I converted my old Cadillac over to use relays for the headlights... it
was pretty simple, I used a 30A relay for each beam (big overkill) for a
total of 4 relays off a 10G wire from the battery... the relays were
turned on (obviously) by the existing wiring to the lights. I had no
existing temp. problems at the switch, but the voltage was ~11V at the
lights w/ the engine running. After putting the relays in it was up to
13.5V and the lights were noticably brighter (the main reason for doing
this). I had a 50A fuse (from an old stereo amp) in-line on the 10G
wire at the battery.
Cost was pretty low (4 relays, some wire, solder and heat shrink) and it
only took about 60 mins to complete and that was w/ my anal soldering
and wire routing.
I didn't bother switching over the parking lights, since they are fairly
low power (I didn't know how the turn signals would react)... Doing this
should eliminate at least 10-20A of power going thru the switch...
-Ethan
Dale Schultz wrote:
>
> Hi:
> I had a light switch problem too, they have a bi-metal strip in them.
> This is "classed" as a circuit breaker that cuts power to the lights on
> high current/heat. I believe this switch is a 50 year old design from
> back when cars didn't have fuses. Anyway, mine was tripping out after
> 20 minutes with the low beams on. I took the switch apart and "adjust"
> the contacts so it would take a much higher current/temperature to
> activate it. It works fine now all the way up to 150F with low or high
> beams on. I'm not sure what current and temp it is truly rated for. I
> can't believe they run the headlight power through that dash switch then
> through the high/low beam switch in the column then to the lights, NO
> RELAYS! The dash switch does get pretty hot. In contrast the fog
> lights are control via a relay.
>
> Dale
>
> Biff Byrum wrote:
>
>> Gary: 277,000 + on my '95 sport. Engine is going
>> good but I have just fried two headlight switches. I
>> think electrical could be a bigger problem.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Gary Hedlin" <ghedlin@theramp.net>
>> To: <dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 10:31 PM
>> Subject: DML: Hit 170,000 Miles Today, Dead Tomorrow??
>>
>>
>>
>>> I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse, but on my way home today, I
>>
>>
>> hit
>>
>>> 170,000 miles!! It's hard to immagine though, being the truck is a 98
>>
>>
>> with
>>
>>> the original transmission & block. But hey, I've treated the truck
>>> right,
>>> and the truck has treated me right in return.
>>>
>>> But heres the $100,000 question....
>>>
>>> I've heard several people say that on the typical Magnum engine, things
>>> start going haywire about 175,000 miles. Can anyone confirm or disprove
>>> this?? I'm very interested in weather i'll be needing a rebuild sooner
>>
>>
>> than
>>
>>> I am planning!
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Gary Hedlin
>>> President
>>> Hedlin Web Designs
>>> http://www.hedlin.net
>>>
>>> Gary's Wisdom- #27
>>>
>>> -You know the world is comming to an end when wrestlers and body
>>> builders
>>> run entire states.....What's next, is Bush sending Sgt. Slaughter in to
>>
>>
>> get
>>
>>> Osama??
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 06 2004 - 11:47:05 EST