55.2-59 Dome lights

[FAKKY]

Question ....

How do the dome lights work in our trucks .......
meaning how are they triggered to come on

[Tempest67]

you run a positive/hot wire to the bulb, the ground wire is then run to BOTH door switches. (the dome light cannot be grounded)

when the door opens, the ground is then completed, and the light goes on.

The switch is on the GROUND side , not the power side.

does that make sense?

[FAKKY]

I believe so .... electrically.
But what does part this art mean.

the ground wire is then run to BOTH door switches

What door switch Im only aware of the striker plates for locking on the door.

I know you could put in an aftermarket one - but did they come in our year vehicles ? 1957 Panel FWIW.

[57tailgater]

I do not believe they came with any door jamb switches. They were turned on by turning the headlight switch. I have never seen provisions for door jamb switch in an original body and wiring diagrams show wiring going directly to light switch. If you want jamb switches, you will have to add them per what has been said prior in this thread.

[Tempest67]

sorry, I thought you were asking about door jamb switches.

In 1957, power went to a switch (at the dome light) and the dome light was grounded, so once you flicked the switch (manually), power went to the bulb, and it lite up.

[FAKKY]

Originally Posted by Tempest67

sorry, I thought you were asking about door jamb switches.

In 1957, power went to a switch (at the dome light) and the dome light was grounded, so once you flicked the switch (manually), power went to the bulb, and it lite up.

Oh.
LOL.

That makes a lot more sense. I actually remember that style now

thanks !

[FAKKY]

Thanks.
When you say "They were turned on by turning the headlight switch"

Does that mean the headlight switch had a provision for the dome light on it ?

I thought it was a two position switch ...... fog lists, main lights .... and headlights controlled by foot pedal.

** well I pulled a wiring diagram and see the wire does go there .....
But how is it controlled. Meaning - do you twist instead of pull - or it always activates with dimmer or something ?

thanks

[59chev]

It activates by twisting the knob all the way. The twisting action also controls the dimmer for the dash lights. Cant remember if it is clockwise or counterclockwise at the moment.

[57tailgater]

Originally Posted by 59chev

It activates by twisting the knob all the way. The twisting action also controls the dimmer for the dash lights. Cant remember if it is clockwise or counterclockwise at the moment.

I concur but can't remember which way it turns either!! The headlight switch is 3 position (in/out) too: off/parking lights/headlights. Switch on floor is dimmer switch which controls between high and low headlight beams.

[_Ogre]

as mentioned the dome light has a hot wire and grounds thru the headlight switch
connected to tab marked 'white-ground for dome light' connected to the small copper contact
the cam on the white plastic piece rotates down to push the copper contact down to touch the switch bracket

fyi... you only have a 4 fuse panel if your truck came with electric wipers, all trucks had a fusible link at the battery
a more basic truck only had 1 fuse on the headlight switch for the 'gray-instrument lights' tabs, this is the only fuse on the truck
the 2 bi-metal strips with points like contacts were the only other overload protection for the whole wiring harness
if you've ever had the headlights flash on/off it was the bi-metal strip heating/cooling
trucks with only heater or radio had inline fuses

if you want to add door pins i posted a tutorial in my build thread on how i made my brackets
i used some 10ga metal strips, bent in a vice with 60s door pins

[1project2many]

The red arrow points to the cam that activates the dome light. You can see part of the contact points attached to the ground strap.

[MIKEs50Chevy]

I’ve had the basic plastic dome light switch in my ‘50 and they just don’t hold up. Anyone know of one that isn’t cheap plastic and will last more than a year or two?