Under dash courtesy lights

[green 66]

Trying to install a light under dash when door opens. Sliced into jab switch but did not work. Do I need a special light?( 66 Belvedere 2 door) Thanks

 

[Nacho-RT74]

door jam switch feeds ground. Bulb must get full positive source. No need for chassis ground so socket needs to get two wires and being isolated from chassis. that will make it work

 

[Nacho-RT74]

you can also try to get a dome light socket kind ( if available around ) and use a 1004 bulb which base is isolated from filament and gets two contacts to feed the filaments throught it.

It can be done also with a relay and a regular bulb and socket if you want

 

[green 66]

Two wires from where?

 

[green 66]

I have a dome light socket. How would it hook up?

 

[Nacho-RT74]

one wire to a battery positive source and the other one to the door jam switch.

Dunno the options for positive source on a 66 on its fuse block, but the cigar lighter could be one source for it. Also brakes pedal switch pink wire.

 

[green 66]

K thank you!

 

[myk r sanchez]

Why doesn't it need to be grounded?

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Because is the ground from door jam switch which will swithes it off or on.

And must be isolated because the constant source comes from positive. If you wire it unpropperlly, you could short it out!

This is using regular sockets. Now if he is using a dome light socket with the 1004 bulb, it doesn't matter because the bulb itself gets the filament isolated from base/socket and it gets feeded just by the contacts.

 

[green 66]

Thanks for the input. Where can I get the factory style courtesy lights to do it the way the factory did it?

 

[green 66]

Found a kit from summit- $20

 

[Nacho-RT74]

I think 70s A bodies got the map light integrated as courtesy light too down the dash, and this is a plastic housing setup using a regular single contact bulb. Maps lights are also turned on by ground because they light on also with doors

 

[Nacho-RT74]

And here is:

But dunno the kind of bulb they use

 

[Nacho-RT74]

It seems it uses a 57 bulb?

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Btw, if you are interested, it can be made to work with a time delay system... if you want.

 

[green 66]

Is the housing plastic or metal?

 

[Nacho-RT74]

Plastic... was actually used for A and E bodies as a Map light

 

[green 66]

Thanks for all the info

 

[myk r sanchez]

Because is the ground from door jam switch which will swithes it off or on.

And must be isolated because the constant source comes from positive. If you wire it unpropperlly, you could short it out!

This is using regular sockets. Now if he is using a dome light socket with the 1004 bulb, it doesn't matter because the bulb itself gets the filament isolated from base/socket and it gets feeded just by the contacts.

Fascinating. I just dont get electrical stuff...