Need help finding a diode.

[RockRanger]

Here is what I have. I am building a panel to install in my truck that will have conrols for my winch. I have an on off switch to activate it and a (on) off (on) switch to control in and out. The switches I have have two LEDs in them. One light will be wired to the dash lights to turn on with them. The second light will turn on when the switch is turned on.

On the on-off SPST switch it works fine. On the (on)off (on) SPDT switch, I can get the dashlight working fine. However on the the light that only turns on when when the swithc is on. When I wire it to come on for the up postion it will also send power to the down position. Thus if I had it wired to the winch it would send power to both the in and out silinoids.

I went to radio shack and bought a small diode. I have it working right but it is kind of hack. Anyone know of a good way to wire a diode in.


Cliff notes. Need 2 switches to turn on one light without backfeeding the other switch,. Do not want it done hack.

Here is the switch.

 

[solitary ogre]

Blocking Diodes, Isolating Door Triggers and Sensors, Diodes Across the Coil of Relays

http://www.the12volt.com/diodes/diodes.asp


i hope this helps.

 

[RockRanger]

That is basically what I have right now. A small cylinder with a silver wire coming out of each end. What would be the best way to attach it to some 16 ga stranded wire?

 

[RockRanger]

Here is what I used. Just wondering if there is a better style or the best way to wire it in.

 

[IZwack]

If you're just going to put a diode by itself inline, cut the ends to like a quarter of an inch, solder the ends to the wiring and then heat-shrink wrap over the whole thing.

 

[Maniak]

How many amps can you put through those?

I have a 10" fan on the front of the truck and when the fan isn't powered but we are moving its generating power and hurts the relay... I need to stop it from backfeeding.. but the fan draws 10 amps when running and more at startup.

~Mark

 

[BrooklynBay]

Each diode has a different volt, and amp rating. A nice diode that you could get is the one from Ford which is used on the compressor clutch wiring on an 88 Aerostar. It has factory plugs on both sides, and the diode is inside of a rubber/plastic enclosure.

 

[RockRanger]

How many amps can you put through those?

I have a 10" fan on the front of the truck and when the fan isn't powered but we are moving its generating power and hurts the relay... I need to stop it from backfeeding.. but the fan draws 10 amps when running and more at startup.

~Mark

The one I picked up is 50v 1 amp. All that it is feeding is one LED light. Kind of wierd how I needed to wire everything to make it work but it does. Radio shack had a bunch of different size ones so they could have one that might work for you.