#1. I don’t really understand electricity. Should I be trying to do this (install a switch/wiring kit/etc.) myself?
Do ya’ feel lucky? Well do ya’?
Actually, do you feel confident...that you can follow instructions, that you know when to stop and ask questions? Are you willing to learn the basics, really learn them, so that you do understand electricity? Sometimes it’s as important to know what you don’t know as it is to know what you know.
#2. What are the basics of electricity that I need to learn?
First and foremost is safety.
1. Disconnect electrical power before doing any work on a car or electrical system.
2. Read the instructions and understand them before starting the job. Ask questions before, not during, and if you aren’t sure, don’t do it until you are sure.
3. Learn the basic concepts of circuits, simple circuits as well as series and parallel circuits.
4. Understand “amperage draw”.
5. Learn Ohm’s law and how to apply it, as well as the power formula. Don’t get freeked out about math, here. Simple multiplication and division rule the day. Nothing a hand calculator can’t handle.
6. Know how to size components (wire, switches, etc.) to meet the needs caused by the amperage draw.
7. Understand good connections from bad and how to achieve them.
#3. O.K. Where can I go to learn these basics?
Our own Basic Auto Electricity Book is a great source of information. It goes beyond just telling you how to do specific items to giving you an understanding of electricity. You can also find material at your local library or any of the larger book stores. Many of these topics will also be touched upon in later answers provided here.
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