I am starting to wire up my headlights, do i need 2 relays as when i dimantled the car it didnt seem to have them.

Do i need 3 fuses, eg side lamps, dip, main beam?

You may or may not need relays depending on what switches you are using.

Having separate fuses is a good idea in that then, for example, if the headlights blow you don't lose all your front lighting (which might be a tad annoying) but most cars have just one fuse for all of them in my experience (saves weight!).

Not sure if if it carrys over, but most factory cars have sides, heads and mains split on a left and right basis.

Relays arent standard but there a good idea to help with switch loadings and a getting good level power to the bulbs.

[Edited on 30/7/10 by loggyboy]

1 fuse and relay for main beam,
1 fuse and relay for low beam.

At the very least!

You can do the split (LH/RH) thing but IMO its overkill...

Steve

EDIT: Side (Park) lamps don't use a Relay (usually!) but have their own fuse.

[Edited on 30-7-10 by Hellfire]

I don't know about the moderrn North American cars, but the 60's and 70's ones had a ciruit breaker on the healights.
If something shorted out they would trip the headlights off, reset and put the lights back on.
Cars would come down the road with the lights flashing like modern emergency vehicles, but there was still some light and the problem was identified.