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Date:         Wed, 4 Jun 2003 14:55:06 -0400
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: Lighting Upgrades - Relayed?
Comments: To: jon <jon@KENNEKE.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.LNX.4.44.0306041032050.1773-100000@kenneke.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Wed, 4 Jun 2003, jon wrote:

> With all this talk of "relaying" headlights, I have a couple of questions. > My 1983 diesel vanagon has a "power shortage" in the front of the van. The > lights dim when the fan comes on, the stereo freaks out sometimes when the > head lights are on, etc. >

I have this exact problem in my '82. I'll try to remember to share anything I come up with with you, and I'd appreciate it if you'd do the same. :)

I'd initially blamed poor grounding, but that seems to be only a small part of the problem. I connected a digital voltmeter between the negative battery post and the shell of the cigarette lighter (the handiest ground point on the dash). I got about 0.30 volts difference with the headlights and blower fan on -- more than I'd like, but only about a third of the total drop I'm seeing. I plan to try cleaning the main wiring connections on the back of the fuse panel to see if that helps.

I have a voltmeter wired into one of the switched circuits up front, and with the headlights on I lose about a volt...brake lights cost me about half a volt...turn signals another half volt when they're lit...radiator fan is another volt... Clearly this is just intolerable. I plan to clean and tighten all the stock connections first (it can't have been this bad from the factory, can it?) and then perhaps start using a seperate, heavy-gauge wire and relayed circuits for the high-drain stuff.

> 1) Why relay? Does the light switch not handle enough current? Or, is this > a relay that controls a seperate power line to the headlights?

Yes, and yes. :)

> 2) Would install another (or thicker) power wire to the front solve this > voltage drop problem? (Yeah, I could use the wire resistance tables, > length, and total current draw to figure out the voltage drop with Ohms > law...but it's more fun to ask the list > :-) )

That's in my plans eventually, but I suspect most of the voltage drop I'm seeing is at connectors, not in the wire itself. It can't hurt, though, since VW seems to use wire about one size smaller than I'd usually consider prudent for everything. Ever noticed that skinny little wire in the engine compartment they figure is good for the 48-amp glowplug circuit? ;)

David Brodbeck, N8SRE '82 Diesel Westfalia '94 Honda Civic Si


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