Healey Bj8 [1964] ignition switch

[bobsharel]

Can anyone help with deciphering the connectors on the back of the Healey ignition switch? There are six connectors (3 of which are doubled), leaving one single, The single has a white wire with red stripe, 2 white wires on the next doubled connector going counter clockwise as you look at the back of the switch, one brown wir on the next double connector (again going counter clockwise) and no wires on the final double connector.

I would like to know which connector I should use on the switch for an accessory function. Any ideas? The wiring diagram in the Haynes manual is pretty obscure.

Thanks in advance

 

[Keoke]

Bob there are only three positions on the switch: OFF,RUN and Start. As a general rule White wires are Switched power on.---Fwiw---Keoke

 

[tahoe healey]

Don't forget the accessories only work with the battery switch on all the time. Other wise I'd have a clock. Just my two cents.

 

[Keoke]

DearTH, Just put a small bypass fuse around the open ground circuit and you can have der clock too. Or get an eight day wind up and mount it in the chubby box door---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[tahoe healey]

That would mean I'd get to drive once every eight days.
Actually I was thinking of putting it where the radio speaker goes along with an ammeter. I saw someone with that on this sight. Smith clock is easy. Smith ammeter not so easy.
Getting back to bobsherel...
When you turn the key how many stops do you have? My 64 phase one has only off on and starter. If you have extra posts, do you have an extra stop?

 

[GregW]

Hi Bob,
As Keoke said, the white wire is switched power. The brown is always hot(except when trunk switch is off). The white/red wire makes the starter do it's thing. The wires at the ignition switch are not fused.

 

[bobsharel]

Hi Tahoe Healey:

The ignition switch has two stops in the clockwise direction - on and start. However, have you tried turning it COUNTER clockwise from the vertical (key insertion) position. I have a stop there as well that I assume is an accessory position. Not sure how that relates to the terminals on the switch - that's my problem as all radios/CD players etc available now have a wire for power and a wire for accessory. Worst case I can wire the two into the fuse box and bypass the 'accessory' issue (which, as have already stated I'm currently - no pun intended - in the dark about.

Thanks for your response and would appreciate any further input.

Bob

 

[GregW]

Hi Bob,
If it’s a radio you’re installing, my question would be is your car still positive ground?

 

[Keoke]

Hi Bob, To the best of my knowledge the standard BJ8 ignition switch does not have a stop in the reverse direction. If yours does a simple light bulb test should tell you if a terminal on the switch is hot when the switch is in that position other than the brown wired one.If so it could be used for an accessory. However there is a wire behind the dash for connecting a radio if required.---Fwiw---Keoke