Headlight relays

[bugi]

I have upgraded the headlights on my Mark 1 Sprite and would like to add relays into the wiring to avoid frying the switch. I think I know it should be done but not enough to try it. I know that asking before doing something is out of character for me but thought I'd give a try.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[blkcorvair]

Quite simple really. Use you current power leads to activate the realy and a new 10 g wire to feed the lights. I imagine you may need two. One for High and one for low beams. I have several such relays.

 

[sparkydave]

Hi Bugi, if you search, there are discussions about it. I've put them on my car, and added fuses to the headlights at the same time. Your average auto parts store should have aftermarket relays suitable for fog lamps, but get one that's rated for at least 15 amps. You should get two; one for the low beams and one for the high beams. Find the wires going to the headlights, and find the junction where the wire from the switch meets the wires from each headlight; there should be a junction that combines the 3 wires. The wire from the switch will go to one terminal of the coil that energizes the relay, and the other terminal for the coil will go to ground. You will need a wire (I would use #14 AWG wire) from the battery or starter solenoid to carry the headlight current, and that will go to one of the relay contacts on the relay. The other relay contact will go to the headlights. You should probably consider running two wires from the battery or starter solenoid (each with a 15 amp fuse installed); one for the low beams and one for the high beams.

Oh, and since your Mark 1 Sprite might be positive ground, the relay coils sometimes have "+" and "-" terminals. If that's the case, be sure the wire from the switch goes to the "-" terminal.

I've been pretty happy with the conversion; the lights are brighter, and the switches are not getting warm with the lights on.