hi/lo relay?

Post by **2088 bob** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:56 am

The conventional 5 pin bosch relay cannot be wired to change and maintain a changed state it simply lacks the mechanical components to make it a latching relay enough said

1st option the simplest of all the headlight hi/lo beam control ccts requires the use of one 5 pin 40 amp cube relay and 2 switches 1 really good quality hi current rated one and the other switch can be a lo current cheapie maybe desertguy our master of schematics can illustrate these ccts for us

The cct is as follows power from a fused 20amp feed( 12awg wire recommended ) to the good quality switch from the switch to pin 30 on relay ,from 87a pin to your low beam cct from 87 pin to your high beam cct use the cheapie switch to make relay activate using pin 85,86 you could also make that cheapie switch turn on a hi beam indicator light or pull a feed for the hi beam indicator light off of pin 87 but i would persuade against that connection

2nd option requires 2 cube relays and 2 cheapie switches the change here is that you use one relay to bring the hi current feed it can be controlled by one of the cheapie switches and the second relay performs the same function as the above listed scheme

unless you are running some ultra hi powered lights i can't see the necessity of running separate fusing for hi/lo beam left/right i normally run one fuse sized to the FLA (full load current) of the hi beam cct and call it done

the schemes of relay layout goes on from here complexity goes up with more relays added

Post by **2088 bob** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:02 am

DesertGuy wrote:(Wild Guess) Seems if you want to use the MOM feature on the switch you would need a latching style relay. Or I found this on another site...

...I would probably opt for a simpler plan

THis is just a little over the top to provide for the momentary function more trouble than its worth follow Lee,s advice and KISS .I'll send you a oem vw latching relay for free before i would let somebody go thru this just a waste of relays

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:05 am

I know this is dumb..

Would a relay be an improvement?

Post by **2088 bob** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:14 pm

Yea! the proper latching relay would be a vast improvement as opposed to the above circuit

Post by **david58** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:18 pm

2088 bob wrote:Yea! the proper latching relay would be a vast improvement as opposed to the above circuit

2088 bob Do you have a part number, and a diagram?

Post by **2088 bob** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:33 pm

let me down to the shop after supper and i should have a couple of oem latching relays layin around i will give you the part number so you know which relay to grab and a simple wiring schematic

DeMinimis · Post by **DeMinimis** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:23 pm

Hey kids,
Wasn't getting email notification, so haven't responded. Sorry for that. Here's what I did: two 5 pin relays, two 20 amp switches (one for lights and one to power relays to switch to highs), and two 20 amp circuit breakers. Would turn on lights and all lights would come on together (high and low). Realized I mistakenly installed one relay that had two 87 pins instead of an 87 and 87a pins. Easy fix. Have killer Hella free form H-4 headlights (very bright). The simple 20 amp on/off toggle switch with high beam indicator light works great for turning on/off highs.. Thanks all!

Post by **2088 bob** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:14 am

sorry david didn't get down to shop last night my missus had other plans for me but will do tonight forsure

Post by **2088 bob** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:50 pm

here we go my headlight relayswitch of choice is the stock VW hi/lo beam latching relay i use this relay as much as i can, even in non vw type installations i don't buy these new i just stock up on them every time i go to the wrecking yard i cant remember the last time one failed on me the number on the side of the switch is 411 941 583c the other markings you will see on the relay can ,are SWF R200.957 and lastly 12v bis 150w this last part means its rated to withstand 150watts at 12 volts

simple to utilize as well ,feed the 56 pin with a 20amp 12ga wire feed, take 56a out to a terminal strip and and hook both low beam elements to that, and use 56b for the high beams or visa versa then take a small gauge wire off the S pin thru a momentary contact switch, ground the other side of the switch and you are good to go simple,easy and pretty much bullet proof

i have used so many of these for so long i have actually become quite adept at popping them open and rivetting a small mounting tab on the case so i have a nice tidy way to mount them

hoped that helped david

Post by **david58** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:58 pm

Thanks 2088 bob that sounds like a simple way to power those lights.

DeMinimis · Post by **DeMinimis** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:18 pm

Yup, parted a bay a few years back for the trans. Grabbed the electrical, just in case. I checked. Sure nuff, had one. Oh well. Next buggy.