Power into doors
 

I am putting electric locks on the Altman latches and would like to run a door switch activated courtesy light.

I was wondering what others are using?

Re: Power into doors
 

for the power into the door or how to mount the door switches?
i have both documented in my build

Re: Power into doors
 

Thanks Ogre. I will look for it in your thread.

Re: Power into doors
 

Robert, the door switches for courtesy lights are just grounds as I'm sure you know..
You can use wadded up tinfoil in the door jams to determine how much space is there with the door shut...once you establish how much room you have you will know if a standard switch will fit..
If you wanted it mounted like a square body truck that is...
we used this method on a buddy's truck that didnt have the switches...once we found a suitable spot it was fairly easy...we used squarebody switches and mounted them to the door post...you could mount them to the door as well since you already have a wire bundle going into the door

Once I get the doors hung on the IH I'll be doing the same interior light switch

Re: Power into doors
 

When I was in high school autoshop one of the teachers decided he wanted courtesy lights in his pickup and I ended up installing them. That in turn caused two or three of that teacher's friends to want theirs done.

Mongocanfly pretty well nailed it, you need to figure out how much space you have between the door and the post to put the switch in and be able to close the door and also have the switch shut off.

The other thing that can be an issue is running your wires.

Re: Power into doors
 

I thought about putting the pin switches at the back of the door jamb, down low, in that flat part that the door sits against. the wiring would actually run under the cab.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1593221795

the s10 wiring I use has these plastic door pin switches that are two wire, when I tried putting them in the actual jamb the shut angle was too high and they kept breaking. I finally modified them to only stick up just barely so the door wouldnt snap them off. went through a looott of pin switches on that one. :lol:


you can get insulated pin switches that are single wire from older european cars, they mount with a screw. I cant find them right off in a quick search but hit up a good independent car stereo/alarm shop and they will probably have them in stock.

Re: Power into doors
 

Thanks guys for the ideas. I will use the foil trick to see just how much space I have to work with and come up with a plan.

Re: Power into doors
 

the problem with door switches in the jam is at that point the door is moving more "in" than pivoting close. i tried door pins in the jams before in this truk, the door pins worked a few times until the paint got roughed up, then they bent over as the door closed. my door pin brackets fixed that problem. they're easy to install in a finished truck, mine have been in use for 40,000 miles

Re: Power into doors
 

vehicle security systems also run the square body style switches under the hood for example. they may have a kit with brackets etc included which could work. some come with nuts on the threaded part so adjustments can be made.
example below. some units have dimensions in their ad.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-pcs-Unive...-/123152480661

Re: Power into doors
 

https://www.johnnylawmotors.com/cata...ibute-115=1442

I'm looking at these for door contact switches. I've never used them and don't know much about them. They only need about 6mm of room and with the large base contact they should slide a little as the door opens or closes.

I looked at the one Ogre built, and I'd love to have that ability, but I'm being realistic, I still haven't mastered drilling a hole in the right place.

Re: Power into doors
 

Those look slick Robert

Re: Power into doors
 

Thanks Greg. That gives me confidence that they may work, so I'll try them and let you know.

Re: Power into doors
 

those should work. they look like they need a good sized hole cut though, possibly square to accommodate the housing of the switch, so ensure you pick a spot that won't affect the integrity of the surrounding area strength. the spot where mr48 suggests might be a good one if the switch is waterproof.
could you also possibly use a magnetically operated switch similar to a window or door switch used for alarm systems? no contact needed just close proximity. I know we have used them in our fire apparatus for locker doors etc. possibly a cabinet lighting switch? just spitballing here.

Re: Power into doors
 

Raven, I don't know anything about the switches you mentioned. I would rather not cut into the metal, but I haven't found an automotive switch that would keep me from doing that.

I was hoping others would share what they did, I know I'm not the first to do electric door locks or windows. I got one of the stainless tube door to frame looms, but it will not work with the 48 door because of the way it swings.

Ogre's build has a a unit that he built that will work, but I don't know how to build it.

So come Monday, I think I'll call the seller and ask some questions about the ones I posted to see if I want to try them.

In the mean time, if there are more ideas, I'm open. I'm putting stuff on the truck in a test fit, making sure all the holes are in the right places and that I can get it all together, so I have some time.

Re: Power into doors
 

I guess it all depends on where you mount them for weathering the elements. an original door switch for, say, a square body would be mounted inside the weather seal on the door or would have a rubber bellows seal around the exterior push pin part so it wouldn't see water etc with the door closed. some newer style switches are mounted outside the weather seal but are waterproof on that side of the switch with the wiring being inside the vehicle. scroll through the video here till it shows the actual switch for a ford and how it is sealed outside but has the wiring inside the cab. it is a lot like the ones you pictured but has a large hole compared to some of the older style stuff with a smaller threaded hole in the actual jamb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KR0HeS6-7k

here is a site that shows a few different automotive style push pin switches

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...546044611.html

some will have 2 wires which normally means the switch is not grounded so one wire would go to ground and the other would go to the light.

here is one from an 06 Colorado. not sure on the electrical connection but possibly you could find one that is weatherproof on the connector. then a spot like the one suggested by mr48 would work well because it is a more straight on hit when the door closes and no wiring needs to go through a hinge point.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...%2F%2B4A%3D%3D

Re: Power into doors
 

I used simple switches in the door jamb wired using the MAD schematic. The courtesy lights are mounted under the dash at each corner. The dome and courtesy lights come on automatically when a door is opened or the dome is turned on with the headlight switch.

Lower on the jamb is the spring loaded contact for the door solenoids.