Dome light wiring

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Dome light wiring
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike bartlett Oviedo,Fl on Wednesday, August 08, 2012 - 06:53 am:

I want to install a dome light in my coupe,and I could use some help.I have a simple on/off switch on pillar and dome light mounted.The light and bulb are double contact,like the T headlight bulbs.I also know where my hot source is coming from,and I know I need a ground. Can someone tell where the wiring goes to and from Thank You


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Wednesday, August 08, 2012 - 07:00 am:

Guess you can do it both ways - either wire the hot cable through the switch and then to one of the contacts on the light and let the ground cable go from the other contact directly to ground - or wire the hot source directly to one contact on the light and let the ground cable go from the other contact first to your switch and then to ground. Electrically the same, your choice :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Wednesday, August 08, 2012 - 10:09 am:

This older post has diagram of the sedan dome light wiring.


http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/241715.html


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Wednesday, August 08, 2012 - 10:18 am:

Thanks Dan. The second alternative I described above seems to be the Ford way :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Doug Money - Braidwood, IL on Wednesday, August 08, 2012 - 11:04 am:

If you do it the second way and the switch goes bad and shorts to ground, the light will come on. If you do it the first way and the switch goes bad, you will want a fuse.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Wednesday, August 08, 2012 - 05:10 pm:

Mike,

You don't need a double contact bulb. The headlight bulbs are double because there are two filaments in them and the base acts as a ground, (really a third contact).

If you use a double contact bulb, make sure it only has one filament. That way, only the contacts feed the filament and the base is not connected. OR, have a single contact bulb with the base as the ground connection.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike bartlett Oviedo,Fl on Thursday, August 09, 2012 - 06:41 am:

Jerry, It is a one filament bulb.I'm using it because the fixture came that way,and connections are pressed into the fixture body.Too much trouble to swap out. Thanks for everyones input,got it wired last night.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Thursday, August 09, 2012 - 02:09 pm:

If it's got a single filament bulb with 2 contacts, it means the bulb housing isn't grounded and it has to be series wired. One contact goes to 'hot', the other goes to ground.
It would be smart to make it a 2 wire system anyway. One wire goes from the hot source, through an in-line fuse, to the switch, to the bulb. The other comes from the bulb, following the came course as the hot wire, all the way back to a good ground, like the frame, for instance.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike bartlett Oviedo,Fl on Thursday, August 09, 2012 - 02:19 pm:

Dennis, That's what I did,except for the fuse part. What size fuse should I use. I do have some in line fuse holders. Thanks,mike


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Halpin on Friday, August 10, 2012 - 12:14 am:

Probably 15 amp max. would be my guess but it really should have a fuse in it and that fuse should be as close to the power source as you can get it. Those wires are running up through cloth and wood. Should they (or the switch) short out, you could burn the car down.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Friday, August 10, 2012 - 12:58 am:

15 amps would be good for at least 90 watts.

Find how many watts the light bulb is and divide by 6 (assuming you are running a 6 volt system) which will give you the amps draw.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike bartlett Oviedo,Fl on Friday, August 10, 2012 - 06:23 am:

thank you all


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