courtesy lights 69 c3

[tls630]

I have not been able to get my courtesy lights to work from the door switch.They will work off the light switch.I found that if I turn off the master disconect they work off the door switch. Is it a ground problem? I do not like electircal work at all. All help appreciated. TLS630

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

What's a 'master disconnect' ?

 

[JohnZ]

I have not been able to get my courtesy lights to work from the door switch.They will work off the light switch.I found that if I turn off the master disconect they work off the door switch. Is it a ground problem? I do not like electircal work at all. All help appreciated. TLS630

If you mean you have a battery disconnect switch, NOTHING in the car should work with the switch open/off. Do you have a photo of the switch installation?

 

[tls630]

John
I don't have a picture, but it is just a rotary shut off switch mounted in the positive cable at the end near the terminal. Tom

 

[TWINRAY]

John
I don't have a picture, but it is just a rotary shut off switch mounted in the positive cable at the end near the terminal. Tom

I'm with you - I hate electrical problems. I do believe that battery disconnect switches should be on the negative post and not the positive. And like what has been said, the disconnect switch should stop all power.

 

[tls630]

In an automotive application the cut switch goes in the positive side. In a 110 type it wolud go in the negative. Don't ask me to explain, I don't understand it either. But I still can't figure out what is going on.

I'm with you - I hate electrical problems. I do believe that battery disconnect switches should be on the negative post and not the positive. And like what has been said, the disconnect switch should stop all power.

 

[JohnZ]

Either way will cut off the power, but if the disconnect is on the negative terminal, it completely eliminates all the ground potential in the entire car, since the ground path back to the battery no longer exists, making it impossible to create a short anywhere except directly across the two battery terminals. If it's on the positive terminal, you can still create a short from the positive terminal itself to anything on the car that's grounded, since the ground path back to the negative terminal still exists. That's why every time the Shop Manual says to disconnect the battery, it says very clearly to disconnect the negative cable.

 

[tls630]

John
Do you think that if I move the disconnect to the negative post that will cure my problem? I am a DUMB --- when it comes to electrical problems.
Tls630