Re: Keeping low-beams on with the highs

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Winchell <rbw@avs.com>
To: Quattro <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
Date: Thursday, June 25, 1998 1:01 PM
Subject: Keeping low-beams on with the highs


>Q -
>
>Yes I know this is a FAQ.
>
>How can I wire my lights so that the low-beams stay on with the high-beams
>(like during that split second when you switch between them). I'm talking
in
>a single bulb (9004 or 9007) setup.
>
>Thanks,
>Rob Winchell
>91 200Q
>87 4kCS


Hi Rob;

    It is relatively easy to wire up a system to run both high and low beams
together, but you are likely to experience two problems:
    1. The bulbs will burn out in short order from the heat generated by the
two filaments on at once.
    2. The connectors on 9004 bulbs have a small surface area. The ground
pin will fry if it carries the current from the high and low beams
simultaneously for any length of time.

    I recently had a problem on my '91 200q which resulted in a 7V current
on the high beams when the low beams were on. The ground connector on the
bulbs fried even though full voltage wasn't on the high beams.
    I installed a relay system triggered off the stock wiring circuit and
the same problem activated both beams at once. The 55/100w bulbs lasted 30
seconds. The replacement stock 55/65w bulbs lasted about one hour. At this
point I realized I had a problem and tracked it down ( and got my low speed
rad fan circuit working at the same time, but that story is in the archives
:o).
    BTW, having both beams on is not much improvement on the stock lights,
although it does give you the lighting a good low beam system should provide
:o).

HTH

Fred Munro
'91 200q  255k km