[6pack] Ruining rheostats

[John Mitchell]

    I've gone thru 3 rheostats for the dash lights in the last year, so 
I jumpered the wires last night.  It lasted several minutes before the 
fuse blew.  What in the red to red/white circuit should I be looking for 
as the culprit?  Thanks very much,  John Mitchell  76 TR6