Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:12:34 -0800
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Headlight Upgrade: New Circuit and Switch?
In-Reply-To: <4CE196E3.7000103@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Re: stock hi/low control. I should have hauled out Bentley from it's
Westy home and read the diagrams first. I see now how it's an actual
switch at steering column. That's a deal breaker. Ain't gonna install
a foot switch from a '65 OldsmoChrysler to handle the higher load, or
yet another relay so.....
.... my thoughts of a relay-less system are moot. My apologies for not
reading the diagram closely first.
So I need to use relays regardless it seems. Had perused the other
thread with mention of better ground location. Great tip.
Of note, find it interesting that on the '81 gas, #12 wire supplies
the low beam, but hi beam is supplied via #16. Don't hi's take more
juice? Or is this done b/c #16 supplies the hi beam "flash"?
Neil.
On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 12:24 PM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
> Use 2 good quality relays, with mounting tabs. One for low beams, one for
> high beams. Mount them above the glovebox. Control them with a leads from
> the existing low and high wires to the pass side headlight. Power them via a
> direct feed #8 from the battery to a 4 fuse panel mounted next to the
> relays. Ground each headlight right at the headlight buckets.
>
> I have done this a few times and the increase in brightness is substantial.
> This works better than how the various vendor kits though it requires more
> work and more parts.
>
> By the way Neil, there is no stock hi/low relay.
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> neil n wrote:
>>
>> Hi all.
>>
>> Preface: not trying to reinvent the wheel here. I know lots have done
>> the relay upgrade. My reasoning is below. :)
>>
>> I've been enjoying my new "Motorcycle" E4 headlights on my '81. Even
>> with stock wattage bulbs, it's a huge improvement over sealed beam
>> rounds. But I need more light!
>>
>> Thought: install new switch and dedicated circuit, (no added relays),
>> bypass ignition switch, use stock hi/low relay, connect supply of
>> circuit in at stock connectors to headlights.
>>
>> Added work aside, is there anything inherently wrong or illegal, about
>> doing this? Would I "simply" tap into 30 where it enters pre fuse at
>> the fuse box? (adding inline fuses of course) What gauge wire for the
>> next step up in lighting? (I bet that info is online somewhere)
>>
>> I used to do a lot of road gigs in a '77 Caprice with upgraded
>> headlights. Amazing, but relays would cack out at THE worst moments
>> (before a corner) This stuck in my mind, so thought to make a system
>> that didn't rely on relays. Likely the installation was faulty on the
>> Caprice, but it would be my preference to make a "bulletproof" system.
>> Like all that could fail would be the switch, fuse(s), stock hi/low
>> relay and switch ..... I think ;)
>>
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>> --
>> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>>
>> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>
>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>>
>
--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
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