Bad Brake Light Switch?

[blown240]

Is it possible for a brakelight switch to blow fuses? On my buddies 50 Shoebox if I jump the 2 brakelight switch wires together with a piece of wire, the lights work fine. But if they are plugged into the switch and you hit the brakes, the fuse blows.

To me that says bad switch, but I have never seen one. If it matters, he is using a dome light switch from a Volvo 240 as his brake light switch.

Thoughts? Also, it seems like brake lights should be on a 20 amp fuse. He is running a 15 even though its all 12-14 gauge wire.

[Mr48chev]

Sounds like the switch is shorting out inside. I well understand the use what ya got theory but I think I'd install a brake light switch designed to work with brake lights.
The door switches are designed to work a couple of times a day when you get in and out while the brake light switches are designed to work on a regular on and off basis.

[blown240]

Thanks. I went and got a brake light switch for it. The guy at the part store had a good point that I never thought about. Alot of door jam switches, even the ones with 2 pins, are grounding switches. That would explain the blown fuses.