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Topic: head lights

in Forum: C3 Electrical


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head lights (1/6)
 8/11/15 4:47pm
Joanne
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Joined: 11/30/2006
Posts: 441

anyone relayed headlights wiring to get more power to bulbs?

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Re: head lights (2/6)
 8/11/15 5:14pm
Vman73
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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.


Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

I have a Hella H4 relayed system installed in my Jeep by the previous owner, looks pretty straight forward. Can't say they're as bright as some of the newer LED technologies but they certainly do a great job on an older two headlight/round lamp set up. I'm sure Hella has a website full of info for 2 and 4 lamp headlight conversions. Good Luck and let us know if you do it !!

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Re: head lights (3/6)
 8/11/15 5:52pm
kstyerLifetime Member
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA

Vette(s):
1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!


Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424

Yes, it does help. How much depends on the condition of the wiring in your car. but it will always help some.
 
Simple really.
Use a standard 4 or 5 pin relay.  Make sure it's good for 30 amps.  No you don't need 30 amps, but you do want quality relay contacts that will last.
Start at the closest strongest power source.  In our cars that's the battery post on the back of the alternator.  Put an inline fuse, 20 amp will do, and use 14 gauge wire from the alternator to a relay.  Connect it to pin 30, which is the battery feed on a relay.  Run the output from the relay, pin 87, to the headlight bulbs.  Use the original headlight feed to the bulb to activate the control circuit of the relay, pin 86.  Then ground the other relay control circuit, pin 85.  This will take care of the low beams.  Do the same thing for the high beams.
Instant brighter lights.  How much brighter will vary.
 
Before doing any of this, make sure the headlight bulbs have good reflectors and are in good condition.  Also, make sure they are aligned properly.  2 inches off center at 300 feet will lose almost 50% of your light down the road.
 
Highbeams are centered dead ahead of the car.  Adjustment you lights to this point.  Low beams are designed to point down 2 inches and to the right 2 inches.  This is to prevent blinding oncoming drivers.  Consider the difference with the 2 inch alignment difference between high and low beam, and what you can see in front of the car.
 
Another option is to replace the sealed beam bulbs with conversions that use a halogen bulb like the newer vehicles now use.   The only problem may be the halogens use more power and could trip the circuit breaker built into the headlight switch. (ever wonder why there is no headlight fuse?)   Sometimes it will only trip when the highbeams are on and you are powering up 4 lights instead of only 2.  If you run into this, use the relay system described above.  Yep, now they are really bright!
Re: head lights (4/6)
 8/12/15 3:07am
Joanne
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Joined: 11/30/2006
Posts: 441

hi kstyer,thanks for that.
does that mean using h4 and h1. I will  have 4 on dipped beam,the 2 main plus the  bulbs(h1) stay on when switch to hi beams?


|UPDATED|8/12/2015 12:07:03 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: head lights (5/6)
 8/12/15 10:11am
kstyerLifetime Member
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA

Vette(s):
1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!


Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424

The low beams have both a low and high beam in the same bulb, so connect all 4 to the relay output. Aim them all on high beam. It is possible to use another relay and turn on all 6 filaments at once on high beam. Tons of light. But low beam bulbs get very hot, and you use a lot of power that could put a strain on the charging system.
Re: head lights (6/6)
 8/21/15 6:16pm
rlu1968
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Gordonvillle, TX - USA

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1968 Roadster 427


Joined: 11/28/2003
Posts: 228

I was coming home from a car show at night a few weeks ago and the headlights went out on my 68. I had put halogen headlights in and this was the first time i drove it at night. 
The metal part of the headlight switch got real hot. 
I installed two relays, one for the high beam and one for the low beam. They work great and so much better lighting. About a four hour job installing the relays and new 12 gauge wire. I put the relays on the drivers side lower fender well. I tied into the existing green wire for the high beam coming from the dimmer switch, and the tan wire coming from the headlight switch for the low beams relay. I ran a 12 gauge wire with a 20 amp fuse to the alternator hot side on both relays. I think these are called 87 relays. 
I went on line to Daniel Stern Lighting and read all about the relays and wiring. Very good info. site. Also Mad Electrical has some very good info. 
Now I have all the power coming from the relays to power up the headlights, and the headlight switch is not over powered, getting hot  and thus going on and off. 


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