C1 '54 Wonderbar Wiring

[Robert S.]

It seems Bubba helped install my radio Although my radio works well, I thought the on/off switch might be bad because the power to radio doesn't seem to turn off. While I can hear the on/off switch click when turned fully counter-clockwise, I still hear what sounds like a tube or vibrator humming even with the switch in the off position. Also, the dial light wasn't working.

So I removed the radio today and found the fused power line is entering the right side (tuner side)of the radio (not to the on/off switch), the wire going to the spark plate is disconnected, and the dial lamp wire is spliced into another dash light wire.

I've included a pic of the on/off switch which shows a soldered terminal without any wire attached and the loose brown wire coming of the spark plate. When I connected an ohm meter to the soldered terminal and the loose wire from the spark plate, turning the on/off switch opens and break continuity.

Can anyone explain the correct way to wire on/off switch, spark plate and where to reconnect dial lamp wire?

TIA
ps. sorry for rambling on!

[Robert S.]

Re: C1 '54 Wonderbar Wiring

Gee...lots of lookers but no radio experts that can give me some guidance? Please, please

[Joe R.]

Re: C1 '54 Wonderbar Wiring

Bob, it's probably best that you get the Wonderbar Radio service book from NCRS. I have one and it helped me to troubleshoot the 6V Wonderbar Vibrator unit in my 54. I think it was only 5 bucks or so.

Joe

[Robert S.]

Re: C1 '54 Wonderbar Wiring

Joe, I have the Wonderbar service book and it is a great reference, but its been over 30 years since learning to read schematics :/ While I'm fairly confident about how it should be wired I was hoping I could confirm my thoughts with some expert advise from the forum. Thanks for the reply, Bob

[Robert S.]

Re: C1 '54 Wonderbar Wiring Problem Solved

Thought I'd share my experience with other forum members. Found a bad solder joint on the spark plate (normal 6v imput source) for the wire that goes to the on/off switch. Bubba probably thought the switch was bad so he disconnected the output transformer wire lead that comes off the on/off switch and wired it directly to a 6v source. Then to get the dial light to work, he wired that to the other gauge lights.

I fixed the bad/poor solder joint on the spark plate, reconnected the output transformer wire and the dial lamp to the on/off switch. Now it works like a normal Wonderbar again