I have two rocker switches for my drive trims on the dash.

Each rocker has 6 poles on it however only 3 are being used(top, middle, bottome). Guessing one wire is power, one for up trim, one for down trim. Are the 3 empty poles not being used just duplicate poles for operating another accessory if you were using it for something other than trim???

I'm asking because I am looking at wiring in a rex marine handle trim switch and would rather connect to these extra poles rather than splicing into the existing wires.

Thanks for your help!!!

I believe that you are slightly mistaken regarding your switch polarity. Generally, it's hard to find a rocker switch with more than two poles. A two pole, 3 position rocker switch would give you six terminals, but not six poles.

Generally, the center terminal will be the common terminal. The ouside terminals on either side of the center one will be controlled by the switch.

Sorry about my terminology.... Yes, it's a 6 terminal, 3 position rocker switch. I did a continuity test between the two top terminals and didn't get any connection which I thought I would have, then again, maybe the switch has to be on for both terminals to be energized.

Sounds like I can just wire to the empty terminal for my new switch...

Thanks for your time!!!!

Lets say your switch looks like this:

xx
ii
zz

In all cases, i will connect with x or z depending on the position of the switch. ii, xx or zz will never be connected to each other. That's why it's a two pole. xiz is one pole, and xiz is the second pole. Therefore, your reading would be correct for a good double pole switch.

Just to be on the safe side and using Cords x-i-z diagram above.....i would connect a tester between the two "x" poles and hit the switch and see if you get conectivity between them........do the same for the "i" terminals and the "z" terminals.....ive run into a few cheap switches in the past where its only a single pole but it has 6 terminals....dont know why i guess they went the cheap route.

If this is a true two pole switch then wiring to the empty terminals wont make the Acc work the way you think it will since that side is not connected to the wires that are on the switch right now.

Just got the wiring done the way I stated and it didn't work... now I read your description and I understand what's happening... I'll have to tap into the existing wires that are on the port side of each switch..... don't mind doing this type of work, but damm it's hot out there!!!!

If you dont want to cut the existing wires to splice in, there are connectors that split the spade connectors into 2 on the switch. Available through West Marine, or probably Radio Shack.

Another switch question.....

My switch on the dash for the silent choice exhaust is a toggle style switch that when you push it up it turns the thru hull on and the switch returns to the middle. Same with turning the exhaust off, I push it down and the exhaust turns off and the switch automatically returns to the middle position. I'd like to change this to a rocker style switch.

Do they make rockers that return to the middle the same way? I'm guessing it would be a single pole 3 terminal type?

Yes, they are called momentary switches...carling makes some, they will be described as MOM on - off - MOM on....

I think you will need diodes to separate the drives. If you have them both wired to the swtich on your controls, you will send a signal to both drives at the same time, that is what you want want to do, but when you use each switch to invidually move the drives, since you now have them connected together, you will not be able to move them individually. Does this make sense? You can get diodes at radio shack or most stereo shops will have them.