Good! So we agree! :) --- On Fri, 5/29/09, David Teitelbaum <jtrealty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > From: David Teitelbaum <jtrealty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Subject: [DML] Re: Headlight switch repairs > To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Date: Friday, May 29, 2009, 5:07 PM > The main reason for putting the fuse > before the switch is that in the event of a short between > the fuse and the switch there is NO protection for the > wiring OR the switch as it is currently wired. The fuse can > only protect anything *downstream* between the fuse and > ground. The headlights are controlled by relays, I just > think that if you change the headlights and increase the > current the OEM relays may not be able to handle it. To > increase the longevity of the headlight switch a relay > should be added to control the marker lights and maybe even > the low and high beam relays. The less current you run > through the switch the longer it will last. That, or follow > the Lucas company motto "Get home before dark"! > David Teitelbaum > 99 Esprit > > > --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, > Marc Levy <malevy_nj@...> wrote: > > > > > > > > Sorry to nitpick David, but while I agree that proper > electrical design should place the fuse as close to the > source as possible... and most definite before the switch > (in case the switch shorts out), the location of the fuse > has no impact on how much current the switch is > passing. Current (amperage) of the circuit is the same > no matter where the fuse is placed. :) > > > > I agree, adding a relay will significantly reduce the > amount of current the switch is carrying, and will reduce > heat and prolong the life of the switch. LED's will > have a similar impact. > > > > IIRC, The headlights already are powered through a > relay (one for low beam, one for high beam) so any after > market headlights (like "halogen type lights") will not > increase the current passing through the headlight switch. > > > > > > > > --- On Fri, 5/29/09, David Teitelbaum > <jtrealty@...> wrote: > > > > > > > The design is probably considered a > > > "success" since it lasted over 25 years! The > problem is not > > > only the design (and construction) of the switch > but the > > > circuit itself. The switch carries the direct > current of the > > > side markers and they are fused AFTER the switch > so if there > > > is a short circuit in the marker lights the > switch has to > > > carry that whole load BEFORE the fuse will blow. > Not the > > > best way to do it. Using relays will reduce the > current > > > through the switch reducing the heat and helping > the switch > > > last a lot longer. Changing over to L.E.D.'s for > the marker > > > lights will also help a lot. Going with halogen > type lights > > > will increase the load so if you go that way you > really > > > should consider relays for the switch to control. > You also > > > should check from time-to-time the marker light > sockets. > > > They are prone to corrode and when they do they > can cause a > > > high current through the headlight switch. > > > David Teitelbaum > > > vin 10757 > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > To address comments privately to the moderating team, > please address: > moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx > > For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see > www.dmcnews.com > > To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnewsYahoo! Groups > Links > > > mailto:dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > ------------------------------------ To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnewsYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/