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Can I wire up headlights this way?

Old 07-24-2006, 11:02 PM
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Default Can I wire up headlights this way?

When I have high beams on, I'd like to be able to keep my low beams on too, (better lighting). Is it possible to do that? However, when I switch to lows only, The highs should only turn off, and lows stay on. Is there a way to do that? If no-one knows, I will think of a way to wire it up. Just curious if anyone has done it before. Good idea or not?
Old 07-25-2006, 05:36 AM
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It is possible. I do not have the schematic on hand.
I do not think any vendor sells a modified wiring harness for sedans, so you would have to rig it yourself.
Old 07-25-2006, 07:27 AM
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there is a thread here that shows how to do it, i really like the idea, but was never able to figure it out...

oh well...its somewhere..i just cant find it
Old 07-25-2006, 07:49 AM
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im pretty sure the wiring isnt gauged big enough to handle the load from having both sets running at once, there was an aftermarket kit to do it tho that had its own wiring for them :?
Old 07-25-2006, 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by DarkShadow
im pretty sure the wiring isnt gauged big enough to handle the load from having both sets running at once, there was an aftermarket kit to do it tho that had its own wiring for them :?
yeah but would that mean you would have to rewire EVERYTHING?
Old 07-25-2006, 08:13 AM
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Originally Posted by wjcollier07
Originally Posted by DarkShadow
im pretty sure the wiring isnt gauged big enough to handle the load from having both sets running at once, there was an aftermarket kit to do it tho that had its own wiring for them :?
yeah but would that mean you would have to rewire EVERYTHING?
i dunno i never did it

more info here: http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...=high+low+beam
Old 07-25-2006, 08:23 AM
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Yes i Have done this. works realy good, alot more light now. let me find the post i did...

OK here it is...

Pics on how to do it is on the Second Page.

It is VARY EASY to do this.. takes like 30min or less...

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...448&highlight=
Old 07-25-2006, 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by wjcollier07
yeah but would that mean you would have to rewire EVERYTHING?
Yeah, the current circuit on my '90 isn't heavy enough to burn all four lights at once (That'* like 200 watts with all four.)

Easy solution is to add a SPST-NO relay right at the High/Low beam switch in the steering column harness. Yellow wire from the headlamp switch going to the Hi/Lo switch gets jumpered to the relay coil. Tan wire from the Hi/Lo switch to the low beams gets transfered to the relay. Other post on the relay goes to one of the spare circuits in the fuse block. That way, Turn on the headlight switch and the relay closes to turn on the low beams and sucks juice through it'* own circuit. The Hi/Lo switch just becomes an on/off switch for the high beams and draws it'* current through the original fuse.

About $10 in parts (less if you junkyard a relay and holder for a buck)

Shouldn't be an illegal mod. Lots of older cars had headlights wired this way (All four could be on at once.) My '87 Camaro came wired that way from the factory. I think the local law would get pissed if you drove around with six on at once (like Highs, Lows, and Fog lamps all at once.)
Old 07-25-2006, 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted by clm2112
Originally Posted by wjcollier07
yeah but would that mean you would have to rewire EVERYTHING?
Yeah, the current circuit on my '90 isn't heavy enough to burn all four lights at once (That'* like 200 watts with all four.)

Easy solution is to add a SPST-NO relay right at the High/Low beam switch in the steering column harness. Yellow wire from the headlamp switch going to the Hi/Lo switch gets jumpered to the relay coil. Tan wire from the Hi/Lo switch to the low beams gets transfered to the relay. Other post on the relay goes to one of the spare circuits in the fuse block. That way, Turn on the headlight switch and the relay closes to turn on the low beams and sucks juice through it'* own circuit. The Hi/Lo switch just becomes an on/off switch for the high beams and draws it'* current through the original fuse.

About $10 in parts (less if you junkyard a relay and holder for a buck)

Shouldn't be an illegal mod. Lots of older cars had headlights wired this way (All four could be on at once.) My '87 Camaro came wired that way from the factory. I think the local law would get pissed if you drove around with six on at once (like Highs, Lows, and Fog lamps all at once.)

mine works fine.... nothing over heats... its brighter then H*ll...

you should be able to hook it up the same way as mine..
Old 07-25-2006, 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by bandit
mine works fine.... nothing over heats... its brighter then H*ll...
you should be able to hook it up the same way as mine..
I tried just jumpering around the Hi/Lo switch first. They all worked as intended, but they were dimmer when all four were on. Using a seperate circuit with a relay kept the current load on the original circuit through the switch about the same as normal and all four lights are as bright as when just a pair at a time.

I don't think I'm going to leave it like this. This was just sortta a "lets go take a look-see" based on the fellow original question. Down here in "Flat-Land" a pair of SilverStar'* are plenty bright enough. Besides, it'* one less thing to break on a already base model car.

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