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timjuhl Member
Joined: Jun 27, 2011 Posts: 262 Location: "Thumb" of Michigan
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:43 am Post subject: Headlight relays |
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My Jeep was previously converted to 12 volts. The person who did it installed headlight relays controlled by the high / low beam switch to power the bulbs rather than run the wires directly through the light switch.
Personally, I don't think the current draw is such that relays are called for but I thought I'd put it out for discussion.
I am using the multi-position military light selector switch.
Thoughts?
Tim _________________ Tim Juhl
1952 M38A1
1946 Aeronca L16A Army Liaison Aircraft |
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wesk Site Administrator
Joined: Apr 04, 2005 Posts: 16272 Location: Wisconsin
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jimm Member
Joined: Nov 01, 2011 Posts: 201 Location: Escondido, CA
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Tim,
To clarify, are you keeping the 12V conversion, or converting it back to 24V? _________________ Jim McKim
1952 M38 son-father project
Slowly turning rusty parts into OD parts |
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timjuhl Member
Joined: Jun 27, 2011 Posts: 262 Location: "Thumb" of Michigan
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:33 pm Post subject: Headlight relay |
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At this time I plan to keep it at 12 volts. To do otherwise would be a major job and cost big bucks. It has an alternator and all of the waterproof wiring is long gone.
Tim _________________ Tim Juhl
1952 M38A1
1946 Aeronca L16A Army Liaison Aircraft |
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wesk Site Administrator
Joined: Apr 04, 2005 Posts: 16272 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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That throws an entirely different aspect to the issue. The amp draw of the 12 volts lamps is almost twice that of the 24 V lamps. They probably used the relays to carry the higher amp loading from the battery thru the relays to the lamps so only the lower current needed for the control coils in the relays passed thru the military switch . The circuit breaker in the military switch has amp rating a bit lower than the 12 volt lamps.
So if you are leaving it 12 volt and insist on using the GI switch you may wish to leave the relays there. But I would suggest you provide the appropriate amp fuse/CB to protect the lamp high amp wiring for both hi and lo beams. _________________ Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php |
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timjuhl Member
Joined: Jun 27, 2011 Posts: 262 Location: "Thumb" of Michigan
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:02 am Post subject: Good point |
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Wes,
Your response makes sense and I do have the relays.... that said, I may still do some testing and determine the actual current draw on the bulbs.
The fellow who installed the relays also put in a civvy headlight switch. I've removed that and installed the GI type - I drove it for awhile before disassembly and connected the light circuit with relays up to the GI switch.
Would you happen to know what current the GI switches were rated at?
Tim _________________ Tim Juhl
1952 M38A1
1946 Aeronca L16A Army Liaison Aircraft |
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Bretto Member
Joined: Nov 24, 2010 Posts: 1390 Location: Orem, UT
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:30 am Post subject: |
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I have wired mine up just as yours is set up. I had asked the same question about the current rating of the switch and was told there was no info. I figured the switch would be fine but I do know what the relays are rated at so I added them. I then have a modern fuse panel for all my circuits mounted to the cowl battery box.
Brett _________________ Brett
'51 M38
PHOTO DIARY OF MY BUILD |
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wesk Site Administrator
Joined: Apr 04, 2005 Posts: 16272 Location: Wisconsin
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timjuhl Member
Joined: Jun 27, 2011 Posts: 262 Location: "Thumb" of Michigan
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:02 pm Post subject: Headlight relays |
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Good to know. I assume the circuit breaker you refer to is inside the switch and of an auto-reset type. I never knew it was there.
Tim _________________ Tim Juhl
1952 M38A1
1946 Aeronca L16A Army Liaison Aircraft |
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wesk Site Administrator
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FIFTY2 Member
Joined: Apr 29, 2012 Posts: 1
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wesk Site Administrator
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