lamps/

VAD2U66B - If I'm reading the data sheet correctly -

V = Contura
A = Double Pole - ON-OFF
D = 12V 20A rating
2 = 0.25 push on tabs
U = sealed - two lamps
6 = 12 v incandescent lamp 1
6 = 12 v incandescent lamp 2
B = Black case

With this combination you can use one side of the switch poles to activate the VPX and the other side to make one lamp come on when the switch is flipped. I presume you will use the other independent lamp as an 'always on' back lit lamp. No VPX diodes would be involved. :)

The data sheet is here - http://www.carlingtech.com/sites/default/files/documents/V-Series-II-III_datasheet.pdf

Circuits are here - http://www.carlingtech.com/sites/default/files/documents/V-Series_CircuitDiagram.pdf

Lamp circuit is "U" and switch circuit is "A"

These are the switches I'm planning on using.

Avnet has a similar part - VAD2UNNB

https://www.avnet.com/shop/us/products/carling-technologies/vad2unnb-e9c2g-100-3074457345623816664

Same as above but with 2 Amber 12v LEDs and a min order of 10.

Here's one with bright Green LEDs but a min. order of 11 parts -

https://www.avnet.com/shop/us/products/carling-technologies/vad2uhhb-00000-000-3074457345623839550

Here's one with one Red and one Green LED - again a min order of 10 -

https://www.avnet.com/shop/us/produ...s/vad2uthb-aacxx-100-xdt1-3074457345623696556

Pick an option and google to see if any dealer has it in stock or on an easy order without a super large minimum quantity buy.
 
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I've spent many hours reading through those datasheets and still not sure I understand them.


To get the lighting effect like I have in those pictures I believe you need 1 dependent lamp and 1 independent lamp. That link looks like 2 independent lamps.

I originally looked for DPST switches but then read about the diode bit. I guess worst case scenario I buy 7 new switches. If I can't get these to work.Like these - https://rockerswitchpros.com/product/vad1-g66b/
 
I used SPST switches with 2 independent blue LED's - after finding out the hard way dependent LEDs don't work with the VPX.

As the switch is not on a power pin, I ganged the legends together and powered them rom a spare VPX 'always on' pin and then you can simply splice off the respective device's VPX power pin with a small 24G wire to illuminate the bottom LED. Or top LED if you want 'up for on' but the circuit requires the switch 'open for on' - such as switching the Pmag ignition in the same group that needs the circuit 'off'. Simply flip the switch body upside down and install the actuator.

The switches I used are V1D1-KXXB from Spemco.
 
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