Wiring LED's into dome light using an SPDT and dash dimmer (help!).

[User Name]

Hey guys

Can somebody please explain how to wire in some interior LED strip lights into the already existing 3 way dome light whilst using an SPDT switch so that I can go between having LED's only and LED + Dome light, both being able to use 'door' 'off' and 'on' functionalities?

As well, how to run this entire setup through the dimmer switch for the dash/console..

I have thought about it for a couple days, taken some of it apart and now my brain is hurting.
There is:
Dome Light;
One wire running from the switches plate to a screw in the roof for the 'on' ground.
Two wires connected to the switch, one positive and one negative to complete the ground through the door switches.

SPDT (not that I hopefully have to explain this!);
3 spades, the centre is for power, the two side ones for either light setup.

Dimmer switch;
One power and two non live wires (would love to know what these are?).

I thought to run the SPDT before the dome light and have the power that is going up there for the dome run into the centre spade, then split the LED positives into two and run one to one side (LED only) and one to the other (spliced with a power wire going to the 3 way), then realised this wouldn't give me the door/off/on functionality if it was just the LED's on.

I'm super confused and my brain feels like it's about to explode with wanting to get this done (on a time frame..).. Anyone?

 

[divemedic]

Can anyone answer this? I'm looking to do white LED dome lights and red map lights.

 

[ozcrusier]

Dimmer, splitter, then both lights but I know jack s*** about the SPDT. Any links so I can have a look and try and get my head around it.

 

[jblueridge]

Here's a schematic of a SPDT switch. Apparently some folks call these "3-ways".


In the Cruiser you'd have the door switch on one of these circuits and when you put the already-installed SPDT dome light switch to that circuit it is necessary for the door to open for the light to come on.

Otherwise, you park the switch in neutral until you want to turn the dome light on by hand with the dome light's SPDT switch.

The diagram above is not applicable to the Crusier dome light because in the cruiser the two circuits both go to the same light; by different paths.
Better diagram below. I don't know if this is absolutely correct, but this is how I think it works.

 

[fireball]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "run this through the dimmer switch".

Can you please explain?

Except for that part this can pretty easily be done with the switch. It's how I have the rear cargo lights wired in my 100. Stdt switch. On. Off. On with trigger from rear overhead light (on/off/door).

 

[jblueridge]

Possibly the dimmer for dash gauge lighting?

 

[DeepThought65]

G'day,
Just joined and saw this thread. I just built an over head console for my 79 and have fitted lights into it that operate off the standard interior switch. The thing that you have to remember is that in the Toyota's the negative is what is switched in the lighting. The active + is fed direct to the load. So there is an earth (-) that is switched where the light fitting is screwed to the body and the door switch is also an earth (-) that is switched. It was screwing with my head when I was wiring it until I figured out that the earth was what was being switched.

Hope this is some help.

D.T.