How To Wire A DC Switch

When installing direct current (DC) appliances, including a switch to turn the item on and off is a critical part of the installation. Setting up an interior light, a speaker and subwoofer combination or a bank of LEDs always requires a switch to turn them on or off. While adding a switch when building a project from scratch is easiest, adding a switch to an existing installation is also possible.

Step 1

Determine where you would like to put the switch. The most common place to put it is directly between the power supply and the item being powered.

Step 2

Find the positive wire—most likely red—going from the power supply to the item. Cut it with the wire cutters, preferably about in the middle of the wire's length.

Step 3

Use the wire strippers to strip 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the cut ends of the wire.

Step 4

Attach the two stripped ends to the two terminals of the switch. Most simple switches have two terminals and are wired inline. If the terminals are of the screw variety, loosen the screw with a screwdriver, wrap the stripped wire around the screw, and then tighten it.

Step 5

If the terminals are not of the screw variety, or if a better connection is desired, use the soldering iron and solder to solder the connection, ensuring that it is tight and electrically sound.