My **PRICELESS** CDL switch mod (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Apr 26, 2009
Threads
6
Messages
36
Location
Southeastern NM
So yesterday I was doing some more wrenching on the LX and decided to go through with the CDL switch mod... and I thought you guys would get a kick out of this one.

Materials used:


  • 3 feet or so of 14/3 ROMEX cable
  • 3 #14 AWG butt splices
  • 3 Sta-Kon fork connectors
  • 1 Cutler-Hammer Industrial HOA switch (Ha!)
  • 1 Discarded grape soda can that blew into my yard (Ha HA!)
  • 3M Super 88 tape

  • 5 12 oz Newcastles :beer: (coincidentally, the only thing I paid for in this entire project!)
Since I didn't want to move the security stuff out of the way on the dash or otherwise change anything else that currently resides there, I figured I would put the dummy plug for my non-existent locker switch to good use that has been mocking me on a daily basis since I found this forum.

I opened up the dash, found the plug for the CDL switch, ohmed out the wires til I found the common and control wires and then got to work.

Routing the ROMEX cable was easy since it was solid wire , just bent it a little at one end and snaked it straight across the top of the steering column.

popped out the blank plug where the locking switch goes on all the cool peoples' 80s, picked up a soda can that had been blown into my yard by the wind, cut the top and bottom off and used the rest to make myself a couple of washers to hold the switch in place with (the switch would fit without the washers, but it looked ugly without something black behind it... so I covered one piece of can with electrical tape and then cut it to size.)

Got it all put back together and it works perfectly... all of the parts and materials used were leftovers from work. Come to think of it, its kind of overkill for a 12v relay circuit but whatever

Total cost of parts= FREE FIFTY :flipoff2:
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Here are some more pictures of the install, one more to come after these.
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...And the last one, everything back together and in working order.

I really like how SOLID the switch feels, and since It is wired with the center position of the switch an open circuit, it cuts waaaaay back- if not eliminating altogether- the possibility of engaging or disengaging the CDL accidentally.
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I love freebies.
 
OK, I give up. What is a "CDL switch"?
 
Now that your CDL mod'd dont forget to turn it on when you need'm LOL :)
 
Pix of Newcastles please.
 
comercial driver's license? must be an 80's thing
 
comercial driver's license? must be an 80's thing

I'll bite. Its the center diff lock switch. Along with the 7pin mod you can lock and unlock the center diff in 4lo and 4hi. :)
 
creative!
 
I don't know if I'm going to keep that switch as the control for the center diff lock, I have a SPST switch that I'd rather use. I plan on putting in a 24 I/O Idec MicroSmart in the rig at some point which would be ideal for controls of aftermarket lights, front/rear lockers, temperature and pressure monitoring programmable to output to warning indicators and other fun stuff.

Of course, ill keep you all updated on the progress ;)
 
that switch is indeed a tad big...
 
:beer:ROFL:beer:
 
that switch is indeed a tad big...

Yeah, I've got a bunch of those laying around... they're used in control panels for 480v motors in the oilfield.

I bought a $2 SPST toggle to use for it, but didn't find out until I got in there with a meter that the control circuit requires at least a SPDT to operate it the way the factory switch is intended to, so the one I put in was the easiest alternative. ( I live 20 miles away from the nearest walmart, let alone anywhere to find the kind of switch I needed @ 10 pm!)

I'm going to leave it the way it is until I get the details worked out on the PLC install... that will be just as much work as putting in a 5-pin icecube to run it off the SPST I got.
 

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