eddymcclements
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| posted on 25/2/03 at 10:32 AM |
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Relays - which circuits?
Just a question - which circuits are commonly switched by relays? Obviously those that draw a fairly high current, so I'm thinking of the
following:-
headlamps
fan
horn
starter solenoid(?)
Anything else? Are people splitting the headlamps L and R so that there's no single point of failure?
Cheers,
Eddy
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jonti
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| posted on 25/2/03 at 11:52 AM |
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You shouldnt need a seperate relay for the starter. The pick circuit on the motor solly don't draw much. Make sure the heavy cable goes straight to
the battery though !!!!
You'll need sollys for headlights if you're using the later seirra column switches.
Fan , if auto and u use the right cable and fuse shouldnt need one.
Horn, unless you're using heavy duty ( ie air horns etc ) shouldn't need one either.
All the above assume correct fusing and cable obviously !!!
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Northy
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| posted on 25/2/03 at 07:00 PM |
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Which Sierra column switches allow you to use headlights without relays? How do you identify them?
Thanks
Graham
Website under construction. Help greatfully received as I don't really know what I'm doing! 
"If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong?"
Built 2L 8 Valve Vx Powered Avon
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jonti
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| posted on 26/2/03 at 06:42 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Northy
Which Sierra column switches allow you to use headlights without relays? How do you identify them?
Thanks
Not sure mate but I believe most do need a relay. I would think the only way to ID 'em would be to check the fuse box for lack or not of relays.
Relays are P** easy to wire in and they keep the heavy juice out of the cockpit so I'd use one anyway for H/lights. Wouldn't have thought there was
any need to split L and R just use one 30A with seperate NO and NC contacts for main and dip.I haven't looked yet but there must be one in the old
sierra fuse box lying under my bench which I shall no doubt be using.
[Edited on 26/2/03 by jonti]
[Edited on 26/2/03 by jonti]
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 26/2/03 at 07:01 PM |
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The starter solenoid is effectively a relay, just a bloody big one
[Edited on 26/2/03 by Mark Allanson]
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paulf
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| posted on 26/2/03 at 09:55 PM |
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The early sierras had no relays , my switches came from a mk 1 sierra and I am using them on there own. They appear to be the same as some Mk 3 escort
switches i also have.
If you check the wiring diagrams in a haynes manual it will be easy to tell for certain.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by Northy
Which Sierra column switches allow you to use headlights without relays? How do you identify them?
Thanks
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jonti
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| posted on 27/2/03 at 01:59 PM |
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quote:
If you check the wiring diagrams in a haynes manual it will be easy to tell for certain.
Paul.
I take your point Paul, but I've never found anything "easy to tell" from a Haynes Manual wring diagram ! Half the battle with Haynes is deciding
which diagram applies to your particular car !!
[Edited on 27/2/03 by jonti]
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Peteff
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| posted on 27/2/03 at 08:55 PM |
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Sierra columns
According to my manual all sierra columns switch the headlight relays on the earth cable, that's how I wired mine and they work o.k.
yours, Pete
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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MB
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| posted on 28/2/03 at 09:08 PM |
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The circuits best switched by relays are the ones that take a high current.
Things like head lights / full beam, fog lights, horn, wipers, etc.
If you don't use relays you will end up with pitted contacts in your switches and eventually they will fail.
For additional safety and long life electrics you can also get diode protected relays...
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