15 replies to this topic

[Ibanez]

I want to convert my mini from having rocker switches for the stuff in the middle, (lights, heated windows, brake thingy that i dont know what it is and hazards) to the much cooler looking flicky toggle type of switches and mount them all in an ally panel. Looked at the switches and they all seem to have masses of wires goin into em while all of the toggle switches iv used just have 2 terminals. Any suggestions?
Cheers

[Madmax]

i believe philster has already done this, maybe he can help

[philster]

do you mean something like this?



I fitted these after i priced up a set of replacement standard swithes and realised i could do this for less than half the price.

Firstly you need to use two switches for the headlamps, one will switch the sidelights and rear lights and the other to switch headlights. This is fairly simple as there are only three wires going to the original switch, one is the feed (12v+) and the other two are sidelights and headlights. So you need the feed to one side of each of the two switches and then the other side will go to the lights.

have i lost you yet?

Stay awake at the back this is the easy bit!

The heated rear screen is just two wires so thats straight forward.

I ditched the switch for the brake test thingy because i don't use it anyway (does anyone?)

Next is the hazard light switch and this is where it gets complicated. It has six wires going to it that control each side of the indicators seperatly. What i have done as a temporary fix is to wire one side of the switch to one indicator feed and the other side to the other indicator. So to operate them you put say the right hand indicator on and then flick the swich and this will then also trigger the left hand as well. This i know is less than ideal so i'm in the process of devising a relay system as used on most modern cars. I've got the hazard relay off a ford so when i get round to it i'm gonna use that.

I was thinking of making a kit with a simple plug in loom and selling them on ebay just as soon as i've sorted the hazard lights properly.

If you need switches etc then i'd try maplin, look under 'components'>'switches'>'toggle' and you'll find all you need.
Also i got the ally from b&q it was about £3.00 sumat like that.

if you're still awake after all that

Good luck!

[Bluemini]

I like the look of that! Are they ok for the MOT (except the hazards)?

[philster]

it just passed mot over a week ago, the only critisism he had was that they were not labelled up. But to be honest i was gonna get the label engraved into the ally i've just not got round to it yet.

[Ibanez]

Cheers for that, they do look good, I was thinking of making a stainless panel to mount all my switches in and to surround the heater controls, then build a centre console around it.
Someone told me that some early minis came with toggle switches as standard so was wondering about using one for the hazard.

[bluebottle]

the early mini's didn't have hazard warnings, they didn't come in until the later type rocker switches.

[Dan]

Hi, I'm Dan and I'm new here,

Toggle switches are available in all the pinouts requied for a Mini, and a lot more as they are designed for industrial process control (mainly). They are usually designed for 16A, the same as Mini rocker switches.
You need :
off:on:on single pole (lighting master)
off:on single pole (heated rear screen, front fog(ERA turbo), rear fog)
on:on changeover four pole (hazard lights, and I believe some genuine driving
lamp kits and standard parts)
off:mom single pole (brake fluid warning test)
on:on:mom double pole (rear wash & wipe(ERA turbo))

Most of these are available with illuminated toggles, so you don't need a seperate warning light for things like rear fogs and brake fluid warning. Some circuits, such as rear fog guard warning lamps do require a dash warning lamp for the MOT. Also you do need to have a low brake fluid warning lamp for the C&U regs, even though they are never, ever tested.

If you could get these switches in a 20 or 35 amp rating, then there would never be any danger of the terminals over heating and burning out like the standard ones do.

Most of these will work with knock off switch covers as shown by Philster, but I am not sure whether the three position switches will be allowed to remain in their third position by the cover. Knock off covers come in many colours, even translucent or with warning lamp windows, but different makes are of very different quality and a lot of the ones sold by car tuning companies are a bit pony.

For circuit identification try a label sheet from Vehicle Wiring Products.
(www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk)

Dan

Edited by Dan, 01 September 2008 - 07:28 PM.
clarification of regulations

[Dan]

Sorry, The description of the main lighting switch should be:
off:a:a+b single pole

and vehicle wiring products web site is at:
www.vehicle-wiring-products.co.uk.
the sheet is called a symbol sheet

[loobylooby]

very helpfull dan

[loobylooby]

on:on changeover four pole (hazard lights, and I believe some genuine driving

what do you meen dan? ive got the rest

[Bungle]

this topic is 7 years old

Edited by Bungle, 29 November 2011 - 05:15 PM.

[maggies_minder]

hahaha even Dan was new once

[loobylooby]

you guys have ideas hah?

[SuperDeLuxeNick]

Another revival... do these size switches http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1e829069ef

 fit into the standard switch panel? like are they the same size as the normal rockers?