Relay wiring

[buickid 0]

Ok, say I want to use a simple toggle switch to control a relay for whatever reason.

Do I grab +12 from any source (battery, ign switched, etc), run it through the switch, to the relay coil, to ground, and hook up whatever I wanted to power using the switched terminals?

Thanks,

~Trevor

[95Honda 486]

You pretty much got it. As long as you put 12V across the coil, it will cause one set of the contacts to close, and, in some cases one set to open also. Just make sure whatever you are powering is hooked up to the set of contacts that close when you apply power to the coil. Also remember that you will need to supply 12V to one side of the contacts, that will go to whatever you are powering when they close. I usually take the 12V for the coil from the same 12V I am switching with the relay, I just build a little jumper wire.

[buickid 0]

Good deal, thanks. Just making sure I wasn't going to set anything on fire.