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Off road light relay okay for headlights???

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Fat Hack, Mar 22, 2004.

  1. Fat Hack
    Joined: Nov 30, 2002
    Posts: 7,709

    Fat Hack
    Member
    from Detroit

    Anyone know if the light relays generally used to operate aftermarket off road lights (think Colt Seavers!) would be okay to use on standard headlights?

    I'm using a simple pull-out switch for the headlights, but I don't want to run the full amperage through that cheap switch, which is only rated at 15amps max.

    My plan was to use the switch to send power to the dimmer switch, which will then trip either the high beam or the low beam relay...depending on the position of the dimmer switch. The relays will probably be mounted under the hood to keep them as close to the lights as possible.

    Anyone know if this will work...or if there is a readily available headlight relay I can buy?

     
  2. that ought to work, but i'd use a bosch relay instead. i use them daily and they hardly ever fail. you can get em' from just about any car audio shop, and they may even have a relay socket as well.
    it will be about the same as your "fall guy" relay, but i just trust them more. i've seen alot of those style melt, whereas the bosch type keep going.
    matt
     
  3. el Scotto
    Joined: Mar 3, 2004
    Posts: 4,722

    el Scotto
    Member
    from Tracy, CA

    I did this conversion to get full power through the headlights on my <GASP!> '68 Charger. Worked like a charm! [​IMG]
     
  4. Rocky
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 17,636

    Rocky
    Classified Editor

    Sheeee-it, I've even used ford starter solenoids for headlight relays...they work great too but are a little overkill.
     
  5. how many do ya want? i got a few i could give ya. pm me your address.
    i'll even draw up a schematic for ya.
     
  6. metalshapes
    Joined: Nov 18, 2002
    Posts: 11,130

    metalshapes
    Member

    Thats good info... Thanks.
     
  7. Flat Ernie
    Joined: Jun 5, 2002
    Posts: 8,406

    Flat Ernie
    Tech Editor

    [ QUOTE ]
    I've even used ford starter solenoids for headlight relays...they work great too but are a little overkill

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Not that it won't work - it will - but the starter relays aren't designed for continuous usage like a headlight relay is. I'm not talking about the heavy lug side that carries the starter current, but rather the coil side. They draw a fair amount of current themselves (not as much as a headlight circuit though) because they want to "pull" the switch hard to ensure positive contact &amp; help prevent arcing.

    And it really is total overkill (my kind of thinking!) [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  8. el Roach
    Joined: Mar 6, 2003
    Posts: 602

    el Roach
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hack,
    I'm using one of those relays in my 27 and seems to work great (so far!) Good luck.
     

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