VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt 1950 dome light switch wiring

I hope someone here can help me out because I'm confused! When I bought my 1950 Fleetline my dome light had been changed to be activated by a switch mounted under the dash. I'm in the process of changing my car over to 12 volts and want to wire my dome light up to the original switch on the bezel and the spring loaded door activated switches. My problem is that my original switch is painted over and not useable. And because it wasn't wired correctly when I bought it I have no idea how it should be done. There are a bunch of switches offered by Chevs of the 40's, some one terminal, some two terminals. I've checked out the wiring diagram in the shop manual but it's also a little confusing to an electrical novice like myself! Fo what it's worth it looks like the original switch has a ground wire as well as a wire that goes to the bulb. Does it matter what side of the bulb? And it looks like that same bulb terminal feeds the door switches? Ok enough from me, please help! Thanks in advance.

There is one wire going to the bulb that is hot all the time.There is a wire from the dome light switch to the bulb and a wire from each door switch.These are all grounds.The bulb has two contacts on the back.On is for ground and one for power.The power is hot and when grounded by a switch the lights go on.Power can be fed to bulb thru either terminal.

Thanks Chev Nut, that helps a lot.

Wait, so I still need the switch with 2 terminals right? One to connect to the bulb and one for a ground?

The hot wire goes directly to the bulb.When a switch is "turned on" it completes the ground circuit only.The door switch is grounded to the body and the dome light switch is also.(no juice at a switch)