Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Topic: Finally hooked up Relays to headlights (Read 4840 times) previous topic - next topic

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #15 – May 09, 2012, 07:06:28 AM

Remember that if you're going to do HID's, spend the money. Don't just get $60 drop in kits from ebay or the like. We don't want people thinking that Thunderbird guys are douchebags who like to blind people. Go to TRS, like TbirdX3.
And buy some of those hot clear lenses form him. http://www.theretrofitsource.com/index.php

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #16 – May 09, 2012, 07:23:24 AM

Quote from: TOM Renzo;388065

Yes the whole system needs SLAVE RELAYS. I install 5 to be exact to make the system fire proof. The dimmer is another area that needs a relay. The IGNITION SWITCH is first and foremost. I also feed the injector groups with 2 separate relays. This keeps the voltage drop at a minimum. I also use separate relay for the 2 fuel pumps in my car. They are in the trunk. My battery is in their and a simple slave activated by the stock pump feed wire initiates all the safety systems built in the car from the factory. Relays are great. But they also can be a pain!!!

Here is a nightmare i had to trouble shoot. This relay fed my PORT SIDE fuel pump. My car was acting very strange at high RPM. Turned out my PORT SIDE pump was intermittent. Here is the culprit. Even mounted in the trunk it got condensated and got messed up. I change out all my relays once every 2 years because of this now. Thanks

I have the same problem with relays. I carry spares in all my Megasquirted cars for that reason.

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #17 – May 09, 2012, 06:20:20 PM

Quote from: flylear45;389479

I have the same problem with relays. I carry spares in all my Megasquirted cars for that reason.

I can definitely relate to that !!!

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #18 – May 09, 2012, 08:46:05 PM

Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;389477

Remember that if you're going to do HID's, spend the money. Don't just get $60 drop in kits from ebay or the like.

That's the reason I haven't done it yet. I can't even afford to make payments on my truck much less spend 300 freakin bucks on a HID kit....

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #19 – June 04, 2012, 08:57:54 AM

Soo at risk of sounding like a noob is there a write up on how to install the relays? I have an evtm and can probably figure it out but if there is one handy I'll skim it now.

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #20 – June 04, 2012, 11:56:11 AM

I don't know of one but here is how I would go about it:

1: Cut your headlight 12v+ wire in half.

2: hook up relay as follows
relay plug 87: hook to the end of the 12v+ wire you cut that goes to the bulb
relay plug 86: hook to the end of the 12v+ wire you cut that comes from the switch
relay plug 85: hook up to body/battery ground
relay plug 30: hook to battery 12v+

3: repeat process for high beam 12v+ wire

4: splice other side headlights into corresponding relay plug 87's and cap off signal wire, or repeat both relay processes for other side

but for all the trouble involved it would probably just be worth it to use this:

http://www.rjminjectiontech.com/products/headlight-harness

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #21 – June 04, 2012, 12:07:18 PM

Quote from: Soul;391461

Soo at risk of sounding like a noob is there a write up on how to install the relays? I have an evtm and can probably figure it out but if there is one handy I'll skim it now.

Here is a write up from NATO.
http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/installing_headlight_relays.htm

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #22 – June 04, 2012, 12:13:56 PM

Quote from: T-BirdX3;391480

Here is a write up from NATO.
http://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/installing_headlight_relays.htm

Yeah pretty much an over explanatory explanation of what I said :p

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #23 – June 04, 2012, 01:36:43 PM

Sweet, Thanks Guys.

Will maybe look into this since my bird is mobile again :D
Also just got a mazda with projector headlights, I don't think I can go back to regular headlights :(. I've got an eye problem where I can't distinguish dark colors so night driving for me is balls.

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #24 – June 04, 2012, 02:46:05 PM

Quote from: Soul;391490

Also just got a mazda with projector headlights, I don't think I can go back to regular headlights :(. I've got an eye problem where I can't distinguish dark colors so night driving for me is balls.

Exactly! When I get out of my bird and into a car without projectors I quickly realize how far superior the projectors are over any reflector based light, especially the ones that were in my bird! :D

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #25 – June 04, 2012, 10:30:59 PM

I also like relays, but I'd rather dip my stick in parts cleaner than use any pre-made harness. Seriously, relay holders, 30A standard relays, access to a wiring rack, flux, solder, and heatshrink. I'll build you harnesses that make the prebuilt look like it was rejected from the cracker-jack factory. And it's not hard, its just about keeping it clean, like these pics Tom has up.

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #26 – June 05, 2012, 03:37:33 AM

Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;391529

I also like relays, but I'd rather dip my stick in parts cleaner than use any pre-made harness. Seriously, relay holders, 30A standard relays, access to a wiring rack, flux, solder, and heatshrink. I'll build you harnesses that make the prebuilt look like it was rejected from the cracker-jack factory. And it's not hard, its just about keeping it clean, like these pics Tom has up.

Amen to that brother!

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #27 – June 05, 2012, 03:44:06 AM

I just finished my headlight relay harness, just have to install now. I tested it out though, works great! If I can only figure out how to wire in the system sentry to truly indicate when I have a headlamp out instead of being lit up do to the harness change.

Good thing about these cars is it is all plug and play, I can remove and go back to the original setup very easily if needed.

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #28 – June 05, 2012, 03:37:13 PM

I think there is a solution. It's not easy, but it is possible. I'd place some really small resistor (like 0.01R) into the relay wiring harness and use an rail-to-rail OPAmp to amplify the voltage drop on this resistor. This should be enough to keep the systems sentry working properly.

Finally hooked up Relays to headlights

Reply #29 – June 05, 2012, 03:56:36 PM

Quote from: beast50;391578

If I can only figure out how to wire in the system sentry to truly indicate when I have a headlamp out instead of being lit up do to the harness change.

If you cut the wire to the low beams under the hood, to run it to the relay, you only have the relay current running through the resistance wire. This makes the voltage drop across the resistance wire so low that the Lamp Out Module thinks a headlight is out.
You need the higher headlight current through the resistance wire.

The bottom line is; if you want the system sentry to work for the low beams, you have to do your rewiring under the dash instead of under the hood.