Light Switch Connected to the Regulator

[Mytwojeeps2020]

Hi, folks.

This question regards my '61 CJ5.

On the electrical diagram for my serial number Jeep (in my service manual it's on page 128, Figure 146), it shows a wire going from the light switch to the voltage regulator.

Does anyone know what this wire is for?

I recently converted to a single wire alternator and removed the generator and regulator, but I don't recall seeing any wire going to the light switch.

Everything is working fine, except that my taillights aren't working - in tracing down that issue, I saw the switch-regulator wire.

Thanks!

[Rus Curtis]

M2J,
I follow the wires from the battery.  When doing that, I see the + cable first go to the solenoid on top of the starter.  Connected to that same post, it goes to that terminal on the voltage regulator and then it travels to the light switch.  So my interpretation of that wire is it's the hot wire from the battery that connects to the circuit breaker on the back of the light switch.  From that light switch post, you can follow it to both the horn and the ignition switch.

[Mytwojeeps2020]

Russ,

I guess I as just wondering why my light switch had two power sources: one from the regulator, the other from the ignition switch.

I’m not having any problem, but I was just wondering what that regulator-to-light switch did/does.

[Rus Curtis]

Russ,

I guess I as just wondering why my light switch had two power sources: one from the regulator, the other from the ignition switch.

I’m not having any problem, but I was just wondering what that regulator-to-light switch did/does.

I needed to copy/paste to read. 

I'll say the short answer is, it should have only one power source.  If it had more than one, the electrical flow will find the shortest/easiest path.  I suspect if there are duplicate wirings, one may not actually be doing anything.  Your circuit may have been rerouted. 

That wire from the regulator to the light switch may not have been there when you got to fixing things.  A PO may have rerouted the wires for you. 

What I initially described was how it should look - if you still had the gen/regulator - my mistake.  Of course, what you have now may look different.  I looked at a wiring diagram that had an alternator, SM-1046 Fig H-6 LATE V6 pg 179, and it still shows a wire travelling the same route but sharing a terminal on the alternator, meaning the light switch receives the power first before the ignition switch. 

What you have will determine how the wires run.

My interpretation of why it goes to the light switch first before the ignition is this:  Whether you have the key in the ignition or whether it's turned to OFF, ACC, RUN or START, you want to have the ability to power the brake lights, flashers and horn.  Plus, it travels through that Circuit Breaker on the back of the switch before the ignition switch receives power. 

I looked to see if there was any guidance on the article about installing alternators on the CJ3B Page.  Nothing that would cover this.  But I did find some information on the article about replacing the wiring harness:

https://cj3b.info/Tech/WiringHarness.html


These examples suggest variations.  There may be ways to route the hot wire to the switch first.  My preference would still be to have the ability for lights/flashers and horn to work with or without a key.

Hope that removes some of the confusion I caused.

[Mytwojeeps2020]

Hi, Rus. No, no confusion. What you wrote was what I needed in order to understand how all this works, and why.
Thanks!