Headlight Mod + other wiring

[rhkcommander]

might be that the fuse holder cannot handle the amps themselves, I'd run 10-15A max myself through them, you can also use electrical tape and 2 female blade connectors to hold a fuse... might not be as pretty but its still removable and can do just as good or better



Guess I'll take another look at the article, i know it aint hard just cut the wires at the light, switch side to relay and light side to relay, with a bigger power line from batt to relay... right? One relay for lows, one for highs

My only hang up is I cant tell where or what color the low and high sides are, the article doesnt say or if it does I'm blind. I can follow the wiring diagram no problemo but like I said I dont know where to look for the low/high wires.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/8/039/article/Whiter_Whites_Brighter_Brights.html

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

You access the HI/LO wires at either of the head-light pigtails.

Two minutes with a test-light yields which is which.

I bought extra-heavy-duty 12-AWG pre-wired headlight pig-tails at NAPA, ECHLIN brand, that were meant for big trucks.

The connector is some ceramic or such that can really stand the heat.

 

[BioFarmer93]

Hey Goofy-
Man, you type really well for having nearly a quart of rye in you, if it was me all you guys would see would be ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ SNORT..ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.....

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Goofious, that's exactly where I have two of my relays as well - of course I have like 10 more relays scattered all over the truck, but that particular location does work out rather nice.

LCAM, I used one of those really heavy-duty-looking capped rubber fuse-holders to power my relayed fan-blower-motor; and, about every three months, the 30-amp BUSS fuse is melted into oblivion.

Yeah, those same fuse holders - they actually make another kind that leaves the fuse exposed while still insulating its terminals from the elements, may switch to that style whenever I find the motivation to deal with all the wiring...

might be that the fuse holder cannot handle the amps themselves, I'd run 10-15A max myself through them, you can also use electrical tape and 2 female blade connectors to hold a fuse... might not be as pretty but its still removable and can do just as good or better

I dunno man, it's 12-awg wire in and out, better be able to handle 20 amps. Tho I may have to do like Goofy and use an external fuse panel, I dunno, it's very low on my priorities list right now.

My only hang up is I cant tell where or what color the low and high sides are, the article doesnt say or if it does I'm blind. I can follow the wiring diagram no problemo but like I said I dont know where to look for the low/high wires.

Red wire is low beams, green is high beams, bot run from the cab to the driver-side headlight in that giant 2"-thick harness down in the corner where the driver-side plastic inner fender meets the sheetmetal outer fender.

 

[rhkcommander]

Red wire is low beams, green is high beams, bot run from the cab to the driver-side headlight in that giant 2"-thick harness down in the corner where the driver-side plastic inner fender meets the sheetmetal outer fender.

Thanks should be easy from there

You access the HI/LO wires at either of the head-light pigtails.

Two minutes with a test-light yields which is which.

I bought extra-heavy-duty 12-AWG pre-wired headlight pig-tails at NAPA, ECHLIN brand, that were meant for big trucks.

The connector is some ceramic or such that can really stand the heat.

I'll have to see what they got, I had suspicions that that was a way to tell but wasnt 100% sure if those wires were actually high and low so thanks for confirmation

 

[Optikalillushun]

Figures and i unpinned the factory connectors, soldered on some 12 awg wire and re-pinned em haha. Oh and i also found relays with two 87 terminals so i can wire each headlight seperatly instead of having two on one pin.

 

[zpd307]

Oh and i also found relays with two 87 terminals so i can wire each headlight seperatly instead of having two on one pin.

thats the way to do it.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Oh and i also found relays with two 87 terminals so i can wire each headlight seperatly instead of having two on one pin.

How easy are they to locate tho? Say you're driving on the interstate miles away from home, or you're on a long-distance trip, and one of them relays fails - how hard would be to get a proper replacement?

 

[zpd307]

id say pretty easy. they were nothing that i had to order....

 

[adrianspeeder]

Yup, easy and worthwhile

You must be registered for see images attach

When I do mine on the older trucks I put a new switch up on the dash for the high beams as I personally hate the foot switch.

Napa part numbers for the relay and I like the relay sockets to make swapping a relay easy as pie.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

I rocked like this for awhile on my 88, but didn't like how they were exposed to the elements.

You must be registered for see images attach

REdid the whole mess with the relays inside a standard gray outdoor junction box with wing nuts on the cover three years ago, and no problems ever.

Adrianspeeder

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Those connectors are expensive as hell tho - I was actually thinking of using Ford relays and connectors, like those used on the late-'80s to mid '90s EFI cars and trucks.

 

[Goofyexponent]

Hey Goofy-
Man, you type really well for having nearly a quart of rye in you, if it was me all you guys would see would be ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ SNORT..ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.....

Heh heh.....I'ma professional lol. I gotta slow down though, I had heartburn for 2 solid days now....goin to see the doctor this week to see what I broke.

Yup, easy and worthwhile

You must be registered for see images attach

When I do mine on the older trucks I put a new switch up on the dash for the high beams as I personally hate the foot switch.

Napa part numbers for the relay and I like the relay sockets to make swapping a relay easy as pie.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

I rocked like this for awhile on my 88, but didn't like how they were exposed to the elements.

You must be registered for see images attach

REdid the whole mess with the relays inside a standard gray outdoor junction box with wing nuts on the cover three years ago, and no problems ever.

Adrianspeeder

I like those connectors...that way you have a color coded system that you CAN'T screw up when changing relays.....might have to look into that one!

 

[LCAM-01XA]

I got those same connectors in my auxiliary lights relay bank, they are very nice indeed. But my local NAPA wants like $10 a piece, so I think I'll just make a bulk purchase online cause I always end up needing then for some random projects...

 

[Goofyexponent]

I got those same connectors in my auxiliary lights relay bank, they are very nice indeed. But my local NAPA wants like $10 a piece, so I think I'll just make a bulk purchase online cause I always end up needing then for some random projects...

Can you get them bulk online? If you do, let me know...I will buy them through you if it is cheaper....that is if you are interested.

 

[Optikalillushun]

parts express has those pigtails, i got mine at the Carlisle All Truck Nationals for like $2 for the single and $3 for the dual. Those relays arent to hard to find but most people dont know they exsist. I got 6 (two for each truck i have and one spare per truck).

I think parts express has those relays as well.

single pigtail:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=330-075

dual pigtail:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=330-078