BE Hi Low Beam Footswitch and Relays

[Jim_Gruber]

Doing some electrical wiring planning for Bugsy II. I know I want to use relays on Hi/Low Beams but rather than lead wiring back through relays mounted on inside of firewall behind dash on PS, thinking about putting 2 Relays in top of DS footwell top corner. I seem to recall someone doing just that. Anyone got any suggestions?

Also wiring harness was out of car when purchased so I have no idea on wiring routing. I will be using a front tilt bonnet so I will need to run wiring for turn signals as well as power for an electric fan to the front as well. Looking for ideas on:
1) Quick Disconnect - for wiring running to front. I used a 6 way trailer harness plug before but not real elegant.
2) Suggested location for headlight wiring route if going front tilt. Do I run from Footswitch up and under dash and down the PS with bundle of wires that need to run to front of car do I have one bundle going up there or run all wiring down the DS.
3) open to suggestions at this point. Just trying to plan so new harness can be built by British Wiring.
4) Relays planned for Headlights(2), electric fan, fuel pump any other suggestions
5) suggestions on small fuse/relay panel to terminate wiring mounted on firewall on inside that can be accessible to replace fuses or relays as needed.
6) will add aux power for accessories and a circuit for some sort of music source . Have not decided on tgat but likely something hidden, Bluetooth, wireless speakers
If you were to rewire what would you change. Or add to a wish list. Thanks.

 

[nomad]

Jim, I used the stock wiring and placed the relays behind the grill where stock connection's already are. Square body. Of course if you are doing custom wiring for a front tilt bonnet then I guess anywhere work's. I had a BE with a front tilt bonnet and the PO had put a large plug in the wiring that handled all the connections. That made it easy to remove the bonnet.....maybe worth considering.

Kurt.

 

[smaceng]

Jim,
With all the modifications that you want to make, I think that you should throw out the stock harness and either build your own or buy a custom one. I put my extra fuses and relays behind the dashboard. My wire harness was clean enough that it looked stock from the engine compartment. I also put the wires to the rear of the car inside the sill, so that they did not bump out the side panels. Are you going to use an alternator? I also converted my stock control box to a electronic one.
BTW, the stock harness routing for the dip switch is in the engine compartment in front of the heater.
Scott in CA

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Scott going alternator and Autosparks via British Wiring has an option to do things for a BE like adding an alternator so they leave out the control box wiring, can add additional runs up front for electric fan and Aux Power as well as add extra run to the rear for fuel pump. I want to put fuses and relay behind the dash like you did for 60 FROG and I got a copy of the Wiring Diagram from Bill. Makes the harness look stock but add some special tweaks. So where does the harness for the foot switch connect into the main harness. Does it go into the Main Harness where all of the rest of the harness plugs together on PS by the firewall? Trying to figure out how it routes in my mind. An extra wire run adds like $10 to the cost of the harness plus it all gets wrapped in cloth loom. I'm gathering ideas at this point on best way to do it.

 

[smaceng]

Yes, dip switch harness, and BTW, one has to buy it seperately, plugs into the main harness by the firewall with all the rest of the wires.
The BE is a classic design where lucas did not care what the wiring looked like. They could have put that big mess of wire connections on the firewall on the other side behind the dash. Would have really cleaned things up. S
Scott

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Tks Scott. I looked and now see the clips under the heater tray for the dip switch for the wires to run in.

 

[BillW103]

I ran all the wiring to the motor above the passenger foot well and out the right hand drive steering column hole. That would be a good rout for a forward tilt bonnet. One thing I did leave stock was the way the bonnet opens. I put a plug on it for removal. When the car is hibernating in the garage for the winter I open the bonnet and it puts it out of the way.