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Author Topic:   Installing Mometary Switch

dracowing14 posted 07-02-2007 07:12 PM ET (US)
Hi I recently purchased a dual prong momentary switch with the intentions of using it on a horn but when I wired it up it kept going off even without the button pressed as soon as all four wires are connected to the 2 prongs it goes off any ideas.
HAPPYJIM posted 07-02-2007 07:19 PM ET (US)
Could it be a normally closed switch?
dracowing14 posted 07-02-2007 07:31 PM ET (US)
no its not really a switch you have to keep it pressed in to complete the circuit as soon as you take your finger off the button it stops.
jimh posted 07-02-2007 08:04 PM ET (US)
You wired it incorrectly.
dracowing14 posted 07-02-2007 08:08 PM ET (US)
i know that but how do i wire it.
jimh posted 07-02-2007 09:09 PM ET (US)
To wire any switch, connect the load to one side and the voltage source to the other side. This allows the switch to control the circuit between them.
Tom Hemphill posted 07-02-2007 09:09 PM ET (US)
From your description, the switch you have has just two terminals. To use this switch to supply momentary power to a single device (a horn), I would expect it to be wired as follows: From your source of power (the battery, for example) run a negative wire directly to the device. For the positive side of the circuit do likewise, except cut that wire midway, and connect the two cut ends to the two terminals on the switch. When pressing the button, you will complete the circuit and supply power to the device. The same general principles are used in automotive and household wiring. Forgive me if this is stuff you already know.
Bulldog posted 07-03-2007 05:17 PM ET (US)
You hooked "all four wires connected to the 2 prongs", did you hook the two negatives to one prong and the two positives to the other, this would sound the horn all the time, and you will likely blow a fuse if you push the button. If you are using a jacketed cable or even if not, put the red wires on the switch and just splice the other two together............Jack
padrefigure posted 07-09-2007 10:38 AM ET (US)
Your switch probably has both Normally Open (NO) and Normally Closed (NC) contacts. You can test with a continuity tester or wire a test light through the switch to a low voltage power source. Once you identify the correct pair of contacts, connect the leads as described above.
jimh posted 07-09-2007 08:21 PM ET (US)
His switch has only two connection points, so it cannot conform to your speculation.
My speculation is that the original poster has abandoned this discussion and the rest of us already know how to wire a switch into an electrical circuit.

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Author	Topic: Installing Mometary Switch
dracowing14	posted 07-02-2007 07:12 PM ET (US) Hi I recently purchased a dual prong momentary switch with the intentions of using it on a horn but when I wired it up it kept going off even without the button pressed as soon as all four wires are connected to the 2 prongs it goes off any ideas.
HAPPYJIM	posted 07-02-2007 07:19 PM ET (US) Could it be a normally closed switch?
dracowing14	posted 07-02-2007 07:31 PM ET (US) no its not really a switch you have to keep it pressed in to complete the circuit as soon as you take your finger off the button it stops.
jimh	posted 07-02-2007 08:04 PM ET (US) You wired it incorrectly.
dracowing14	posted 07-02-2007 08:08 PM ET (US) i know that but how do i wire it.
jimh	posted 07-02-2007 09:09 PM ET (US) To wire any switch, connect the load to one side and the voltage source to the other side. This allows the switch to control the circuit between them.
Tom Hemphill	posted 07-02-2007 09:09 PM ET (US) From your description, the switch you have has just two terminals. To use this switch to supply momentary power to a single device (a horn), I would expect it to be wired as follows: From your source of power (the battery, for example) run a negative wire directly to the device. For the positive side of the circuit do likewise, except cut that wire midway, and connect the two cut ends to the two terminals on the switch. When pressing the button, you will complete the circuit and supply power to the device. The same general principles are used in automotive and household wiring. Forgive me if this is stuff you already know.
Bulldog	posted 07-03-2007 05:17 PM ET (US) You hooked "all four wires connected to the 2 prongs", did you hook the two negatives to one prong and the two positives to the other, this would sound the horn all the time, and you will likely blow a fuse if you push the button. If you are using a jacketed cable or even if not, put the red wires on the switch and just splice the other two together............Jack
padrefigure	posted 07-09-2007 10:38 AM ET (US) Your switch probably has both Normally Open (NO) and Normally Closed (NC) contacts. You can test with a continuity tester or wire a test light through the switch to a low voltage power source. Once you identify the correct pair of contacts, connect the leads as described above.
jimh	posted 07-09-2007 08:21 PM ET (US) His switch has only two connection points, so it cannot conform to your speculation. My speculation is that the original poster has abandoned this discussion and the rest of us already know how to wire a switch into an electrical circuit.