UP RATED
HEADLIGHTS
By Geoff Kremer
A lot of Rods still use the original headlights and often with the older
style bulbs so the lights are pretty awful here’s how you can drastically
improve them.
Most old style head lamp bowls can accept Halogen lamps and a trot to your local
motor factor should provide the bulbs but if your using the original wiring and
switches they just are not going to cope with the extra demand. Because of this
you probably wont notice much of an improvement over the old bulbs the reason
for this is called “losses” Here’s how to get rid of those losses. Use
relays!
Simply put, a relay is: a heavy duty switch mechanically linked to a small
electro magnet:
Well I’m sure you get the idea.
The easiest way to get all the power to your headlights is using a relay and
also you can retain all your existing switches and wiring without disturbing
them very much. You will need two relays and it would be easier if you got them
with the built in fuses otherwise insert separate fuses where I’ve marked, the
relays shouldn't cost more than a few pounds each. The most important thing to
remember is that we are trying to reduce losses so that all the available energy
is going to power the headlights. The main power supply should be taken straight
off the battery and the relays can be mounted anywhere, but the nearer to the
head lamps the better. You could fit the relays near the dip switch and use the
existing wires going to the lights but the thing to remember here is that you
will still be using the old wiring and if it isn’t heavy enough you’ll be
loosing a lot of energy and defeating the object of the exercise. The use of
relays in this way applies to any item drawing a lot of power.
Tech Section
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