Date:         Mon, 18 Nov 2013 06:38:25 -0500
Reply-To:     Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: High beams not working-lighting upgrades!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

        Denis, thanks I had never though about that wire to the high speed fan.  It certainly is big enough to steal some power from for the headlights.  That’s a pretty easy adjustment for the headlight relay circuit to use.


On Nov 17, 2013, at 7:19 PM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote:

> Actually it is not that difficult to improve the wiring to more of the
> alternator output available for lighting. Start with the harness from the
> alternator to the battery cable at the starter. If you were wiring a house
> or building a 100 amp circuit would probably be #2 or larger. As a test turn
> on everything for .5 hour so and then check that wire to see how hot it is.
> The insulation will actually soften. Rev the engine and measure the voltage
> drop. You will be surprised. So upgrade this with a #4. Now up front for all
> the 87+ Vanagons with AC there are two wires going from the battery terminal
> to the fuse box area. One goes to the box and the other is the feed for the
> super high speed radiator fan.  Since this fan speed is rarely used this can
> be a tap or better yet parallel the two together. Now you have a good feed
> source for your headlight relays or eve the stock headlight switch. The
> ultimate would also be to upgrade the wiring all the way to the lights.
> You could also just run another wire from the alternator to the front. I ran
> 2. One goes to the fuse box and the other to charge the auxiliary battery.



Cheers,    

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 VW Westy, '00 Kawasaki 250 Sherpa, "98 Ducati 750 Monster & Lionel Trains (Collection for sale)
Frank Condelli & Associates - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
BusFusion a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, 
June 05 ~ 08, 2014