Led light for the e-cut out.
Led light for the e-cut out. How do I set up a small led light similar to that of an alarm,so that it comes on when my electric cutout is open and goes off when i close the cutout.
I usually turn the key to accessory and then start the car.
Ideally the light would turn on indicating the cutout was open before I started my H/C/I at 5am in the mornings to avoid waking up the neighborhood and more noise violation tickets.
Thanks in advance.
I usually turn the key to accessory and then start the car.
Ideally the light would turn on indicating the cutout was open before I started my H/C/I at 5am in the mornings to avoid waking up the neighborhood and more noise violation tickets.
Thanks in advance.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 345
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
It would seem to me that the problem is going to be how to determine if the cutout is open. Wiring an indicator light is fairly straight forward but how will it know the position of the cutout? It will probably be necessary to rig some kind of switch that closes when the cutout is fully open. A mercury switch might work but I'm not sure the commonly available ones would withstand the heat. Perhaps a switch could be mounted so that it would open and close with the movement of the cutout.
I am probably not using right terminology but i think this may work.
Imagine a circuit/loop that has the led light, flipswitch on it that is used to open the cutout.
(x = switch and 0 = bulb)
____0____
|___x_____|
This loop would be an open loop until the cutout switch is in the on position and closes this loop. Closing the loop 'd turn on the light. By putting the switch in off position, the loop 'd be open again and light goes off.
Summary: If cutout switch is in open position, light goes on and vice versa.
Imagine a circuit/loop that has the led light, flipswitch on it that is used to open the cutout.
(x = switch and 0 = bulb)
____0____
|___x_____|
This loop would be an open loop until the cutout switch is in the on position and closes this loop. Closing the loop 'd turn on the light. By putting the switch in off position, the loop 'd be open again and light goes off.
Summary: If cutout switch is in open position, light goes on and vice versa.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 345
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
An electric cutout usually has a three position momentary switch (OPEN-OFF-CLOSE) much like a convertible top switch. You press and hold the switch in the open position and then release it when the cutout is fully opened. Likewise, you press and hold the switch to the close side until the cutout is closed and then release the switch. The cutout stays in whatever position you last left it. The switch is at rest (in the OFF position) so there is no way to tell from the switch position if the cutout is open or closed.
Now, if your cutout is different and only has a single-throw toggle switch (OPEN-CLOSED) then you could use that to control the indicator light.
Now, if your cutout is different and only has a single-throw toggle switch (OPEN-CLOSED) then you could use that to control the indicator light.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 345
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
It depends on the switch configuration. Does it have two or three terminals? Does it have constant power or ignition switched power? I would asume that the ON position of the switch corrsponds to the cutout being open and OFF means it's closed.
What about replacing the switch with a lighted one? That way the switch itself would have an indicator light when in the on (open) position.
What about replacing the switch with a lighted one? That way the switch itself would have an indicator light when in the on (open) position.
