How to Wire a Light Bar with a 5 Pin Rocker Switch

Wiring a light bar switch may seem like a daunting task, but it's actually the opposite, and you can do it all in less than 5 minutes. The most challenging part of the installation process may be learning where all the different wires are going, but don't worry because we'll walk you through the process.

light bar switch

Get knowledge of light bar switches

The 5-Pin Rocker Switch is one of the most popular light bar switches because it is rectangular and usually blends in with most vehicle interiors. The rocker switch operates the light bar by pushing on the top of the switch. To turn off the light bar switch, simply push it to the lower part of the switch.

Another reason why 5 Pin Rocker Switches are popular in light bars is that they have a floodlight that can be used in conjunction with your factory interior dashboard lighting. When the light bar switch is on, another light on the rocker switch of the light bar will light up to inform you that the switch is currently powering any light bar you are connected to.

rocker switch

This is the law

When installing aftermarket auxiliary lighting on your vehicle, you need to be aware of your state's laws. For example, in Pennsylvania, you need to have a light bar switch that lights up when the light is turned on. The purpose of this law is that they want to make sure that drivers know when the auxiliary light bar comes on so they're not blind to the traffic that's coming.

Let's look at the back

The back of the 5 Pin Rocker Switch has 5 pins, all of which have a specific purpose.

5 pin rocker switch

The switch is upright, so we'll start from top to bottom:

#8 is the ground for turning on and off the upper light (this terminal can be grounded with #7)

#7 is the grounding terminal of the light on and off - (this terminal can be grounded with #8 unless you wire the light off and on to the vehicle's original light dimmer)

#2 is a positive power source from the battery and a power source with a fuse (this terminal can be used in combination with #6)

#3 is the positive power supply into the light bar (this is the only terminal that cannot be combined with other terminals)

#6 is the positive power supply for the lower light (this terminal can be used in combination with #2)

How to make a light bar jumper cable

You will need to make two jumper cables:

Ground jumper cables - These will become ground for the ground wire of upper light #8 and ground wire for lower light #7

Positive jumper cable - this will be used for #2 input power, and #6 power is for lower lights

Once that's done, run the rest of the light bar wiring, and you're ready to go.

If you are trying to convert a 3-pin Rocker Switch to a 5-pin Rocker Switch, read below.

To connect a 3-pin Rocker Switch to a 5-pin Rocker Switch, you need to find out what the 3 wires do. The Aurora harness is set to black = ground/negative, red = positive, and blue = power to the lighting product. If you use any other wiring harness, you will need to test each wire to determine which wire represents the power, ground, and power supply for the LED lighting product.

You can find more details below these articles:

 1. How many amperes does the led light bar consume 

 2. Fuse sizes for 12v LED lights: Use and Prevention

 3. Is the light bar legal

 4. What size wire should I use for my LED light bar

 5. My light bar has completely or partially stopped working 

 6. How to choose the best LED light bar for your vehicle

 7. Best placement for auxiliary LED lights 

 8. Why do you need a harness kit for Off-road LED light bars 

 9. How many watts of good LED light bars are suitable for car use 

 10. Offroad Led Light Bars Installation Manual

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