Garden Railway Forum

Has most members know, I am a complete dunce when it comes to wiring and electrics in general. This is a question I have properly asked before, but can a member please refresh my forever worsting memory....

How do you wire DPDT Toggle switch. I have been online and there seems two ways of doing it, which is the better way or are they both the same.
I know the second one is a diagram for a 12volt motor, but I seem to recall it doesn't matter what voltage you have. The first diagram does look the simplest to do, and to my eyes they are performing the same thing, only wired differently.

Hi Rod

As shown they are different, but if the power source 1 & 2 are the same so that the two reds and two blacks are joined at the battery terminals then the wiring is effectively the same. The difference then is merely whether the cross connection is the battery or motor side of the switch contacts. If the toggle switch had a centre off position the bottom diagram would mean only the centre terminals would be live with the switch in the off position.
The voltage is irrelevant to the switch wiring.

Don

Hi Rod,
Are you wiring it as a reversing switch, or to change from running to charging?
You first diagram is for the latter, the second for the former.

Thanks for your replies guys.

I am wiring too reverse, so I guess it's the latter that I need BorisSpencer..