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So when I bought the truck the only thing working in the instrument panel was the speedometer. When I took it out I found all the light holes empty. Trying to get as much back in service as I can I purchased enough instrument lights/sockets as I thought I needed. I got the panel instrument lights and an additional gage cluster lights running off the rheostat on the light switch just fine but I tried to wire turn signal indicator lights in the circuit from the manual and toasted the first one I tried. Turns out the instrument lights are very low wattage, or amperage, and can't take direct wiring off the battery through the ignition switch. I can't see anything in the schematic or manual drawing to indicate any kind or resister or voltage/amperage breakdown device. And as you can tell, I'm no electrician. Is it as simple as finding higher amperage rated bulbs or do I need to put a resister in line? Pics of drawing, manual circuit, and bulbs attached. Oh yeah..it's a '54 F-100 changed to 12V.
I'm having trouble deciphering what your issue exactly is, but lets start here:
The turn signal indicators on the dash are not powered/dimmed through the light switch/rheostat. They are always sourced from full battery ignition switched on power and and fed the same power as the actual exterior turn signal lights. Any traditional filament nominal 12V (or 14.4V) bulb such as a #53 should suffice.
I got the panel instrument lights and an additional gage cluster lights running off the rheostat on the light switch just fine but I tried to wire turn signal indicator lights in the circuit from the manual and toasted the first one I tried.
Hi Tony!
What do you mean as in "toasted". The bulb burned out? I agree with the others. It sounds like you were using a 6 volt bulb. As bmoran4 mentions in the instrument cluster try a #53 12 volt bulb. I have a factory 12 volt 1956. And the auto parts guys did the typical year, make, model, and handled me 6 volt parking/turn signal lights. Of course I didn't notice until I turned them on while the truck was parked inside the garage. A few blinding turn signal blinks, then nothing. The other side the same thing, took them back and they tried to give me again the same bulbs! "But the computer says" LOL
Thanks for the reply. I'll get some different bulbs and try again.
Sounds good Tony! Let us know how it turns out for you as we all learn here.
Just something else that came to my mind. You will need a 12 volt flasher too if you haven't already got one. At the many parts stores they are almost sort of generic anymore. But I would take yours in with you and tell them you will need a 12 volt version of what you have in your hand. You could have them search for one used on the 56 F-100. It might be a #552 flasher which you could probably find hanging in the electrical section of the parts store. Once you get it, you could mount it with a clip on the back panel of the dash if you still have the "clip". That way it will be louder as the flasher vibrations sort of "drums" against the back panel of the dash.
Sounds like your 12 volt neg ground. Is your turn signal switch six wire? If it is you have to run your brake lite switch thru your turn signal. To get brake lites if the flasher is indicating a turn sequence. When you apply the brakes. My 55 was converted to 12 volt. I used the 1956 wireing. DiagramsAJ
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Wiring issues, again
