How to Connect Power Windows to a Toggle Switch (7 Step Guide)

Do you want to install an easy to use toggle or momentary switch for your car's power windows?

You can connect a toggle switch to the power window motor. They are easy to install and operate. And you can complete the task in less than 15 minutes without paying a mechanic.

Generally, to connect power windows to a toggle switch, follow these steps:

• Start by checking the power window motor with a starter.
• Then connect the power window motor to the toggle switch with 16 gauge wires.
• Then connect the built-in 20 amp fuse to the hot wire from the switch.
• Connect the positive and negative wires from the switch to the 12 volt battery.
• Finally, test the toggle switch by pushing the lever to either side.

I'll go into more detail below.

What do you need

• Window lifter
• Wire nuts
• Toggle switch
• For stripping wires
• Red wire for power - 16 or 18 gauge
• Yellow for ground
• built-in 20 amp fuse
• jump start

How Power Windows works

The power window motor has two cables to its positive and negative terminals that form a power source, usually a battery, through a switch.

Switching the switch reverses the polarity of the power window motor. This causes the window to go down or up depending on the power window wiring.

Toggle switch

A toggle switch is a type of momentary switch that is actuated by a raised lever or button that moves up, down, or sideways. Unlike a switch, a toggle switch does not lock into position.

How to Connect Power Windows to a Toggle Switch - Getting Started

Follow the steps below to connect the widow to the tumbler.

Step 1. Checking the window motor with a starting device.

The first thing you should do is check if your power window is working or not. This can be done without even removing the engine itself.

First, disconnect the power window motor cables. Use alligator clips to connect two wires to two terminals on the power window motor. Make sure they do not touch each other to avoid possible damage or electric shock.

Then use the trigger to activate the power window motor and bypass the safety circuit. Alternatively, you can use a 12 volt battery.

Connect the negative wire from the negative terminal on the power window motor to the negative wire or clamp from the starter. Do the same with the positive wire from the power window motor.

If the window goes up, swap the negative and positive wires and watch the window move. If the window goes down, the power window motor is fully functional.

Step 2: Add connecting wires to the window motor

In this guide, we will use the yellow wire for ground and the red wire for hot junction.

Get a yellow-red wire. Remove approximately one inch of insulation with a wire stripper. Connect the wire to the appropriate terminals (i.e. positive and negative terminals) on the power window motor.

However, if the power window motor is already connected, add pigtails to the two wires (hot wire and ground wire) by twisting them together. Twisted ends can be inserted into wire caps.

I recommend using colored wire caps to tell the polarity of the wires at a glance.

Step 3: Connecting the Power Window Motor to the Toggle Switch

At the two-pole switch toggle switch, connect the hot (red) and ground (yellow) wires from the power window motor to the power and ground wires on the toggle switch.

The black and white wires on the toggle switch are ground and power wires, respectively. Connect from either side of the toggle switch.

Step 4: How to lower and raise the window

You need to make various wire connections on the toggle switch that will allow you to lower or raise the window.

To do this, connect one of the power wires to the opposite end of the toggle switch. Do the same for the ground wire as shown below.

Step 5 Connect the built-in 20 amp fuse.

The fuse will protect the switch from damage in the event of a power surge. (1)

So make sure you attach a fuse between the positive wire (white) from the toggle switch and the red wire from the positive battery terminal.

Note that a fuse is just a piece of wire with no polarity.

To connect a fuse, wrap one end of the fuse to one terminal of the positive wire, and then the other end to the other wire to form one continuous electrical line—hence the inline fuse's name. (2)

You can seal the connection points with duct tape for safety.

Step 6 Connect the switch to a 12 volt battery.

The power window requires a power source to operate. So, remove about an inch of insulation from the white and black wires from the toggle switch.

Then attach the black wire to the black alligator clip and connect it to the negative battery terminal. Then attach the white wire to the red alligator clip and connect it to the positive battery terminal.

Step 7Check the Power Window

Finally, check out the toggle switch, which is a momentary action switch. Push the switch to one side and watch the window move.

Now flip the switch to another position and watch the window. The tilt of the shift lever that raises the window is the ON position and the other direction is the OFF position. The momentary switch does not stick and can move in any position.

You can either leave the nuts at the wire connection points or solder them according to your specifications. Also, you can use the standard AWG color codes to avoid confusion that could result in a short circuit.

Take a look at some of our articles below.

• How to distinguish a negative wire from a positive one
• How to connect a fuel pump to a toggle switch
• How to connect ground wires to each other

Recommendations

(1) power surge - https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/

gadgets/home/surge protection3.htm

(2) electrical line - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/

electrical lines

Video links

HOW TO TEST WINDOW MOTOR ON CAR WINDOW DOES NOT WORK, WINDOW NOT GOING UP AND DOWN

How To Wire Power Windows To A Toggle Switch! Race Car MOD!