H4 Headlight upgrade ..., stupid question ... |
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H4 Headlight upgrade ..., stupid question ... |
SirAndy |
Nov 13 2006, 06:51 PM
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#1
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,815 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
so, the H4 Headlight Upgrade Kit on pelican recommends a high-power relay for the 100 watt bulbs.
now the stupid question: do i just need one or do i need one for each headlight? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Andy |
jwalters |
Nov 13 2006, 06:54 PM
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#2
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Sooo Close....... Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 14-May 04 From: Huntsville, AL Member No.: 2,068 Region Association: Europe |
One for each - you have two power wires -a fuse for each headlight, yada, yada
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Cap'n Krusty |
Nov 13 2006, 07:03 PM
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#3
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Cap'n Krusty Group: Members Posts: 10,794 Joined: 24-June 04 From: Santa Maria, CA Member No.: 2,246 Region Association: Central California |
One for high beams, one for low. One for the left side, one for the right. That makes FOUR. I would use the generic 40A VW relays. 141 951 253B. They're less than 5 bucks apiece. The Cap'n
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SirAndy |
Nov 13 2006, 07:05 PM
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#4
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,815 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
One for high beams, one for low. One for the left side, one for the right. That makes FOUR. I would use the generic 40A VW relays. 141 951 253B. They're less than 5 bucks apiece. The Cap'n thank you sir! that makes perfect sense, just wanted to confirm ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Andy |
Aaron Cox |
Nov 13 2006, 07:10 PM
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#5
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Professional Lawn Dart Group: Retired Admin Posts: 24,541 Joined: 1-February 03 From: OC Member No.: 219 Region Association: Southern California |
100w high beams right?
100 watt low beams wil piss off lots of people... (so do 6 lights LOL) |
Dave_Darling |
Nov 13 2006, 07:10 PM
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#6
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 15,048 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
Or just one. It really depends on how much power the relays will handle, how much current (and power) the lights draw, and so on. It is not a Bad Thing to not have a separate relay for the low beams, and to only have a single relay for the high beams. You would "daisy chain" them, the way a lot of things in the car already are done (e.g., horns, foglights, etc.).
Four separate relays is the ultra-ultra safe way to go. I personally would do one or two--a single for the highs, and either stock low beam circuitry or a single relay for the lows. Just remember to put a fuse in the line going from the battery to the relay!! --DD |
jwalters |
Nov 13 2006, 07:37 PM
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#7
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Sooo Close....... Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 14-May 04 From: Huntsville, AL Member No.: 2,068 Region Association: Europe |
Or just one. It really depends on how much power the relays will handle, how much current (and power) the lights draw, and so on. It is not a Bad Thing to not have a separate relay for the low beams, and to only have a single relay for the high beams. You would "daisy chain" them, the way a lot of things in the car already are done (e.g., horns, foglights, etc.). Four separate relays is the ultra-ultra safe way to go. I personally would do one or two--a single for the highs, and either stock low beam circuitry or a single relay for the lows. Just remember to put a fuse in the line going from the battery to the relay!! --DD (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Yea, whut he said - don't really need ones for LOW beams - those are still low power - even at 65 watts |
SirAndy |
Nov 13 2006, 07:43 PM
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#8
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,815 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
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dmenche914 |
Nov 13 2006, 09:02 PM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,212 Joined: 27-February 03 From: California Member No.: 366 |
yeah, four is best, that way a single fuse failure won't totally kill your lights. probably way many cars have a fuse for each, hi r, hi l, lo l, lo r.
a nice source for little square relays for a buck or less each is Pick your Part. grab the metal can ones, with standard 1/4 in male press on terminals from slightly older model BMW's, they got a bunch usually on the driver side front of engine bay I ahve used them in my Vanagon, as an upgrade, and my kit car. they make both a single trhow, and a double throw relay, the single seem to be more common, just pick up four single throws, thats all you really need. run multible fuses to prevent fuse blowing from leaving you in the total darkness. You may find that simply going to relays increases your voltage enough to make one think you have hi watt lights, when you stillhave the stock ones installed! |
Markeydoo |
Nov 13 2006, 11:00 PM
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#10
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??? Group: Members Posts: 246 Joined: 10-April 03 From: Socal Ventura Member No.: 557 Region Association: None |
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Aaron Cox |
Nov 13 2006, 11:01 PM
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#11
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Professional Lawn Dart Group: Retired Admin Posts: 24,541 Joined: 1-February 03 From: OC Member No.: 219 Region Association: Southern California |
andy -
are you going to use Hella or cibie H4 housings? |
SirAndy |
Nov 13 2006, 11:16 PM
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#12
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,815 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
are you going to use Hella or cibie H4 housings? Hell'ya (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) Andy |
Rav914 |
Oct 28 2008, 10:12 PM
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#13
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All-weather fan Group: Members Posts: 738 Joined: 15-April 07 From: WA Member No.: 7,669 Region Association: None |
I just installed the 55/100 bulbs myself. I haven't turned them on yet, knowing I should upgrade relays.
When doing the search I came across this thread. How exactly does one set up these individual relays? I'm not good at creating circuits off the cuff. I did that on a 912 some years past and melted many wires. A simple diagram or description would be very helpful. Thanks! |
scotty b |
Oct 28 2008, 10:32 PM
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#14
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rust free you say ? Group: Members Posts: 16,375 Joined: 7-January 05 From: richmond, Va. Member No.: 3,419 Region Association: None |
Call me foolish but I have put H4's on both my old 924 and my current 944, never installed a relay and have never in 5+ years had an issue. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
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number6 |
Oct 28 2008, 11:05 PM
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#15
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Member Group: Members Posts: 352 Joined: 14-September 08 From: portland, or Member No.: 9,546 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Call me foolish but I have put H4's on both my old 924 and my current 944, never installed a relay and have never in 5+ years had an issue. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) knock on wood...but me, too, and i drive my 914 daily. it's also been 5+ years since i upgraded. guess i should thank my lucky stars and go make things "right." but then again, if it's not broken... ok, i'm going to pretend i didn't stumble upon this thread... |
Rav914 |
Oct 28 2008, 11:27 PM
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#16
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All-weather fan Group: Members Posts: 738 Joined: 15-April 07 From: WA Member No.: 7,669 Region Association: None |
I drive to work early in the morning on a dark, back-country road. The last thing I can afford is to lose my lights. I don't want to take any chances.
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Cap'n Krusty |
Oct 29 2008, 12:47 AM
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#17
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Cap'n Krusty Group: Members Posts: 10,794 Joined: 24-June 04 From: Santa Maria, CA Member No.: 2,246 Region Association: Central California |
100w high beams right? 100 watt low beams wil piss off lots of people... (so do 6 lights LOL) More than 4 lights are illegal in CA (quad headlights count as 2). That's why you see the light covers on those ridiculous light bars on "off road" pickemup trucks. If you have fogs and driving lights, one pair has to be bagged. The Cap'n |
Cap'n Krusty |
Oct 29 2008, 12:49 AM
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#18
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Cap'n Krusty Group: Members Posts: 10,794 Joined: 24-June 04 From: Santa Maria, CA Member No.: 2,246 Region Association: Central California |
Call me foolish but I have put H4's on both my old 924 and my current 944, never installed a relay and have never in 5+ years had an issue. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) A 944 H/L switch costs 40 bucks, a 914 H/L switch is NLA. All of a sudden, relays seem pretty attractive ....................... The Cap'n |
SirAndy |
Oct 29 2008, 01:18 AM
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#19
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,815 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
A simple diagram or description would be very helpful. Thanks! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relay Basically, you want your headlight switch to be the control part of the relay circuit while the fused current that comes directly from the battery is switched on/off by the relay. That way, you don't run all the amps needed for the H4 bulbs through your headlight switch ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy |
tronporsche |
Oct 29 2008, 03:34 AM
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#20
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Member Group: Members Posts: 281 Joined: 21-August 08 From: California Member No.: 9,447 Region Association: Central California |
Wow, got my H-4s from AA, but don't remember any notice of having to upgrade a fuse or anything like that. I'm glad this was brought to my attention.......Cap n', you just had to remind me of those ridiculous California ordinances, didn't ya ? I just posted a thread on their crap. I guess I'll have to find some bags for the fog lights now. What is their reasoning behind not being able to have four, and two must be covered, when they aren't even on ? Well, at least I fixed one of their other ordinances I got pulled over for....the no front Liscence plate, but I'm sure they will come up with something else again .......
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