Apologies for the really poor "picture" but this is how I've wired up my side/head/main and for some reason its not working.

The switch on the right (square) is a proper light switch, 3 positions, 1st being off, 2nd just sidelights, 3rd both side and headlights.

Switch on the left (round) is purely a off/on switch with the 3rd connection for the grounding of the internal light (blue) to show that main beam is on.

For some reason only sidelights work, although when on main beam the blue light on the switch does light up. But the relay is buzzing and neither dip or main beam is on.

The fact that the headlights aren't working means its a rather large cockup I fear, but i can't see where.

Thoughts please

Aren't you missing a relay and putting (or trying to) all the power for the headlights through the switch?
The side/main light switch should energise a relay to feed the headlights, then the relay you have should switch between main and dipped.

Martin.

quote:

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Originally posted by MartinDB
Aren't you missing a relay and putting (or trying to) all the power for the headlights through the switch?
The side/main light switch should energise a relay to feed the headlights, then the relay you have should switch between main and dipped.

Martin.

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I would definitely do as Martin says and put an extra relay in circuit. One for dip & the other for main. imho you risk burning the switch contacts out by putting all the power through them.

If the relay is buzzing you may have the wrong connection to the coil.


[Edited on 7-10-06 by RazMan]

quote:

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Originally posted by RazMan
If the relay is buzzing you may have the wrong connection to the coil.
[Edited on 7-10-06 by RazMan]

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No, its not polarity sensitive. I was thinking maybe the power & switch connections have been swapped.
If you put 12v across the coil (85 & 86) it should give a reassuring click.
Try disconnecting the switch connections (30,87,87a) and see if the relay clicks in.


[Edited on 7-10-06 by RazMan]

Depending on the switch you are using you might be able to get rid of the relay all together. Headlights dont draw that much current (about 10.8amps for two 65W bulbs). The standard wire used through most looms is 1mm^2 thinwall which will handle 16amps continuous, in older looms it will be 2mm^2 standard cable which handle 17.5amp continuous.

My lights are wired up with 2 toggles switches, one off-on-on/on and one on-on switch to change between dip and main. Theres no relay in the circuit (there never was in the mk2 escort infact...)

If you are using column switches forget it, but otherwise, get some heavier duty switches and do away with the relay. K.I.S.S....

David

It looks like one of the dim dip relays with a resistor built in to dim the headlamps for sidelights purposes. Apart from that it seems you are running the dip and main from the same relay so they will all be on at the same time all the time including the main beam warning light.

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Originally posted by Peteff
It looks like one of the dim dip relays with a resistor built in to dim the headlamps for sidelights purposes. Apart from that it seems you are running the dip and main from the same relay so they will all be on at the same time all the time including the main beam warning light.

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David: The switches can handle it, I just want the dip off when main beam is on, and the main beam switch I got was off/on not on/on

Well, an on/on switch is only about £2...so maybe its not worth the effort with the relay... lol. Depends how much its worth to you to get it working with a relay

David

Pete, the diagram is sound but the connections possibly aren't It should work perfectly well as long as the switches are man enough for the current involved.

assuming the innards of the relay are as they appear in the picture, it should all work IMHO. Id replace the relay as a start, in case its knackered. Try temporarily wiring it up without the relay to see if any lights work at all.

Is it possible that you have a voltage drop caused by the main beam current drain, causing the relay to open and close rapidly? It shouldnt be buzzing...

[Edited on 7/10/06 by JoelP]

Relay works fine on its own and wires all work fine on their own.

Relay is also new so should be OK.

I must admit the battery hasn't been charged for ages but does light the main beam very well when the relay is bypassed.

Its going to be something stupid the way Westfield expect the loom to be installed which is causing it, I just can't see where.

Not exactly the easiest piece of loom to work with either, given its supposed to be used with their dash/switches so all the cables are a certain length and thats not where I've got the switches

I've got a SPST I can wire up in its place and see if it puts main beam on and no headlight I guess...

I can also try putting a direct feed from a spare +ve straight onto the 85 without coming off the headlight feed in case it is VD from using the same feed into 85 and 30.

Thanks.

Don't know how I'd managed to do what I did, but I'd got a wire on wrong.

All sorted now and working fine

Thanks guys.
Chris

So I was right then? Blimey, that's a first!

It looks like the relays for dim/dip, I read it wrong. I thought the main beam warning light would come off the wire from the 87 terminal.