Re: Using relays w/ euro lights

[Huw Powell <human@nh.ultranet.com>]

-- [ From: Huw Powell * EMC.Ver #3.1a ] --

>My  Euro lights are in (stock 55/60w w/ 60w inners for now) my 1983 UrQ but
now for the wiring. Should I use 3 relays, 1 for lows, one for outer highs,
one for innner highs?

Add up the wattages you may ever want to run and divide by 12 or so.  That
is how many amps you will be running.  typical relays are rated at 30 A.  I
wouldn't want to run more than 20 A through one, to keep a bit of headroom. 
Remember to fuse the alternator wires to the relays accordingly - car audio
stores usually have nice multi fuse blocks that take large high amp fuses
and are moderatley weatherproof.

>should the grounds for the lights be new heavy gauge as well? If not, I
know I need a new set of grounds,  which one gets the new grounds, the
relays or the lights?

Yes, the grounds have to carry the same current as the hot wires!  The
relays draw very little current, can be grounded to anything (like the old
lighting harness socket) but the light bulb grounds should be heavy gauge -
I have found my coupe has a few nuts actually welded into the frame cross
member (hood support?  grille mount?  what is that thing called?) and I used
them to attach the ground wires.  You could also run the grounds to the
alternator ground, ie one of its mounting bolts.

hth

Huw Powell
HUMAN Speakers

Sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from science....

http://www.thebook.com/human-speakers