Date:         Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:20:20 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Headlight Upgrade Eilemma
Comments: To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <4E6D90EE.2020104@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I'm not sure what you are asking. My intent was to stop the spread of
false info.

In a stock Vanagon all normal headlight current goes through the
ignition switch and headlight switch, both for high beams and low beams.
If you add a relay in the manner you posted it moves that current off
those 2 switches, for both high and low beams. Your false info said the
high beams don't rely on those switches and that installing the relay
moves only low beams. This is not true.

People don't normally drive around holding the hi/lo selector lever up
constantly. Holding the lever up provides a separate but ABNORMAL
current path to the high beams. Adding the relay does not affect this
second path. The wiring diagrams show this second path with a connection
to the high beams. IMHO someone saw this on the diagram and thought it
showed the high beams as not using the 2 switches. They misread it as
showing something it doesn't really show. The second path is not used in
normal continuous operation of the headlights.



Mark



John Rodgers wrote:
> So are you saying this is a very real problem, or is it just that the
> other pathway does exist.
>
> John
>
>
>
> On 9/11/2011 8:25 AM, mark drillock wrote:
>> As I said in my original post.
>>
>>> ...............
>>>
>>> The error with regard to the high beam current route probably arises
>>> from the fact that a second current path exists feeding the hi/lo
>>> selector switch. This second path is active only while the selector
>>> switch is held in the up position by the driver and plays no active role
>>> during either high or low beam operation otherwise.
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>