Having Trouble With an LED Rocker Switch

[The boy 4rm oz]

Ok guys. I started shortening the cables for the CCFL harness and I have run into a problem. The new switches I have for the CCFLs have a blue LED in them that is meant to light up when you flick the switch.

The problem I am having is that I can't get it to light up and power the CCFL at the same time. I have both 1 yellow and 1 red spade connector coming from the molex plug. The light will only turn on when the red spade connector is attached to the LED terminal but the switch wont work when I do so.

I soldered a second spade connector to the red line so I can have one attached to the switch and another to LED terminal. For some reason the switch takes priority over the LED even when both of the spade connectors are attached. If I remove the spade to the switch than the LED works and the CCFL doesn't. As soon as I plug the spade back on the LED it stops working and the CCFL does lol.

I am really stuck with this due to me not being that great at circuits and such. Can someone please help me?

Please ask if you need any pics

[Luke122]

I've got it solved, just drawing up an explanation.

Uploading now..

[Luke122]

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p176/lukifer122/CCFLToggle.jpg

The thing onthe bottom right is the CCFL tube.

[XcOM]

looks about rite

[XcOM]

edit, wouldn't you need a diode in that?

[The boy 4rm oz]

I will take a look at it when I get home, pics don't work at school.

[Luke122]

edit, wouldn't you need a diode in that?

For what?

[XcOM]

well it all depends on what way the current is flowing, if its flowing the wrongway, then it would need one, if the otherway, then you would be ok,
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3563/97806751qc4.jpg

blue arrows/triangles indacate flow of current,

that would be ok, the otherway round and you might get feed back,

[XcOM]

acctually ignore me, i was having a sleep depraved moment then, it will be ok now i have thought out it

[The boy 4rm oz]

That looks completely different to the harness that came with the CCFL. I will post up a pic.

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/3950/dsc025022093167dk5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
This is exactly how the circuit was before, I just shortened the cabling. The black plug you can see plugs into the inverter.

I just had another look at the diagram. If I solder a spade to one of the black cables coming from the molex it should work right? What about the black cable running from the black plug? Will that work?

Thanks very much guys. Some +rep heading your way.

[The boy 4rm oz]

I just had another look at the diagram. If I solder a spade to one of the black cables coming from the molex it should work right? What about the black cable running from the black plug? Will that work?



BUMP

[Luke122]

I'll post a reply when I get home.. I'll photoshop up your picture to explain it better. :)

[The boy 4rm oz]

Thanks and sorry for the bump. I am just really eager to get this wired up, 1 step closer to finishing LEXA. I posted a pic of how the wiring looks now (exactly stock but with shorter cables) on the last page if it is any help.

[XcOM]

yea that should work, you might want to wait for luke to photoshop you an image first to check that your 100% on what your doing

[Luke122]

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p176/lukifer122/togglehelp.jpg

BOOM! There you go! Hope that makes enough sense.. the only thing I need to clarify is that the black wire from the "power in" or female molex needs to contact both the ground spade on the toggle, and the black wire on the male or "power out" molex. You can connect them both up to the same spade on the toggle, or just splice them together somewhere along the line.

You need both the power and the ground on the toggle to run the LED, and you need the 12v and the ground to run the CCFL.

If your LED Is on all the time, you have the power in/out spades on the switch reversed. :)

[The boy 4rm oz]

Ok so all I need to do is splice the black line running to the CCFL? Sorry, I just want to confirm.

[XcOM]

from my view, Yes

[The boy 4rm oz]

Awesome. Thanks very much both of you. I would give you more +rep but seeing as I just gave you both some I don't think it will work lol.

I will post a pic of it all wired up once I get around to doing it.

*EDIT*
+rep given

[Luke122]

I hope that my pics made enough sense for you!
:)