HELP: How to wire spotlamps to work with main beam
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:09 am
My Bongo came with a switch, Bosch relay, and complete wiring harness for two FDB mounted lamps, so fitting mine was very easy. The dashboard switch is illuminated and only lights up itself and the spotlights when sidelights are on. I find I have to switch spotlights off when any cars are coming towards me (even though they are angled down) as they are too bright. Its not convenient reaching down for a small rocker switch every time this happens. They might as well have a secondary control which means they only work when I'm on main beam.
Yesterday, DBO, BDC, Dabs and me tested the wires to the relay and generally looked at the system. We reckoned:
I simple solution would be to take the power feed for the spotlight relay from the h/light main beam supply. However, this was unlikely to work as the wiring to the h/light did not look sufficient to handle suppying 2x100W spotlamps as well as the h/light. We then considered whether we could use the power supply to h/light main beam as an alternative power source on the switching side of the spotlamp relay. That didn't seem to work either as it cuase te relay to work even when only sidelights were switched on. Although we had the right feed (it gave 12v only when main beam was on) it seemed to leak and give a small voltage as soon as sidelights were on and we assume this was enough to trigger the relay.
I wonder if the h/lights have their own relay(s) and if one of these switches power to the headlights. If that was the case I could try taking power for the sptolight relay from the switching side of the main beam relay as I reason if that is 'clean' enough for one relay (no current leak) it ought to be OK for another.
So I have two questions. Firstly, does anyone know if there is a mainbeam relay and if so, where its located and (even better) which wire is the feed from the driver stalk mainbeam switch. Secondly, does anyone have (easy for me to understand!) thoughts, explanations. suggestions on how bet to do this job other than the proposal I've given above.
If Karl had been free yesterday I know he'd have sussed it in a flash (no not an electrical one - doh!). He did give me a diagram but was having to work without looking at my setup, and whilst very busy on a big job.
I'll await your thoughts & thanks
Mike
Yesterday, DBO, BDC, Dabs and me tested the wires to the relay and generally looked at the system. We reckoned:
I simple solution would be to take the power feed for the spotlight relay from the h/light main beam supply. However, this was unlikely to work as the wiring to the h/light did not look sufficient to handle suppying 2x100W spotlamps as well as the h/light. We then considered whether we could use the power supply to h/light main beam as an alternative power source on the switching side of the spotlamp relay. That didn't seem to work either as it cuase te relay to work even when only sidelights were switched on. Although we had the right feed (it gave 12v only when main beam was on) it seemed to leak and give a small voltage as soon as sidelights were on and we assume this was enough to trigger the relay.
I wonder if the h/lights have their own relay(s) and if one of these switches power to the headlights. If that was the case I could try taking power for the sptolight relay from the switching side of the main beam relay as I reason if that is 'clean' enough for one relay (no current leak) it ought to be OK for another.
So I have two questions. Firstly, does anyone know if there is a mainbeam relay and if so, where its located and (even better) which wire is the feed from the driver stalk mainbeam switch. Secondly, does anyone have (easy for me to understand!) thoughts, explanations. suggestions on how bet to do this job other than the proposal I've given above.
If Karl had been free yesterday I know he'd have sussed it in a flash (no not an electrical one - doh!). He did give me a diagram but was having to work without looking at my setup, and whilst very busy on a big job.
I'll await your thoughts & thanks
Mike
