How to wire a led rocker switch

The actual part number and source of the switch would help here.  I suspect seeing the specifications would help answer the question.

Tommy,

    I had six illuminated toggles hooked up to my yard before I discovered they connected to ground when off. Thus, when you came across with any car or engine with two pickups and the switch off you got a dead short. I would recommend testing for continuity between the earth and load terminals with the switch off. If none, use it. You don't need a double throw toggle for what you want. Just hook power to the supply and the siding to load. The ground lights the led when on. Don't forget to cut the center rail at the siding. (I just noticed the 12VDC. The led may not last. Mine did work, but I had to disconnect all the grounds and never had lights after I discovered the shorts). John

Hi GRJ

Specs are:  Calterm 30a/12v/dc led rocker switch (red) on/off spst part #40393.

Hope this is what you are asking for.

Tks

Tommy 

Well, apparently the specifications are a well kept secret.  I can't find anyone that actually tells you how to wire the lighting.

The only way I know of to be sure what you have is to put it on the bench and do some testing to see what drives the LED and if you can make it 18VAC compatible.

That is the wrong switch for this application.  It is intended for 12 Vdc operation only.

Any SPST rocker switch with a built-in lamp (incandescent or LED) is the wrong one for this application.

The lamps in these el cheapo / automotive switches are rated at 12 volts, and are wired in parallel with the output of the HOT terminal.  Whatever you put into the IN terminal will be the voltage presented across the lamp.

The three terminals are (using automotive terminology) HOT (+12 Vdc) OUT (+ to the device being switched) and GRD (return to negative side of the battery).

If you check the archives of this and other forums, there is a wealth of information about this subject, specifically, and switching/pilot lamps, in general.

If you want to switch the power to sidings, and have a visual indicator (pilot) you need to use a switch that has two poles, and a separate pilot lamp.

You will be disappointed if you do it any other way.

Actually that switch is just fine for the purpose. Just put the 18vac on the supply, the load on the load ( the track ), and then connect a 1N4003 diode to 18vac common with the cathode of the diode on common. The half wave rectified 18 vac RMS voltage is well under the 12 vdc the LED is rated for and the 1N4003 will protect the LED against the excessive back voltage.

i have used a dozen of this same switch that way for over 6 years with no issues. And you only need one diode for a bank of the switches with all the earths connected together.

Since this subject comes up every few months, and the switches referenced are the same ones or very similar each time, I have done some tests on these switches for their advertised current capability and have found them to be less than satisfactory.

But, please go ahead and try the clever circuit offered by cjack, and see if you like them.