Info about switches, relays.

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Kent Hogseth
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Info about switches, relays.

#1 Post by Kent Hogseth »

Hi. I'm new to this forum and i have a 54 1500 that i try to collect parts for. Trying to
get the dach and electric correct, but i struggle to find info about the switches and relays.
Mine have most changed to newer switches. So my question is. Do anyone have pics/info the switches and relays thats on a 54 mod..?

Regards, Kent

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Donald Zingg
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#2 Post by Donald Zingg »

Hi Kent,

Welcome aboard!
Your 1954 P-356 - - - which body style? Chassis number??
Coupe, Cabriolet, Speedster?
Some body styles might have more (or fewer) electrical components than others on the dashboard.

FYI - in 1954, all Porsche 356 models were equipped with:
push button starter motor switch
two-position On/Off ignition switch
two-position headlight switch w/rheostat to dim the instrument lights
foot-controlled headlight dimmer switch on the pedal panel
non-self-cancelling turn signal switch w/ built-in indicator light on the steering column
accessory power outlet on the lower edge of the dashboard
switch for the w/s wipers inside the motor housing controlled via Bowden cable at the dashboard
push button on the steering wheel that triggers a relay powering the horns
three warning lights - red (generator), green (oil pres.), blue (high beam)

Accessory electrical equipment on the dash might also include:
cigarette lighter
map light
switch for fog lights
radio receiver/ tuner (w/ remote power supply)

Accessory headlight flasher relay triggered by button on steering wheel
and maybe a couple more things that elude my memory - - -

Just to get the ball rolling here are some photos of the OEM turn signal switch for your reference - -
Attachments
turn signal sw1e.jpg
turn signal sw1c.jpg
turn signal sw1b.jpg
turn signal sw1a.jpg

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Donald Zingg
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#3 Post by Donald Zingg »

And - - - the headlight switch and dimmer switch - -
Attachments
headlight switch1.jpg
headlight switch1.jpg (24.57 KiB) Viewed 4877 times
headlight switch2.jpg
headlight switch2.jpg (30.69 KiB) Viewed 4877 times
headlight switch4.jpg
headlight switch4.jpg (47.28 KiB) Viewed 4877 times
dimmer switch1.jpg
dimmer switch2.jpg

Kent Hogseth
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#4 Post by Kent Hogseth »

Tanks for the reply.. Keep them comming :D
Mine is a coupe with number 52275 if i remember correct.

Anyone that know where i can get the oil temp gauge fixed? Missing the wire..

Kent
Last edited by Kent Hogseth on Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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James Davies
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#5 Post by James Davies »

Hi Kent,

Mats Carlsson posted some nice period photos of coupe 52280 (also out of Sweden) here

viewtopic.php?p=207016#p207016

showing car as it was new. You can see the dash layout, the unique mid-'54 gear shift knob, etc.

For more detail on the dash, this 1954 Super coupe below, chassis 52546, is a very good representation.

Nice photos of the headlight switch Don. Do you know who made this for Porsche? This is the one used mid-1954 to 1955 with the dash dimmer on a rheostat too, right?
Attachments
1017574.jpg

Kent Hogseth
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#6 Post by Kent Hogseth »

Nice pics with lots of info, but mostly looking for what you not see :D
Find lots of stuff for sale, but some of this stuff is not pre a or even Porsche so that why i ask here. But see now that my dimmer switch and my blinkers arm is correct.. Looks like the shifterknob is correct also... But missing lots of stuff..

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Donald Zingg
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#7 Post by Donald Zingg »

Hi James,

Yes, the 1954 -55 headlight switch has a rheostat to control the brightness of the instrument lights.
The switch with the "K" symbol probably was supplied by Kirsten, same supplier of the three warning lights on the dash.
I have also seen the identical light switch where the "K" appears to be ground off - - perhaps another supplier copied the design.

Kent - - - Although not a dashboard electrical component, there is another switch to look for - - the reverse light switch inside the central tunnel. It is similar to the starter push button in size and shape. The button is black and usually has the Bosch logo on the center of the button, unless it has been worn away after decades of service.


--------------
Attachments
reverse switch356-1.jpg
reverse switch356-1.jpg (80.65 KiB) Viewed 4829 times
reverse switch356-2.jpg
reverse switch356-2.jpg (71.86 KiB) Viewed 4829 times

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Greg Bryan
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#8 Post by Greg Bryan »

Donald - great pictures - thanks for posting!
Greg Bryan

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Greg Bryan
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#9 Post by Greg Bryan »

Kent - regarding your temp gauge, I believe it was originally a capillary tube, not electrically driven. I'm sure there's someone out there that repairs them ...
Greg Bryan

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Donald Zingg
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#10 Post by Donald Zingg »

Kent,

For your reference here are some photos of an ignition switch for '54 - '55 cars, and the starter push button.
Thanks to Chuck House for the last photo - - -

- - - - -
Attachments
ign. switch 1954-55b.jpg
ign. switch 1954-55f.jpg
ign. switch 1954-55c.jpg
ign. switch 1954-55d.jpg
ign. switch 1954-55e.jpg
starter button3.jpg
starter button2.jpg
starter button5.JPG

Kent Hogseth
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#11 Post by Kent Hogseth »

Again tanks.. Have the correct ignition switch, but missing the small thin back part of it. Should be possible to make..
Do you have any pics of the relays for the car? And do anyone know if the relays and switches where used on other cars than Porsche?

Regards, Kent

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James Davies
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#12 Post by James Davies »

More photos below of the Bosch reverse light switch that goes in the tunnel.

The Bosch horn relay with 4 terminals is mounted at the passenger's knees. Photo below.

The blinker relay from my '53 is pictured below. It is a Hella. I think this was the same one for 1954? In 1954, cars have the fuse block centrally-mounted under the dash, so the blinker relay goes up behind the ignition switch. I also believe an SWF one was available by '55. I just don't know if/when there was a transition date.
Attachments
reverse light switch
reverse light switch
reverse light switch
reverse light switch
horn relay
horn relay
1953 blinker relay
1953 blinker relay

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James Davies
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#13 Post by James Davies »

Don, thanks for the info on the '54-55 headlight switch being made by Kirsten. Kirsten Elektrotech made lots of other electrical components for pre-A Porsches:

- push button starter
- turn signal switch mounted on top of the dash center (for 1950-52 split-window cars)
- door contact switches for interior lights
- fuse box itself

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Donald Zingg
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#14 Post by Donald Zingg »

Kent,

The (Bosch SH/SE 11/1) 6 volt horn relay shown in James' photo is normally the only relay called for in the 1954 P-356 dashboard electrical plan. You will find one currently listed on eBay - -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291608298440?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

P-356 cars equipped with optional headlight flasher had an additional relay similar in appearance to the horn relay. That extra relay was mounted next to the horn relay.

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Donald Zingg
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Re: Info about switches, relays.

#15 Post by Donald Zingg »

Kent,

If you look at the lower edge of the dashboard on the driver's side hopefully you will find this little socket.
It is a power outlet for 6 volt accessories such as a trouble light - - -


- - - - - - -
Attachments
accessory light     socket1.jpg
accessory light     socket2.jpg

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