Insert a Toggle Switch

I'd like to install a toggle switch between a fuse and the main fuse board. Currently, I have a circuit that in order to "turn off" I have to remove the fuse. This is very inconvenient as I have to remove parts of the truck each time I need to access it.

And no, this has nothing to do with anything against company policies....it deals with powering an accessory...

 

Let me make sure I understand you...

On the positive wire from the toggle switch, attach an inline fuse. On the other end of the inline fuse, attach a male blade connector. Insert the male blade connector into the positive side of the female fuse panel. Attach another male blade connector to the negative/ground wire from the toggle switch. Insert this male blade connector into the negative/ground side if the female fuse panel.

So, like this:

T
O / ---Inline Fuse---Male Blade---Fuse Panel
G/
G\
L \ ---Male Blade---Fuse Panel
E

If this is correct, which side of the fuse panel is the hot/positive side and which is the ground/negative side? Are they the same for energy vehicle? Trying to avoid wiring this backwards...

Thanks!

 

Hmmm. Now I'm more confused.

If the ignition is on, the circuit is on. The only way to turn it off is to turn off the ignition or break the circuit by removing the fuse.

I'd like to be able to break the circuit with the toggle switch while leaving the ignition on.

I've been doing some research while waiting for a response and I've seen something called a fuse tap. Would this be useful? Or is that just for splitting one circuit into two, for say, adding a light bar or extra 12 volt outlet?

 

I think I just figured some of this out. A fuse is simply a device that interrupts the positive side of the circuit. It's the middle man. One side connects to the power source and the other connects to the powered device (light, accessory, etc). Everything fuse-related is hot (fuses and wires running to the panel) like you said, EXCEPT the main large grounding wire(s) which grounds all the fuses and completes all of the circuits for all powered devices.

True?

If so, then when I pull the fuse, I'm breaking the circuit at the hot side; sorta like cutting the red wire temporarily.

What I need to do is (1) break the circuit between the fuse/panel (hot) and the main grounding wires by placing the toggle between the fuse and the ground wire, OR (2) use the toggle to somehow break the circuit on the hot side, just like pulling the fuse. I'd wire up two hot wires that would connect to two posts of the toggle so that in one position, the circuit is complete and in the other, the circuit is broken--essentially making the toggle act like the fuse.

Assuming all of this is correct, what I don't understand is how to proceed. I don't know whether to take method one or method two. It feels like method two would be easier. Are toggles designed with a hot and ground or with two hots? Or does it depend on the switch you're using?

 

Thanks. However, I still am not sure how to proceed. Are toggles designed with a hot and ground or with two hots? Or does it depend on the switch you're using? There seems to be a ton of switches in various different configurations. I know what none of it means. What switch do I choose?