Re: [DMCForum] Re: Headlight switch

[Martin Gutkowski <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Rich

I was suggesting the contacts at the base of the relay where they go 
into the socket may get dirty. That said, they aren't hermetically 
sealed relays (where they're filled with an inert gas) so the contacts 
inside do get dirty over time due to sparking. There's a reason why all 
the vendors sell a relay update kit - the main purpose of which is to 
replace the original Lucas relays with Bosch ones. We don't sell a kit 
as such but when asked for them we use cheaper generic ones, because 
even though they're not as expensive as Bosch, they're 23 years 
"younger" and still streets ahead of the lucas design. I recently 
accidentally discovered a source of lambda relays, in generic form, for 
a tenth of the cost of one from Bosch.

"crud" in a press-fit electrical contact acts like a resistor - and it's 
the resistor that gets hot because it's dumping current to heat. A small 
contact area in a switch will have a low resistance which will become 
apparent when you try to pass current through it, but the current 
required by a relay is very low.

Martin

cruznmd wrote:

>What you say rings true. I hear the relays click in behind me when I 
>turn the lights on. I don't doubt what you're saying but how do the 
>contacts in a sealed relay get dirty?
>
>The headlight switch isn't sealed. Although it doesn't power the 
>lights, wouldn't that kind of crud -anywhere- in the circuit cause a 
>heat build up at the weakest point?
>
>Also, if what you say is true, do you recommend that I replace my 
>relays? I don't know how old they are.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Rich A.
>#5335
>  
>
>  
>

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