Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:38:45 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Head lights
In-Reply-To: <340D3E54-EA0F-4075-B982-80E35B1607C3@kippert.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Let's think this battery thing through. Key on, engine off, turn on all the
electrical consumers. Lights, fans, AC, stereo, etc. Now how long do you
think the battery will last like this. BTW this is where that reserve
capacity rating comes in. How long can the battery support a 25 amp/hour
load.
In a few minutes you will see the lights start dimming, wipers and fans
slowing down etc. It soon becomes obvious the battery is not our main power
source while driving. In fact as the alternator voltage goes above the
battery voltage the battery becomes another parasitic load.
Now, if we were install a 100 amp branch circuit in a house we would
probably use 2 gauge wire for that circuit. Can someone find even a 6 gauge
wire path from the alternator to the front of the van? Those 2 #10's from
the alternator to the battery cable and then from the battery to the fuse
box or fan high speed relay just don't cut it. Now consider the copper and
crimp connections are 20 plus years old and all tarnished, add few more
harnesses, fuses, switches and somehow you get 11.5 volts to headlights and
lousy battery charging to boot.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mark A Kippert
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 1:36 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Head lights
As far as I know, the source feeding the relays is correct. The relays are
plugged into the specified male blades on the back of the fuse block (as
directed in the instructions).
I guess what would really help is to understand why headlights that must
have worked fine when the van rolled off the assembly line, now work so
poorly.
Not sure what you mean by "any wiring upgrade needs to include improving the
current path from the alternator, not just the battery." I'm guessing the
lights are fed by the battery, so the relays are improving this path. Here
on the list, relay kits are typically recommended as the fix for poor
headlight output, as well as many Vanagon sites. I don't recall reading that
the current from the alternator should be improved as well (of course I've
only been on the list about a year).
Mark K
1986 GL/2WD/4SPD
On Jan 10, 2010, at 12:27 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> I agree. In fact even stock replacement lenses that are not 20 years old
> offer a world of improvement. Also, if relays did not make a difference
then
> the source feeding the relays is wrong. Also, any wiring upgrade needs to
> include improving the current path from the alternator, not just the
> battery.
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Kim Brennan
> Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 12:06 AM
>
> Replacing the stock bulbs with higher wattage bulbs will NOT solve the
> problem and may cause other problems due to the higher current.
>
> Get a pair of the eurospec rectangular reflectors and save yourself a lot
of
> grief.
>
> On Jan 9, 2010, at 11:41 PM, Mark A Kippert wrote:
>
>> My headlights suffer the same poor output too. I just did the relay
> upgrade (eBay:http://tinyurl.com/ybeg6f7 ) and saw no appreciable
> improvement. I still need to replace the bulbs though. I'm hoping that
will
> improve the light output. The only reason I haven't done the bulbs yet is
> the bra on the front of the van.
>>
>> Retrofitting my square headlights with the newer ones sounds like a good
> idea but I like the square look better. Although I'd go with the South
> African setup if I could afford it. I really like that look.
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