Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2015 10:04:04 -0700
Reply-To: Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Relays
In-Reply-To: <000101d06ee3$b0efee10$12cfca30$@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Most automotive type relays have a supressor or surge protection
type device in parallel to the 85/86 pins. That part is usually shown
in the pic on the relay case. You can see that part in some pics I
took of various relays here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/MiscVanagonWestyPics#5842008141534071810
To my eye, it looks like a resistor and IIRC, my VOM measured
resistance at these
parts. In some relays, that part might be a diode. If a relay used a diode, and
polarity to 85/86 was reversed, my guess is that the relay simply
wouldn't work. But I'm making some assumptions here. That said.....
If the relay is only used for headlight hi beams, then no.
It doesn't matter. 85 or 86 can be connected to ground.
Typically, 30 is used for + power in.
I'd be really curious why the relay, or wire to it, "took the hit"
Like why didn't a fuse blow if there was that much
current being drawn through the relay?
Was a different relay substituted in? (was it properly rated?)
How many Watts are hi beam bulbs?
What condition is wire to faulty pin now in?
Are there any other loads on that relay?
eg fog or driving lights?
Neil.
On 4/4/15, Robert Clemmer <n51219@comcast.net> wrote:
> Does it matter which way a relay is wired? Terminal 85 ground, terminal 86
> switch, or vise versa? Likewise for the power and the device (30 & 87)
> terminals.
>
>
>
> When returning from FL this past week I occasionally smelled melting
> plastic
> and narrowed it down to only when the high beams were on. Drove the rest
> of
> the trip without using the high beams. Yesterday while the weather was
> warmer I took a look, and the pin to the lights wire was melting at the
> crimp in the pigtail on the high beam relay. I purchased a new relay and
> according to the new relay diagram it appeard that I had the ground and
> trigger wires backwards all along. To confirm that, I "googled" relay
> wiring and I get wiring diagrams both ways. Is it safe to assume that it is
> a simple open or closed switch and it doesn't matter which way the
> electricty if moving as long as you use the switch terminals for the switch
> and the device terminals for the device you will be using?
>
>
>
> Thanks, Bob C
>
--
Neil n
Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>
1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>
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