Dash Electrical Sockets

Discussion of TABC-related matters
Post Reply
User avatar
ferricsteed
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2014 5:46 am

Dash Electrical Sockets

Post by ferricsteed » Mon May 01, 2023 4:51 am

I am laughing at myself, total ignoramus. This is for a TB with positive ground.
The two sockets in the dash panel, does the red one go on the left or right hole? Is the red one grounded with continuity to the metal dash panel? Is the red one hooked up to circuit #33 black wire or circuit #13 yellow & black wire?
This brings me to the most basic question concerning positive ground vehicles. Does the ground or earth symbal that looks like an antenna usually have black wires or the red (or brown or yellow with black) connected to it.
I use a micronta voltmeter, red means positive, black means ground. Of course I switch leads to test on a positive ground car but am not sure of the standard protocol (obviously).
Tim Bloomfield
TB0613 almost completed
Louisiana

User avatar
Ray White
Posts: 617
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:22 pm

Re: Dash Electrical Sockets

Post by Ray White » Mon May 01, 2023 10:32 am

I don't know about the TB... but on the + earth TC, the red inspection socket is the live one. It (and the clock) gets it's power directly from the battery via the 'B' terminal on the ammeter and is positioned on the right. The ground is via the panel but it also grounds both the map reading lights with a separate black wire.

User avatar
Tim Jackson
Posts: 107
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2013 8:49 am
Location: Scottish Borders, UK

Re: Dash Electrical Sockets

Post by Tim Jackson » Wed May 03, 2023 7:37 am

Dashboard power sockets: factory photos show TB and early TCs have the black socket on the right. Mid to late TCs have the black socket on the left. I can’t remember the source of this info, possibly Craig Seabrook
https://www.whitworthshop.com/dashboards
1946 TC0999 / XPAG 1638
restore note

User avatar
Ray White
Posts: 617
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:22 pm

Re: Dash Electrical Sockets

Post by Ray White » Wed May 03, 2023 9:10 am

Tim Jackson wrote:
Wed May 03, 2023 7:37 am
Dashboard power sockets: factory photos show TB and early TCs have the black socket on the right. Mid to late TCs have the black socket on the left. I can’t remember the source of this info, possibly Craig Seabrook
https://www.whitworthshop.com/dashboards
I didn't know that...although I did say I didn't know about the TB. I looked it up in Sherrell. He doesn't mention it being different for the early TCs.

User avatar
Rob Reilly
Posts: 352
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2021 2:05 pm
Location: Indiana, USA

Re: Dash Electrical Sockets

Post by Rob Reilly » Thu May 04, 2023 4:49 pm

I'm looking at the TB wiring diagram in the Blower manual. Its a little confusing until you realize it is drawn from the back side, as you would view the wiring laying on your back under the dashboard, map light and speedometer on the right, 30 MPH light on the left, no tach shown at all.

The positive plug socket is on the left in this drawing, so it is really on the right nearer the driver as you sit in the car. It has the #33 Black wire, which is grounded somewhere, and also runs over to provide grounding for the 4 dash lamps. The positive plug socket is the larger internal diameter of the two sockets, and should have the red ring on it.

The smaller internal diameter plug socket is the negative and is on the right in the drawing so really on the left, nearer the passenger. It should have the black ring on it. It has the #13 yellow/black wire running directly to the ammeter B terminal, continuing on to the starter switch, and ultimately to the battery negative.

Standard coloring scheme protocol in the automotive world is Red = positive, Black = negative.

For reasons best known to MG, they put a #33 black wire on this positive socket, and used #1 red wires for the negative to the side lamps and tail lamp. Maybe there was no standard protocol in the 1930s?

If you are going to use these sockets to connect a battery charger, you want to be sure your charger wires have the right size plugs and the larger diameter plug is positive. Moss sells the plug.
Attachments
156-100_1.jpg
156-100_1.jpg (13.32 KiB) Viewed 2638 times
1937 TA 1271

User avatar
Ray White
Posts: 617
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:22 pm

Re: Dash Electrical Sockets

Post by Ray White » Fri May 05, 2023 2:30 am

Personally, I don't like the idea of these 12 volt sockets on the dashboard and have removed them.

i.thomson
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:16 am

Re: Dash Electrical Sockets

Post by i.thomson » Tue May 09, 2023 4:00 am

Don't remove them Ray, Just disconnect them. At least then they will look right.
Ian

User avatar
Ray White
Posts: 617
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2018 2:22 pm

Re: Dash Electrical Sockets

Post by Ray White » Tue May 09, 2023 2:55 pm

i.thomson wrote:
Tue May 09, 2023 4:00 am
Don't remove them Ray, Just disconnect them. At least then they will look right.
Ian
They are long gone. I have a custom dash. My choice.

Post Reply