Brighter Headlights!
Being able to see at night while driving your pride and joy is very important. You've probably heard or read about installing Bosch style relays to improve the voltage drop (i.e., lessen the voltage lost in the headlight circuit wiring) to your headlights. While this can make your headlights brighter and take the current load off of the headlight switch & dash harness, there are a few things you'll want to do before you just slap the relays on your ride.
- Make sure your car still has all its ground wires and that they are clean and corrosion free.
- Clean your headlight connectors (this is very important & in itself can improve the voltage that is "seen" at the headlights).
- Grab your multimeter and test your alternator to verify that it is putting out at least 14.2V at its output terminal.
Relays
Once you have determined all the grounds are cleaned and corrosion free, your alternator (and voltage regulator) is up to the charging task and the headlight connectors are also clean its time to buy some relays! But first, lets make sure you know how a relay actually works (see diagram at right).
When you procure your relays, you'll notice some strange numbers. Each one serves a purpose (listed below).
- "86" is the relay switching (control) circuit input.
- "85" is the relay switching (control) circuit output.
- "30" is the power circuit input.
- "87" is the power circuit output.
You can purchase relays from places like Radio Shack,
MAD Enterprises or do what I like to do and use GM relays with weatherpack connectors. These GM relays can easily be grabbed off of cars about to meet their fate with the car crusher at your local Pick-Your-Part.
When you procure the relays, be sure and grab 30amp relays. One is for the high beam circuit and the other will be wired into the low beam circuit.
Wiring Modifications
Follow this link to see a full MAD Enterprises article on the headlight upgrade.
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