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Do I need new harness for lights?

labboy

Freshman Member
Offline
I want to put in a brighter headlight in my 78B.
Do I need to install a heavy duty harness for the lights?
These are not the HID lamps just a brighter lamp.
Thanks
Gary
Red Wing, MN
 
The harness may be okay, but the switch is probably the weaker point. I put halogens in my Midget and while they were brighter, it overheated the high beam switch and ended up with no headlights one night. If you do, you might want to consider relays, and running a separate lead to the headlights. I put two relays in, one for the highs and one for the lows. Now my dash lights are brighter, the wipers run faster, and the headlights themselves are brighter. Oh yeah, I also put fuses in the lows and highs too, since they didn't have any fuses originally.
 
Been debating this meself. Looking for a relay box to hold a few units (three or four) that doesn't look like some sorta "wart" under-bonnet. As for fusing them too, I'm not so sure about that. Alfa's have their headlamp circuits on fuses, sided left and right... PITA, frankly. I s'pose it depends on the chosen fuse holder and its' location tho.

<continues scratchin' head>
 
labboy - short answer for various reasons is 'Yes'.

For a longer explaination - see here:
https://www.mgcars.org.uk/electrical/h-lamp_relay.html

I recently wired a relay and fuses into the headlamp circuit - although I wired mine slightly differently, using a heavy duty fused relay instead of minis. If I can do it (amateur home mechanic/auto electrician), so can you!
https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthread...true#Post129204

To paraphrase the ads: "For protection you can trust, even on your darkest nights"

SoS
 
I see that Moss is now offering the Hella Vision Plus Halogen Headlamps. They use HB2 Halogen bulbs. According to the Hella website the lights are spec'ed at 60/55w for power. I realize the enhanced safety that the relay systems offer, but is it really necesary to add in a relay system for lights in this power range?
 
Not really necessary, as many people attest who don't upgrade from stock and run 60/55's with no problems for years. I had 60/55's for several months before relaying 'em.

Having said that, it the very real facts are that your (expensive) OE headlamp switch will last longer with a relay, and the lights will be able to operate at full brightness because there is minmal voltage drop. But at the end of the day, it's not NEEDED as such.

SoS
 
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