Date:         Fri, 4 Oct 2002 20:22:06 EDT
Reply-To:     Willolyn99@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Marshall <Willolyn99@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Actually trying something I learned from the list
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi All!
       I tried an experiment to see if all the stuff I've heard on the list
is a bunch of hooey.  My driving light were destroyed by my wife, who was
towing the van with her Jeep and had to sprint out from a stop sign, which
snapped the rope, which whipped back and broke my driving lights as well as
my grill.  Nice.  Thanks, sweetie.
       So, I got some new lights, and decided to try something.  I got a
cheap relay from Radidio Shack, some wire, and some connectors, and decided
to try the whole "relay" thing.
       I've read about it a bunch of times, on various web pages, but I
thought I might try it on a non-necessary system.  I already had the crappy
20-gauge wire from the previous switch I installed, and it had power.  So, I
used IT to trigger the relay.  The big power for the relay was from a set of
16 gauge wires I ran from the + and - of the battery.  The output to the
lights was also 16 gauge, + and -, to each light.  I hooked it all up, with
the bumper laying on the driveway, and it worked!  Alleluia!  Blessed be!
       I riveted the little black box (holding the relay) to the foot wall
(fire wall just doesn't seem right), and set the grounds all together with a
screw to the footwall.  And it still works!  Happy Happy!  Now, even using
the shitty little switch I had previously installed, there is a satisfying
CLICK and the driving lights come on.  Woo-Hoo!
       Now, I feel I understand the whole concept of the relay.  Soon, I may
even try it on my real headlights.  And, I may even get one of those $15
switches they sell and make it a legitimate driving light install.  Yippee!

Thanks again to all the listees who have tread before me in the field of the
relay.

Bill Marshall
85 GL Tiico "Pandora's Box"
Bradenton FL