Headlight relay upgrade
Posted: 10 Mar 2021, 12:58
I know this topic has been done to death, so I have tried to read as many old posts as I could find on here and the wiki but I still have a couple of questions.
A few places are now selling a headlight relay upgrade loom that goes from the battery via relays to the headlights, triggered by the old headlight wiring at one of the headlight connections. To me this doesn't seem like the nicest solution as you are adding a lot of wiring for one job, bypassing the fusebox, eliminating dim dip, and placing relays on the exterior of the van (behind the grill). Though it does seem like the easiest way of doing it which is always tempting!
From the useful illustration on wiki (https://wiki.club8090.co.uk/index.php/F ... itions.jpg) I like the look of option A which would mean the power going from the relay to the headlights would still run through the original fuses. My understanding is 56a and 56b will be the triggers for the relay which will go to an earth after the relay. Main power to the relay will come from one of the spare P terminals on the fusebox and from the relay that will then feed into the fuses 56a and 56b originally fed into. If I am right in thinking this is the best option, I have a few of questions I'm hoping someone might be able to answer:
1. Is the original wiring from the battery to fuse box, and from fuse box to headlights adequate to deal with the extra voltage from the relays? (assuming all connections are good)
2. The relay trigger wires (56a and 56b) now do not have a fuse in the circuit. Should an inline fuse be added before connecting to the relay?
3. What relays have people used for this job?
4. Whilst doing this I am also going to be swapping my single round headlights for the twin SA set up. I wont have the wiring in place for the inner lamps, so I am assuming it is OK to just piggy back off the full beam wire going into the outer lamp?
What I have noticed from reading up on this topic is there isn't an obvious how to guide. So I'd be happy to take some pics and document the process when I do it if it will be of use to others?
Thanks,
Scott
A few places are now selling a headlight relay upgrade loom that goes from the battery via relays to the headlights, triggered by the old headlight wiring at one of the headlight connections. To me this doesn't seem like the nicest solution as you are adding a lot of wiring for one job, bypassing the fusebox, eliminating dim dip, and placing relays on the exterior of the van (behind the grill). Though it does seem like the easiest way of doing it which is always tempting!
From the useful illustration on wiki (https://wiki.club8090.co.uk/index.php/F ... itions.jpg) I like the look of option A which would mean the power going from the relay to the headlights would still run through the original fuses. My understanding is 56a and 56b will be the triggers for the relay which will go to an earth after the relay. Main power to the relay will come from one of the spare P terminals on the fusebox and from the relay that will then feed into the fuses 56a and 56b originally fed into. If I am right in thinking this is the best option, I have a few of questions I'm hoping someone might be able to answer:
1. Is the original wiring from the battery to fuse box, and from fuse box to headlights adequate to deal with the extra voltage from the relays? (assuming all connections are good)
2. The relay trigger wires (56a and 56b) now do not have a fuse in the circuit. Should an inline fuse be added before connecting to the relay?
3. What relays have people used for this job?
4. Whilst doing this I am also going to be swapping my single round headlights for the twin SA set up. I wont have the wiring in place for the inner lamps, so I am assuming it is OK to just piggy back off the full beam wire going into the outer lamp?
What I have noticed from reading up on this topic is there isn't an obvious how to guide. So I'd be happy to take some pics and document the process when I do it if it will be of use to others?
Thanks,
Scott