Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Are these slider Dome Light switches found in a 1940 Super 8 180?

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Yes, they are. -> This way, please. Additional information -> there.

These are on my 1940 Super.

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Switch

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Just by memory the switches in post #1 look, except for color, the same as used in 22nd and 23rd series cars. Those switches at least in Custom 8s were ivory in color, same as steering wheels, hood latch handles, gearshift handle knob, etc.

I don't have schematics that show more than rudimentary circuits for prewar dome lights but somewhere Packard made a change electrically. I think it might have started with the Clipper and carried over on the other 42 models and then all postwar. Before buying any switches it would be good to determine what your car needs and exactly what configuration the switches offered for sale might be.

On most of the prewar models they show a feed for dome lights coming from the license light feed. From past comments by owners of those cars the pillar and door opening switches have two terminals and interrupts the voltage to turn the light on or off. The light bulb sockets are grounded.

On other models -- notably the Clipper and what appears to be all 42 models -- the feed comes from a fuse on the headlight switch and on several models goes directly to the dome lights with the ground side being interrupted by pillar and door switches wired in parallel. Those pillar switches are single terminal with one of the mounting screws providing a ground to the other terminal of the switch.

If the switches for sale are the single terminal plastic base switches that were used on postwar Clipper body styles thru 50, for sure they would not work to interrupt the voltage on prewar cars. If they are two terminal switches then they would be OK for all since they could be made to work with either the ground or voltage side.