Defer to the instructions provided with your switch or your device. The types of devices onto which you might want to install a toggle switch will have electrical configurations that vary greatly. Thus, no single guide is likely to provide a one-size-fits-all solution. The steps in this section are meant to be taken as general guidelines for a simple on-off ((single pole, single throw or SPST) toggle switch. They should never supersede any instructions included with your toggle switch or the device into which you’re installing it.

• When in doubt, consult a skilled electrician to save time and avoid inadvertent damage.

Cut the supply wire in your device. For your toggle switch to function as an on-off switch, you’ll need to wire your toggle switch to the device’s power supply. Use wire cutters to cut your device’s supply wire in a location that best allows for routing either or both ends of the wire to the switch. Strip approximately 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) of insulation from each end of the wire using a wire stripper.

Add a pigtail if either end of the wire does not reach the switch. A pigtail is a short length of wire (usually about 6 inches (15 cm)) with both ends stripped. It can be connected to wires that aren’t quite long enough to reach your toggle switch as a sort of “extender.” Add a pigtail as follows:

• Determine the gauge of the existing wire and obtain a wire of the same color and gauge.
• Cut a piece of the wire long enough to reach from the cut end of the supply wire to the toggle switch.
• Strip 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) of insulation from each end of this piece of wire.
• Connect one end of the pigtail wire to the supply wire by twisting the ends of the wires together clockwise. Twist a wire nut of the proper size clockwise over the wire joint until the wire nut is tight.

Connect the supply wire to the toggle switch. At this point, you’ve made a break in the device’s supply wire, you’ll need to add your toggle switch in the middle of the break so that it can regulate the flow of electricity through the circuit. The way you do this depends on the type of toggle switch you have. See below:

• If your toggle switch has wire leads, twist the end of each lead to one of the supply wires (or pigtail extensions) and twist a wire nut over each wire connection until they’re tight.
• If your toggle switch has screw terminals, loosen the terminal screws, loop the ends of the supply wires and hook each loop over a terminal screw so the loops point clockwise around the shaft of each terminal screw. Then, tighten the terminal screws.
• If the toggle switch has solder connections, bend the ends of the wires around the switch terminals. Needle-nose pliers may be useful. Heat each terminal with a soldering iron while holding the end of solder wire in contact with the terminal (but not in direct contact with the soldering iron tip). When the solder begins to melt, withdraw the soldering iron tip and allow the melting solder to flow and cover the wire-terminal joint.

Test your switch. When your toggle switch is wired properly, carefully reconnect the device’s power supply and test the function of the toggle switch. If it works as intended, you may replace the panel or device housing. Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed a toggle switch.

What Are Toggle Switches and How Are They Used in Cars?

Automotive Toggle Switch Installation Service near Wichita KS: When you operate any function inside your car, you are using a switch in some fashion. There are rocker switches, push buttons, lever switches, and toggle switches, among many styles. All have different appearances and while some operate in the same way, they are used for different functions.

What is a toggle switch?

A toggle switch is any switch that is manually operated by moving a short handle. The short rod or handle on the switch moves back and forth and snaps into place in a springing action. A toggle switch can be a simple on/off switch or 2-way switch where different functions are selected based on position. It can also be a 3-way switch, where there is a center position and two end positions that all have a separate circuit or function. An example is a heated seat switch with a high, low, and off position.

What is a toggle switch used for in cars?

Toggle switches were commonly used in classic cars, and are still used in some car accessory installations such as fog light kits. It is less common, but toggle switches are used in some new vehicle applications such as dash controls on MINI vehicles and the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Toggle switches are able to handle a large amount of electrical current or voltage, and are ideal for direct-wired applications for systems that are not controlled by a relay. Off-road lights and winches are good examples of high current items that can be controlled with a toggle switch.