Light Switch

J

jtucker

Member


I haven't driven my car in nearly 65 years and am restoring it now.

I just installed a new light switch. It turns on the headlights by turning the lever counterclockwise 2 clicks that that turn on the headlight high and low beams. There is one click clockwise that turns on the parking lights.

That is exactly opposite to what I remember as a teenager.

I asked CHATGPT AI which direction it should go, and it told me my memory was correct....2 clicks clockwise, 1 click counterclockwise.

I installed the spider at 12/6 o'clock.

What is correct and what do I have wrong?

Thanks,
Jim
 
One click to left (CW) parking, two clicks to right (CCW) low and high beam. Sounds like you have it correct. Don't believe AI...
 
Last edited:
Correct orientation. You may have remembered differently because turning counter clockwise moves the lever on the bottom to the right and the hands on the clock at the top move right in a clockwise direction.
 
I will be the third to say you must have remembered it wrong and the AI bot has it wrong too. Sorry... One click clockwise = parking and two clicks CCW = Low Beam and High Beam in that order. Straight down = off.
 
It is instructive to learn how AI and "machine learning" works. Basically it assumes that the most numerous response is accurate. A perfect example is Musk's "Grok" which he trained to respond to the question: "Who is the NBA's best MVP pick" with the answer: "Elon Musk". Wrong answers are not "necessarily" intentional, but also not infrequent...especially when the topic is narrowly defined and elicits few examples for response. For a very narrowly defined topic even a single (possibly incorrect) response can become the default 'correct' answer.



Clockwise on all A's is parking (running) lights, and counter clockwise is headlights....unless someone has messed around with the wiring connections.
 
The AI generated videos on YouTube are terrible. Funny in a warped way. Do you think these are click bait, designed to increase visits to the site?
 
Bill G said:
I will be the third to say you must have remembered it wrong and the AI bot has it wrong too. Sorry... One click clockwise = parking and two clicks CCW = Low Beam and High Beam in that order. Straight down = off.
Click to expand...

Thank you Bill G.

This is exactly how mine works but have been told that mine is incorrect. I've been told that my entire orientation should be 1/4 turn (or more) further CCW.

I had been considering asking this question here myself.
 
atch said:
Thank you Bill G.

This is exactly how mine works but have been told that mine is incorrect. I've been told that my entire orientation should be 1/4 turn (or more) further CCW.

I had been considering asking this question here myself.
Click to expand...




I hope someone explains how to change it. Is it just assembled wrong or is there more to it than that?
 
The switch has twelve positions with 90 degrees covering four positions. You can orient the switch "plate" itself in only one position ("slot" locates plate in the switch body.)

Meanwhile the spider contacts the switch moving contacts in one of two ways, both 180 degrees apart. Functionally the two ways are identical.

Meanwhile, the switch rod can be inserted in the spider in any of four orientations. You want the "OFF" position to be down on the handle - so this matters.

What sets the right/left span of light functions is the switch plate itself - and the wire connections. You get more on one side of the OFF position than the other by the length of the paper/insulator "slot" where the fingers insert into switch contact.

Probably the best way to do this is to start at the handle down position. And with the switch contacts "not contacted" (i.e. center "OFF" position) Then assemble the spider/spring/retainer on the rod to match the slot. I.e. Take your clue to which of four positions you want to locate the spider by examining the slots in the switch bulb. 2 right/1 left position possibility is set by the switch construction itself - and what it does by where the wires are landed.

When assembled, it SHOULD give you the correct right/left light sequence. That is - if your manufacturer has assembled the switch wiring/plate correctly.

Joe K
 
Bill G said:
I will be the third to say you must have remembered it wrong and the AI bot has it wrong too. Sorry... One click clockwise = parking and two clicks CCW = Low Beam and High Beam in that order. Straight down = off.
Click to expand...

atch said:
Thank you Bill G.

This is exactly how mine works but have been told that mine is incorrect. I've been told that my entire orientation should be 1/4 turn (or more) further CCW.

I had been considering asking this question here myself.
Click to expand...

The Old Guy said:
I hope someone explains how to change it. Is it just assembled wrong or is there more to it than that?
Click to expand...

I thought that the way Bill G. said and the way mine works right now is the correct orientation.

Even if it's not I don't really intend to change it. This is my first Model A and I'm used to it so I don't feel any need for change. It works very well imho.

When I said I was considering asking the same question it was ONLY for informational/educational purposes.
 
Bill G said:
I will be the third to say you must have remembered it wrong and the AI bot has it wrong too. Sorry... One click clockwise = parking and two clicks CCW = Low Beam and High Beam in that order. Straight down = off.
Click to expand...

That is how it came when new!
 
Every person who owns a model A Ford should have, at least a digital copy if not a paper one, the Owner's Instruction Manual. Page 34 on mine has the procedure for operation of the light switch. I downloaded a free copy of this publication a long time ago.

Ford went through 4 or 5 different switch types during production but most functioned in the same manner. The 1st type may not have had park lights but Ford soon changed so that was likely only the cars built in 1927. My mamual is dated for 1928 and on.
 
Last edited:
Even if it's not I don't really intend to change it. This is my first Model A and I'm used to it so I don't feel any need for change. It works very well imho.
Click to expand...
When I first got the Avatar - the switch was "OFF" in the 3 a.m. position. It stayed like that for YEARS. Only now that I'm trying to revert the car to "type H" (i.e. low-Off-high) did I do the research and find out what it should be.

It still worked even if it was only an approximation of what it was made as.

Joe K
 
rotorwrench said:
Ford went through 4 or 5 different switch types during production but most functioned in the same manner. The 1st type may not have had park lights but Ford soon changed so that was likely only the cars built in 1927. My mamual is dated for 1928 and on.
Click to expand...


Around March 1929 is when Ford adopted the Twolight system - including the four position switch. Before that was "Type H"/3 position/low-off-high.


My Truck (Avatar) was built of "parts" in Somervillle, MA - and all the lighting on the truck was the earlier Type H. Trucks is where typically Ford "used up" outmoded parts - including the earlier lighting system. So March for my truck was "right on the edge."


Joe K
 
Joe K said:
The switch has twelve positions with 90 degrees covering four positions. You can orient the switch "plate" itself in only one position ("slot" locates plate in the switch body.)

Meanwhile the spider contacts the switch moving contacts in one of two ways, both 180 degrees apart. Functionally the two ways are identical.
-
-
When assembled, it SHOULD give you the correct right/left light sequence. That is - if your manufacturer has assembled the switch wiring/plate correctly.

Joe K
Click to expand...


Thanks for the explanation Joe.
 
Joe K said:
Around March 1929 is when Ford adopted the Twolight system - including the four position switch. Before that was "Type H"/3 position/low-off-high.
Joe K
Click to expand...

From what I understand, which could be inaccurate, the first issue AR type lights were just on/off lights but I've never seen that early bolt on switch that was basically for those first prototype cars up through February or so. They may have had the same function as the H-type set up that followed it. The early single bulb headlights (both AR and BR) were single bulb with the 21/3 CP bulb like the late model T cars. The low beam 3CP was basically a parking beam with the 21 CP filament for actual headlights. There was also a change to the reflector for the H type headlights that changed the angle of the center line of the 21CP bulb filament that is noted in a service bulletin page 362. The issue with it was that it didn't align well with the focus screw on the back of the bucket which made bulb focus a bit more difficult.

You are totally correct about the change to the Twolite headlamps listed in the February 1929 service bulletin starting on page 322. They used the new triangle type switch and the 21/21 CP bulbs. Only certain states allowed for the 32/21 CP bulbs at that time. Cowl lamp equipped cars used only the single bulb headlamp reflector
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top