Diode control box?

[Nera Donna]

G’day all,
I hope I’m in the right part of the forum, if not please excuse me.
I was wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction with this one? What I would like to active is to have three separate switches mount in various location throughout the vehicle and all to control one electrical item.
I plan to run power supply to the said device through a relay and have these three switches feed the relay.
What I’m asking is “Is there a device on the market that can except three separate control circuit power supplies and exit with one? Something like a box with three diodes inside, three inputs and one output?” If not where would I start to ask in Perth to have something like this made up? I not opposed to making up my own if I get good solid advice.
Thanks gents

[bee utey]

You can do this with ordinary switches. You will need two single pole double pole switches (SPDT) one at each end of your vehicle and a double pole double throw (DPDT) switch in the middle. You run 12V to the first switch, the two outer poles run two wires to the DPDT switch which swaps these over as per position then the two wires go to the last SPDT switch and the centre contact goes to your relay coil. All you need is a light gauge 3 wire run to the furthest switch.

All 3 switches can turn the device on and off regardless of the position of any of the remaining switches.

If you don't like this complexity, use a latching relay, e.g.:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Durite-Relay-Latching-25-amps-12-volt-Cd1-0-728-02-/360538864184?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item53f1ca7a38 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HARLEY-HEADLIGHT-HI-LOW-MOMENTARY-PUSH-BUTTON-LATCHING-RELAY-HD-CHOPPER-BOBBER-/330780908495?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d04141bcf)

and wire 3 push buttons to operate the relay. Any one press will change the state of the relay. Early VW's used a similar relay for their headlights, probably until about 1980.

[mike_ie]

No diodes required - you'll find the same setup in most houses across the country,

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/01/1374.jpg

[DeanoH]

I think this might be a bit easier to understand. :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/01/1372.jpg

My apologies for the hand drawing.


Deano :)

[p38arover]

Did you want to be able to turn the item on and off from any location?

[2stroke]

I started typing a speil about "tunnel lighting" at about 5 o'clock this morning, but couldn't explain it (without a picture) and had to abort so I wouldn't be late for work. You can do it with toggle switches you might pick up from Jaycar or similar, cheap even.

[Nera Donna]

Thanks gents, I think the setup suggested by ‘bee utey’ should work fine.
To answer Ron’s question.
The original idea was to have the work lights on the rear of the vehicle operate from one switch beside the rear door and one ‘on/off/on’ switch on the dash. One side of the ‘on/off/on’ switch I wanted to a tie into the reverse light circuit and the other to the auxiliary power supply.
I want to be able to disconnect the lights from reversing circuit when not required ie Woolie carpark on a Thursday night, yet not have to buggerize around flipping switches during those three thousand point turns in the middle of the night up some long forgotten bush track.
Thanks for the help gents.

[p38arover]

What you want to do is the same as me. My rear light is presently only switchable from within the rear load space. I want it to be useable in reverse so it will illuminate behind for my reversing camera. But, like you, that needs to be discretionary.

I haven't sat down to work out the best way to do it.

[bee utey]

My little rough drawing in MSPaint, which I haven't used in 10 years. Hope its clear enough.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=55146&stc=1&d=1357302071