Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 16:12:09 +0200
Reply-To: Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Subject: Re: Headlights
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi,
For the 100/80 Watt bulbs you will need of course the European H4 housings,
and a wiring upgrade to thick and juicy wire (all over, meaning to and from
the relays/bulbs, as well as grounds... no need for fat wires to carry the
swicth current to the relay though).
The 30 amp relays will be fine... I have this same set up, and have a relay
for high beams, one for low beams, one for front fogs, and one for rear fogs
(4 total) all with the relay holders, mounted to the lower left of the
clutch pedal on the chassis.... have not had a problem in over 6 months of
use.
The relays to get are the ones with two leads out for the lights.. then you
run a seperate wire to the left and right low beam, and 2 wires to the high
beams etc... works great.
Be certain that every step of your wiring upgrade is fused correctly... it
is easier to install a fuse now, than to deal with a krispy wiring harness
later. I also put a big 50 amp fuse between the battery and the fusable
link junction box. In the junction box, I have 6 available leads for power,
4 of these power the various lights (through the relays) and one the steroe
amp. In the fusable link, I have lower amperage fuses for each power out...
30 amp I believe.
Be certain that you wire things up so that you do not lose your blue high
beam indicator lamp... as it is a good thing to have (especially when
driving with dual 100 watt bulbs!!).
Some of the offroad bulbs have an additional little metal tab on the bulb,
making it seem that they will not fit in the stock holders... this can be
clipped off with a small tinsnips, or filed away. If your lights are
adjusted correctly you should have no problem.. if not, EVERYONE ELSE will
have a problem, which of course could result in a head on collision... so
take the adjustment seriously!
Regarding the different bulb manufacturers... I have no experience there...
but I just bought the cheapest no-name H4 100/80 bulbs, and believe me,
combined with the extra juice from the wiring upgrade, and the extra
wattage... you WILL have enough light!!
Good luck!
RSF
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<º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{
Robert S. Fish
Salzburg, Austria
1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender
1987 Golf Cabriolet
1991 Golf
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank Condelli" <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 12:24 PM
Subject: Headlights
Couple of things here about Vanagon headlamp upgrades. First, is a
40
amp relay preferable over a 30 amp relay using the stock headlight bulbs on
a
square headlighted Vanagon ? Second, I have found 100/80 watt, XENON WHITE,
9004 bulbs by LIGHT GLOW @ $27.71 ea. and 100/80 watt, XENON WHITE, 9004
bulbs, by Hella @ $51.95/set of 2, at Canadian Tire (special order
catalogue). Anyone with any experience using these high powered light bulbs
in the square headlighted Vanagon ? Wires need enlarged ? Bulb socket ?
Heat & Plastic problems ? Will the 30 amp relay work with these or is
necessary to use the 40 amp relay ?
Cheers
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW
Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 2003
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A
HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A
HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/">IWCCC</A> & Capital City VW Club
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless
Steel Mufflers</A>
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli &
Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com
