The Ford Barn

benbuilder · 06-07-2025, 04:24 PM

I just got a truck with no signal lights.
no cowl lights. 6 volt, positive ground.
I bought some motorcycle 6 volt lights to use as signal lights.
I bought this aftermarket switch to install from speedway 910-62860.
I intend to use signal lights independent of the brake light. So no connection to the factory harness.
My question is. Do i connect the RED to the positive of the battery or the negative of the battery?
The second image shows it going to the + of the battery. but this may be for a negative ground application?
I have spent hours on line looking.

I know, stupid question.

meteorgray · 06-07-2025, 04:28 PM

I would connect the red power feed to the negative battery post.

mercman from oz · 06-07-2025, 04:32 PM

nkaminar · 06-07-2025, 07:18 PM

Since this will be a completely independent system, run the red lead to the positive side of the battery and the ground to the negative side of the battery. The problem is going to be that you will have to run separate grounds for the lights and connect those to the negative side of the turn indicators. You will have to isolate the light by using a sheet of rubber or other insulating material and nylon bolts.

The flasher is the part of the turn indicator system that may be polarity sensitive. If you run the red (+) lead to the negative side of the battery then you could reverse the X and L terminals of the flasher. Get a spare flasher in case you burn out one. The other parts of the system that may be polarity sensitive are the lights. If they are LED's they will not work with reverse polarity.

Clarification: If the flasher is electronic it will be polarity sensitive.

You can change the polarity of your car quite easily. The only thing that will care is the generator. You can fix that by sparking the generator terminal with a wire run from the terminal on the starter switch. But if you have the electronic cutout you will have to change that out to the correct polarity.

benbuilder · 06-07-2025, 08:32 PM

The flasher is the part of the turn indicator system that may be polarity sensitive. If you run the red (+) lead to the negative side of the battery then you could reverse the X and L terminals of the flasher. Get a spare flasher in case you burn out one. The other parts of the system that may be polarity sensitive are the lights. If they are LED's they will not work with reverse polarity.

THIS IS, IN MY OPINION THE BEST WAY TO GO. THEY ARE NOT LEDS. AND I WILL ORDER AN ADDITIONAL FLASHER

THANKS

Kurt in NJ · 06-07-2025, 08:49 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I bought lights that flash without a flasher they flash sequentially too.
I am using them on the model T — front have parking and turn,rear have brake parking and turn—- originally just kerosene and no brake lights
under 20$ a pair of.

ModelA29 · 06-07-2025, 10:58 PM

The system should work by just hooking the + lead to the - terminal on the car. LEDs are polarity sensitive but not filament bulbs. The flasher shouldn't be polarity sensitive either. It has a bimetal strip in it with contacts. As the current flows through it it gets hot and warps breaking the contact. It then cools and makes contact again - making the lights flash. LEDs do not draw enough current to heat the strip which is why you need to use an electronic flasher with LEDs.
You won't even need to wire it through the ignition switch since it will only draw current when the stalk is moved for R or L turn.

ModelA29 · 06-07-2025, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

I bought lights that flash without a flasher they flash sequentially too.
I am using them on the model T — front have parking and turn,rear have brake parking and turn—- originally just kerosene and no brake lights
under 20$ a pair of.

Were they LED 6V + ground? I've only been able to find 12V - ground ones.

Badpuppy · 06-08-2025, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModelA29

The system should work by just hooking the + lead to the - terminal on the car. LEDs are polarity sensitive but not filament bulbs. The flasher shouldn't be polarity sensitive either. It has a bimetal strip in it with contacts. As the current flows through it it gets hot and warps breaking the contact. It then cools and makes contact again - making the lights flash. LEDs do not draw enough current to heat the strip which is why you need to use an electronic flasher with LEDs.
You won't even need to wire it through the ignition switch since it will only draw current when the stalk is moved for R or L turn.

Caveat - Most flashers these days are made with a transistor inside making them polarity sensitive. 99% are negative ground only and won't work with positive ground. Check the vendors for the proper flasher to use without isolating the bulb sockets.

Here's one -https://vintageautogarage.com/6-volt-flasher-110252/?searchid=1418407&search_query=535+flasher

Ayers1 · 06-08-2025, 08:19 PM

The instructions are telling you to hook to the "hot" side of the battery. In this case it is the negative side. If you have LEDs, you will need to get an electronic 6volt, positive ground flasher. I bought mine earlier this year from Snyders. It should work fine.

benbuilder · 06-21-2025, 07:17 AM

I think i need some help. I am going backwards. I feel so stupid. I should know better.
6 volt positive ground truck.
I started to install signal lights in the car.
I have a double pole switch to go left/off/right. This is installed.
I installed two rear 6 volt lights to be used as signal lights.
I did not install the fronts yet.
I have a fuse at the battery. Fuse was removed.
I ran the positive lead from the signal lights to the switch.
I grounded the base of the signal lights to a good ground.
I was going to test my work so far.
I had the feed to the signal switch in my had and was going to ground it or i did ground it, i dont know. But the second i installed the fuse it burned out. I quickly removed it.
I disconnected all my work and installed a fuse. I have power on one side of the fuse but not on the other.
i have tried 3 fuses.
Any thoughts on getting power back?
I can worry about the signal lights after

benbuilder · 06-21-2025, 09:19 AM

I disconnected many wires and slowly started to put them back on line and came to the alternator that is probably bad. all other wires connected do not blow a fuse. when i put the alt on line the wire sparks and i am sure wants to blow a fuse.

I will replace that then start over

nkaminar · 06-21-2025, 11:16 AM

Good find. Well done. You get the electrical engineer gold badge.

06-07-2025, 04:28 PM	#2
meteorgray Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: new jersey Posts: 43	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question I would connect the red power feed to the negative battery post.

06-07-2025, 04:32 PM	#3
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 12,009	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question

06-07-2025, 07:18 PM	#4
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,855	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question Since this will be a completely independent system, run the red lead to the positive side of the battery and the ground to the negative side of the battery. The problem is going to be that you will have to run separate grounds for the lights and connect those to the negative side of the turn indicators. You will have to isolate the light by using a sheet of rubber or other insulating material and nylon bolts. The flasher is the part of the turn indicator system that may be polarity sensitive. If you run the red (+) lead to the negative side of the battery then you could reverse the X and L terminals of the flasher. Get a spare flasher in case you burn out one. The other parts of the system that may be polarity sensitive are the lights. If they are LED's they will not work with reverse polarity. Clarification: If the flasher is electronic it will be polarity sensitive. You can change the polarity of your car quite easily. The only thing that will care is the generator. You can fix that by sparking the generator terminal with a wire run from the terminal on the starter switch. But if you have the electronic cutout you will have to change that out to the correct polarity. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 06-08-2025 at 07:32 AM.

06-07-2025, 08:32 PM	#5
benbuilder Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 98	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question The flasher is the part of the turn indicator system that may be polarity sensitive. If you run the red (+) lead to the negative side of the battery then you could reverse the X and L terminals of the flasher. Get a spare flasher in case you burn out one. The other parts of the system that may be polarity sensitive are the lights. If they are LED's they will not work with reverse polarity. THIS IS, IN MY OPINION THE BEST WAY TO GO. THEY ARE NOT LEDS. AND I WILL ORDER AN ADDITIONAL FLASHER THANKS

06-07-2025, 08:49 PM	#6
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,554	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I bought lights that flash without a flasher they flash sequentially too. I am using them on the model T — front have parking and turn,rear have brake parking and turn—- originally just kerosene and no brake lights under 20$ a pair of.

06-07-2025, 10:58 PM	#7
ModelA29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,152	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question The system should work by just hooking the + lead to the - terminal on the car. LEDs are polarity sensitive but not filament bulbs. The flasher shouldn't be polarity sensitive either. It has a bimetal strip in it with contacts. As the current flows through it it gets hot and warps breaking the contact. It then cools and makes contact again - making the lights flash. LEDs do not draw enough current to heat the strip which is why you need to use an electronic flasher with LEDs. You won't even need to wire it through the ignition switch since it will only draw current when the stalk is moved for R or L turn.

06-08-2025, 08:19 PM	#10
Ayers1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Waynesboro Va. Posts: 505	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question The instructions are telling you to hook to the "hot" side of the battery. In this case it is the negative side. If you have LEDs, you will need to get an electronic 6volt, positive ground flasher. I bought mine earlier this year from Snyders. It should work fine. __________________ Steve, Proud owner of 28 Fordor, been in family since 63 30 Tudor 31 S/W Town Sedan Skyline Chapter MAFCA, MARC

06-21-2025, 07:17 AM	#11
benbuilder Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 98	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question I think i need some help. I am going backwards. I feel so stupid. I should know better. 6 volt positive ground truck. I started to install signal lights in the car. I have a double pole switch to go left/off/right. This is installed. I installed two rear 6 volt lights to be used as signal lights. I did not install the fronts yet. I have a fuse at the battery. Fuse was removed. I ran the positive lead from the signal lights to the switch. I grounded the base of the signal lights to a good ground. I was going to test my work so far. I had the feed to the signal switch in my had and was going to ground it or i did ground it, i dont know. But the second i installed the fuse it burned out. I quickly removed it. I disconnected all my work and installed a fuse. I have power on one side of the fuse but not on the other. i have tried 3 fuses. Any thoughts on getting power back? I can worry about the signal lights after Last edited by benbuilder; 06-21-2025 at 07:35 AM.

06-21-2025, 09:19 AM	#12
benbuilder Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 98	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question I disconnected many wires and slowly started to put them back on line and came to the alternator that is probably bad. all other wires connected do not blow a fuse. when i put the alt on line the wire sparks and i am sure wants to blow a fuse. I will replace that then start over

06-21-2025, 11:16 AM	#13
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,855	Re: 6 volt positive ground signal light question Good find. Well done. You get the electrical engineer gold badge. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.