The Ford Barn

37 Coupe · 08-11-2025, 04:51 PM

I think my car is considered late or at least not early with serial number B-5122586 but it does have a dash lamp and a dome lamp. I understand by the schematic that the instrument lamp is tied in with lighting circuit,head lamps or cowl lamps need to be on before dash lamp will operate but what about the dome lamp? Mine has been installed to the dash switch circuit which is fine but looking at schematic I think it shows power to dome lamp switch is the 20 amp fuse block location? Doubt I will ever drive the car at night let alone use headlamps or dome light but just something I noticed when sorting out wiring. I installed a new Rhode Island harness but not the dome lamp wiring as it looks newer plastic coated and hidden anyway.

DavidG · 08-11-2025, 05:41 PM

About all the dome lamp and dash light share are the same type of ligt bulb and the letter 'd'. On Model Bs without a dash light switch, the dash light is an integral part of the lighting wiring circuit.

The dome light is not part of the lighting circuit, but rather a standalone circuit running from the ammeter to the dome lamp switch to the lamp itself and is grounded on the roof sheet metal. (Ford's early B wiring schematic is missing the dome lamp, but it shows on the opposite page in the book in the early V8 schematic.)

The early Bs had no fuse block so the dome lamp connection is direct. On the later Bs with fuse blocks, the connection to the ammeter is via the fuse block.

37 Coupe · 08-11-2025, 06:12 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidG

About all the dome lamp and dash light share are the same type of ligt bulb and the letter 'd'. On Model Bs without a dash light switch, the dash light is an integral part of the lighting wiring circuit.

The dome light is not part of the lighting circuit, but rather a standalone circuit running from the ammeter to the dome lamp switch to the lamp itself and is grounded on the roof sheet metal. (Ford's early B wiring schematic is missing the dome lamp, but it shows on the opposite page in the book in the early V8 schematic.)

The early Bs had no fuse block so the dome lamp connection is direct. On the later Bs with fuse blocks, the connection to the ammeter is via the fuse block.

Thanks David.

08-11-2025, 04:51 PM	#1
37 Coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,024	1932 Ford Model B Standard coupe dome lamp question. I think my car is considered late or at least not early with serial number B-5122586 but it does have a dash lamp and a dome lamp. I understand by the schematic that the instrument lamp is tied in with lighting circuit,head lamps or cowl lamps need to be on before dash lamp will operate but what about the dome lamp? Mine has been installed to the dash switch circuit which is fine but looking at schematic I think it shows power to dome lamp switch is the 20 amp fuse block location? Doubt I will ever drive the car at night let alone use headlamps or dome light but just something I noticed when sorting out wiring. I installed a new Rhode Island harness but not the dome lamp wiring as it looks newer plastic coated and hidden anyway. __________________ "Never complain,never explain"... Henry Ford II

08-11-2025, 05:41 PM	#2
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,670	Re: 1932 Ford Model B Standard coupe dome lamp question. About all the dome lamp and dash light share are the same type of ligt bulb and the letter 'd'. On Model Bs without a dash light switch, the dash light is an integral part of the lighting wiring circuit. The dome light is not part of the lighting circuit, but rather a standalone circuit running from the ammeter to the dome lamp switch to the lamp itself and is grounded on the roof sheet metal. (Ford's early B wiring schematic is missing the dome lamp, but it shows on the opposite page in the book in the early V8 schematic.) The early Bs had no fuse block so the dome lamp connection is direct. On the later Bs with fuse blocks, the connection to the ammeter is via the fuse block.