Jason_Wood@inc.com wrote:
> Questions regarding the Panel Rheostat,or dashboard light dimmer
> switch.
>
> 1) How do you get it off the dashboard?
Jason - You remove the knob from the shaft, then you should be able
to unthread the chrome nut from the body of the rheostat.
> 2) If I have pulled the knob off (shaft and all) have I broken
> it?
Probably. I took apart my old one, and looking at the design, if the
shaft came out of the body, it's ruined, most likely. The knob is held
on by a spring loaded pin on the shaft. If you look at the side of the
knob, you should see a hole into which you can insert a small diameter
punch or a nail and press the pin to release the knob.
> 3) How does this thing work (where does the juice go in? where
> does it
> go out? What happens to it while it is in there?)?
There are two terminals, they are interchangeable. Call one the
gozinta, the other the gozouta. The juice goes in the gozinta, a
portion gets converted to heat by the internal resistance, and the
remainder goes out the gozouta. That goes to the instrument lamps.
> 4) Why is it so expensive to replace?
Because it's Lucas? because it's a poor design inside? Because the
internals are made of Rarium, not yet decayed into Unobtanium? Because
there is low demand for more of these? Take your pick.
> 5) Can I go without it for now and still have headlights and
> dashboard
> lights?
Definitely. After I bought a replacement for my old, locked up
rheostat, I found that I run it at full brightness anyway. The lights
really aren't very bright. So, you would just connect the two wires
together - this would give the same effect as the rheostat at full CW
rotation. Headlights aren't effected by it anyway.
This is what stopped me from designing a solid state 3 terminal
regulator replacement. I was going to incorporate this into the old
shell, but realized that I would never have any need to run the
instruments any dimmer than full brightness, so that project ended.
All of the above apply to my '79B - YMMV.
--
Keep on keepin' on!
(non illegitimus carborundus)
Wayne Kube 1979 MGB
Plano, TX http://web2.airmail.net/wkube
Texas MG Register http://www.tmgr.org
NAMGBR UK Site http://www.mgcars.org.uk/namgbr
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