Controlling a red/white LED with a single switch?

[Ric]

I want to mount an LED 12v spotlight which has three wires so that it can be switched red/white/off.

Obviously I could mount an on/off/om switch to control it, but would prefer to be able to use the existing on/off switch for ease of installation and aesthetic reasons.

Is there a way to do this? I have seen this on fancy boats like Boreals where you turn on the lights once, they come on white, you cycle them off and on again and they are red. So is there perhaps some small electronic gismo on ebay? I have tried looking but don’t know the correct term for googling.

 

[bergie]

This Yacht Devices gadget would do the thing pretty nicely:
Smart Relay: Control two loads with one power switch

You could do the same thing probably more cheaply with some microcontroller stuff as well.

 

[bobgarrett]

I bought a light that did this anyway e.g. Force 4 7-Chip LED Light With Night Vision Mode | Force 4 Chandlery

 

[Sticky Fingers]

RS Components sell push/push switches that will do this. There’s a selector on the website or you could call them. About £20. Waterproof and illuminated switches available too.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Try this:

Push Button Switches, Momentary, On & Off, Latching | RS

 

[Ric]

Thank you some good suggestions. I like Sticky Fingers suggestion of a push-button latching switch as that is what I have at the moment. But I am not sure there is one that has two latching postions.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Thank you some good suggestions. I like Sticky Fingers suggestion of a push-button latching switch as that is what I have at the moment. But I am not sure there is one that has two latching postions.

Definitely is. Talk to RS.

 

[salar]

If you have already bought the spotlight I can't help, but if you haven't, find the ones that cycle from a standard on-off switch. I have four in my wheelhouse mounted in two pairs, you switch them on and they are red, then if you then off-on them they go white.

 

[Bilgediver]

Don.t overcomplicate it Just need a simple double throw single pole switch in the Pos. lead from the existing switch. and this would select red or white.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Don.t overcomplicate it Just need a simple double throw single pole switch in the Pos. lead from the existing switch. and this would select red or white.

That is exactly how mine are wired . I even converted my old fluorescent lights to LED using warm of cool white and red LEDs wih a ON off ON switch

 

[jamie N]

DPDT centre off, like the one in post#1 which the OP knows about, but wasn't keen to fit.

 

[Bilgediver]

DPDT centre off, like the one in post#1 which the OP knows about, but wasn't keen to fit.

That is why the singe pole add on was suggested. He then keeps the old on /off switch.