Instrument panel light wiring

w.michael

w.michael

Senior Member
I have a 1931 coupe, round speedometer, instrument panel light under the dash rail with small armored cable. I do not have a pop-out switch--I have the Nurex replacement ignition switch that looks like a pop-out when mounted. Ignition switch has two terminals on the back.

I know the instrument panel light is "supposed" to be connected to the ammeter terminal, but can I connect it to the distributor side of the ignition switch? That way, if I forget to turn off the light, it will go off when I turn the ignition off. Am I thinking right, or am I about to mess up?

W. Michael
 
You don't want to connect anything to that side of the switch, if you do it will mess with the function of the condenser by placing a load in parallel with the condenser.
 
So I WAS about to mess up. I knew it couldn't be that easy, but I couldn't figure out why. If my Model A were a child, Department of Social Services would take it away from me.

In light of my ignorance (displayed above in Post #1 for all of Ford Barndom to see) I better ask a follow-up question rather than just doing it.

Question #2: To which side of the ammeter do I connect the light ? It seems it would work on either side, but one way would show a discharge if I left the light on, and the other side would not show discharge if I left the light on. Or am I continuing to flaunt my ignorance?

W. Michael
 
I wired mine to come on with the tail lights. So anytime any lights are on, the dash light comes on. I also have a buzzer that comes on if I happen to leave the lights on when the ignition switch is turned off.
 
CarlG said:
I wired mine to come on with the tail lights. So anytime any lights are on, the dash light comes on. I also have a buzzer that comes on if I happen to leave the lights on when the ignition switch is turned off.
Click to expand...
Yep, Carl,
Whin we're OLD, we have to depend on WARNING LIGHTS, BUZZERS, ETC! I even have a POST-IT on my compotator, tellin' how to TURN IT ON!
Bill W.
 
I only did the buzzer thing after many, many times being asked if I was doing an endurance test on my battery while on tour with my "buddies".
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
Yep, Carl,
Whin we're OLD, we have to depend on WARNING LIGHTS, BUZZERS, ETC! I even have a POST-IT on my compotator, tellin' how to TURN IT ON!
Bill W.
Click to expand...

But ask you, the correct ignition timing in a 1964 327 Bel Air with a four-barrel carb and we would get the answer is a split second.
 
I wired the light to the ammeter. Attached to the negative side of the scale, or the driver's side, the ammeter shows a discharge when the light is turned on. However, the deflection of the needle is so slight I don't think I could tell it was discharging if I didn't see it move; so checking the ammeter is probably not going to tell me I left the light on.

It sure is difficult to route that little armored wire over the speedometer, under the gas gauge, beside the ignition switch (without letting the armored cable contact the connection on the ignition switch) and through the notch in the instrument panel so that the panel goes back in place correctly. I made several attempts before I got it all right. I wrapped electrical tape around the contacts on the ignition switch.

Thanks everyone for your help.

W. Michael
 
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