Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,109 Posts1,056,569 Members48,448 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jul 2019 Posts: 95 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2019 Posts: 95 | Just rewired my 47 panel, replaced light switch with new. The rheostat is heating up to almost burning the contact when light switch is on. Didn’t do this at first. I’m installing a turn signal and in process of wiring the tail lights. It’s 6 volt. Any ideas?
1949 Chev 3800
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,105 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,105 | Was the new light switch for 12V? Both are available, and it might make a difference in how hot the rheostat gets. It will always get warm, as it's a resistance device, but operating a 12V rheostat on 6V could be the cause.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 2,196 Insomniac | | Insomniac Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 2,196 | Yes, the rheostat is a variable resistor. The more current that passes through it, the hotter it gets.
I have not been happy with the rheostat in my truck. (I have also found them troublesome in other older cars). To me, "rheostat" may be a curse word in some foreign language. In this truck, I thought I had it working OK, but last time we were out in the evening, I turned the lights on and there were no instrument lights. Turning the rheostat madly back and forth did not clean the contacts and bring the lights up. I couldn't find a sweet spot where the instrument lights lit up so we drove home without them. Next day, I moved the instrument light wire under the same screw as the tail lights. So now the instrument lights are not adjustable, but they work.
My solution is to simply connect the instrument light wire to the same point on the light switch as the tail lights. Who needs a rheostat!
Gord 🇨🇦
----
1954 1/2 ton 235 4 speed
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,105 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,105 | Good info Gord. RHEOSTAT!! Nope, the forum censor doesn't flag it. 
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | The dash lights should not draw enough current to heat that up. Something is wrong in the setup. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,835 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,835 | Check the dash light circuit for a short- - - -there shouldn't be enough current draw to make the stat get that hot.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2019 Posts: 95 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2019 Posts: 95 | Ok, thanks for all this information guys. I will retrace everything. The switch I have is supposed to be a replacement for the original 6 v switch. I assumed it was 6v. I do like the idea of bypassing the dash light terminal. I don’t care to or have need to dim them anyway. Thanks again!
1949 Chev 3800
| | |
|
|
