Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for MORE wrenching? 
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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,009 Posts1,055,293 Members48,419 | | 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!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 428 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 428 | I was reading through the archives, and got to wondering: is there a consensus on the most common or "correct" heater switch fo the 52 year? I am thinking it is either the bolted to the dash paddle switch, or the round rheostat switch that hangs down from the dash. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Jimmie, It is a paddle switch mounted under the dash. Look at step 6 and look at the next page. Tim | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 428 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 428 | Tim, Thanks for the info. I have the after market switch that hangs down, and it just never looked right to me. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 | so tc - is it a multispeed switch via resistors? | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | A lot of folks used a rheostat switch to get more speed control. My 55.1 panel had one of these.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion. Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | The switch would be a three position two speed switch, with a off/hi/lo position. On the low speed the voltage dropping resistor would be in the circuit and it will get quit hot. Denny G
Denny G Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 | thanks tc - i've read that mounting a separate resistor 'pod' in the air stream, vs a switch with integral resistors, helps to cool the resistors which makes them last longer
hmmm, a rheostat - completely variable speeds. does it have an off position? | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | hmmm, a rheostat - completely variable speeds. does it have an off position? Yes. First position off of the OFF detente is the highest speed. The farther you turn it the slower the fan speed.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion. Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 | interesting - i like that. i wonder if they're long lasting considering the higher amps of a motor, vs low amp dash lights | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | The one on my panel was almost 20 years old and worked fine. They are made for that application. I don't know if the new ones are the same but the one on my panel had a light inside the knob that got dimmer as the speed went down.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion. Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 14 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 14 | The original Delco Remy paddle switches were used on many GM applications from the late 30's to the mid 50's. They work quite well on the original 6 volt systems but,not so well on systems that have been converted to 12 volts. There are still alot of good used & NOS ones out there. http://members.cox.net/mothertruckeraz/heaterswitches.JPG | | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 | light inside the knob that got dimmer - which makes sense as voltage dropped | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 428 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 428 | I didn't intend to spark a new new debate over paddle vs resistor switches. My switch gets warm, but not hot. The motor is a single speed, so I think it is either on or off. I appreciate everybodys input here. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | I don't profess to be an expert but I believe all motors are single speed, it's the switching that determines the speed by how much current is sent to the motor. If I'm wrong someone will point it out I'm sure. 
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion. Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 431 | yes - switching/how many resistors/total resistance are in the circuit | | |
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