Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-06-2014, 01:35 PM   #1
moonshine runner
Senior Member
 
moonshine runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Webb City, Missouri
Posts: 349
Default Poor Headlights

Hello all,

Ok, I know this has been posted before and beat to death, but at the expense of being redundant, I'd like to throw this out for discussion one more time.

Awhile back I posted about my headlights being dim on my 47 Ford Super Deluxe.

Got a lot of great feedback about ground and resistance. At that time I replaced the headlight switch with an OEM type as well as replacing the dimmer switch which looked to have been in the car for many years.

Nothing seemed to help until I messed with the connectors on the left inner fender and I thought or at least it seemed to make them a bit brighter.

Anyway, still there is a brightness issue. The headlights are so dim that the lights from oncoming traffic will drown mine out.

In my last post on this subject, I had ran a ground wire from both buckets to the fenders and the other day, I pulled the drivers side bulb just out of the bucket, left it plugged in and ran a 14ga wire from the hot battery post to the light bulb and when touched, the light was as bright as could be.

So, short of converting to 12V, I am thinking of running relays for the headlights to eliminate the issue.

Was wondering if someone who has done this before might be able to give some direction on how to hook the relays up.

Thanks in advance!!

Kevin
__________________
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently".

Henry Ford.
moonshine runner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 01:59 PM   #2
cmbrucew
Senior Member
 
cmbrucew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North of sandy ago, CA.
Posts: 2,063
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Kevin
Start at light switch, with the headlights on. Check voltage at each connection all the way to the headlight socket. You should have 6 volts at the socket. Clean any connection where you lose voltage.
Bruce
__________________
Works good
Lasts long time
cmbrucew is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 07-06-2014, 02:05 PM   #3
moonshine runner
Senior Member
 
moonshine runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Webb City, Missouri
Posts: 349
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by cmbrucew View Post
Kevin
Start at light switch, with the headlights on. Check voltage at each connection all the way to the headlight socket. You should have 6 volts at the socket. Clean any connection where you lose voltage.
Bruce
Hey Bruce!

Thanks!! I checked the voltage at the headlight bulb plug and had about 4.5V. Wonder if there could be an issue at the circuit board.

Kevin
__________________
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently".

Henry Ford.
moonshine runner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 02:54 PM   #4
JT FORD
Senior Member
 
JT FORD's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: N.W. Iowa
Posts: 306
Default Re: Poor Headlights

4 1/2 volts just will not get it done. Had the same problem with both of my cars. I put relays on hi and low on one car and relay on the high beam of the other car. Made alot of difference. I used 12 gauge wire, I don't think 14 is enough. I got the relays from Fifth Ave. Internet Garage. www.aveinternetgarage.com
JT FORD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 03:32 PM   #5
V8COOPMAN
Senior Member
 
V8COOPMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,106
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by moonshine runner View Post
Hey Bruce!

Thanks!! I checked the voltage at the headlight bulb plug and had about 4.5V. Wonder if there could be an issue at the circuit board.

Kevin
Like JT said, 4 1/2v won't get it done. You have an issue at any point in that circuit that doesn't read 6v. Could be at the CB, and could easily be one or more of those connectors. Could be a voltage drop across the switch itself, or thru the dimmer switch. Start at one end of the circuit and find-out WHERE the voltage drops. You've proven to yourself that jumping directly with a wire straight off the battery (6v plus) that the light is sufficiently bright. DD
__________________
Click Links Below __


'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN


T5 W/TORQUE TUBE
V8COOPMAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 06:09 PM   #6
42guy
Senior Member
 
42guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: New York State
Posts: 289
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
I had trouble with dim lights until I went to a relay.
42guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 06:21 PM   #7
V8COOPMAN
Senior Member
 
V8COOPMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,106
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by 42guy View Post
I had trouble with dim lights until I went to a relay.
I'm an advocate of relays for headlights and other devices, but you still need to insure that the relay delivers the full 6v to the load. Be careful when using your relays NOT to utilize some of the same wiring, connectors or components that are currently causing your voltage drop. Relays have good purpose, but they are not necessarily a magic "fix-it-all". DD
__________________
Click Links Below __


'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN


T5 W/TORQUE TUBE
V8COOPMAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 06:50 PM   #8
rick r
Senior Member
 
rick r's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Woodville Ontario
Posts: 227
Default Re: Poor Headlights

12 volts will cure the problem
rick r is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 06:59 PM   #9
ford38v8
Senior Member
 
ford38v8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 6,616
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by rick r View Post
12 volts will cure the problem
That's exactly the kind of band~aid that is used by those who don't understand the problem and don't care to find out.
__________________
Alan
ford38v8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 07:40 PM   #10
V8COOPMAN
Senior Member
 
V8COOPMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,106
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by rick r View Post
12 volts will cure the problem
.............and a FULL 6v (instead of 4 1/2v) will cure the problem with a 6v bulb. Read and understand the posts. DD
__________________
Click Links Below __


'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN


T5 W/TORQUE TUBE
V8COOPMAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 09:27 PM   #11
moonshine runner
Senior Member
 
moonshine runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Webb City, Missouri
Posts: 349
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Really appreciate all the replies! Howdy Alan!!

Ok, so this afternoon before this evenings car show, I went out and did a little work with my multi-meter.

Unplugged the red and green (high and low beam on my car), wires (bullet connectors), and inserted my multi-meter. At this point I had 6V.

I then started working out toward the headlight, taking it out of the bucket and then removing the bucket.

I found some monkeyed up wiring from a previous owner, from the loom that runs out to the left headlight, over to the right (passenger side headlight).

I removed those wires and only had the 2 running to the drivers side headlight which were registering 6V.

I then checked the voltage at the plug and had 6V. At this point I decided to reinstall the bucket and plug the headlight back in and check the voltage at one of the low beam prong.

4.5 V with headlight in and on. So, I am going to continue tracing but really thinking about using relays.

Kevin
__________________
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently".

Henry Ford.
moonshine runner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 09:55 PM   #12
BillM
Senior Member
 
BillM's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 504
Default Re: Poor Headlights

You need to have your lights plugged in and on to check for voltage drops along the circuit. With an open circuit and no load current, you will read battery voltage everywhere along the circuit.
__________________
My web page:
http://myplace.frontier.com/~wgmumaw/
BillM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2014, 11:58 PM   #13
Drbrown
Senior Member
 
Drbrown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Glens Falls NY
Posts: 1,267
Default Re: Poor Headlights

I have relays for my headlights in my '47 Coupe, but I also have a 12 volt system using an ALT. I installed #10 wire feeds and relays for the headlights to MINIMIZE voltage drop in the system. However, your voltage lose appears to be occurring at the headlights .... relays will not cure that. As recommended by others here, keep measuring your voltage readings, and inspect the wiring for hidden areas of corrosion or broken wire strands.
Drbrown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2014, 08:39 AM   #14
TJ
Senior Member
 
TJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Napa,California
Posts: 6,007
Default Re: Poor Headlights

How old is the wiring?
TJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2014, 10:52 AM   #15
JT FORD
Senior Member
 
JT FORD's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: N.W. Iowa
Posts: 306
Default Re: Poor Headlights

I will add this to the mix. The replacement wiring harness sold today is junk! The plug - in's and wiring loose volts. I bought the yellow female terminals that fit the bulbs and got rid of the 3 prong plug-in's. I use new plastic coated, 12 gauge wire.
I used the original old dimmer to power the relay. I have two relays on the l949 and only the high beam on the '50. I just drive at night with the highs on. No one seems
to flash their lights at me........
JT FORD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-08-2014, 09:28 PM   #16
moonshine runner
Senior Member
 
moonshine runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Webb City, Missouri
Posts: 349
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Thanks again everyone. TJ, it's as old as the car! So I have started checking from the headlights back to the firewall so far and have replaced quite a bit of wiring because a PO had a mess going on.

No brighter head lights yet, but I will find the issue! I did check my generator and regulator tonight just to make sure there wasn't an issue with them and there wasn't.

I removed the Armature and Field wires from the regulator, connected them together and started the car and ran the RPM's up and got somewhere between 40 and 50V on my multi meter, so the generator is doing it's job.

I then reconnected the wires to the regulator and checked the voltage at the Armature lug and it's putting out like 7.2V so, the new regulator is doing it's job.

I will be working my way inside the car to see what else I can find for voltage drop(s).

Kevin
__________________
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently".

Henry Ford.
moonshine runner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2014, 07:11 PM   #17
Brooks
Senior Member
 
Brooks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: AL
Posts: 115
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Moonshine runner, run a #8 wire direct from your Batt. Side of the the starter relay to two relays as close to headlights as possible one for dim one for bright use dimmer sw to control the relays. Fuse the #8 wire next to starter relay. Run new#12 wires to your headlights from relays. You will have full 6 volts at lights they will be bright. Have a Blessed Day!
Brooks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2014, 07:37 PM   #18
Steves46
Senior Member
 
Steves46's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lithia, FL
Posts: 1,050
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brooks View Post
Moonshine runner, run a #8 wire direct from your Batt. Side of the the starter relay to two relays as close to headlights as possible one for dim one for bright use dimmer sw to control the relays. Fuse the #8 wire next to starter relay. Run new#12 wires to your headlights from relays. You will have full 6 volts at lights they will be bright. Have a Blessed Day!
That is pretty much what I did for my 46 coupe and have full 6 volts at the lights. The thing I like about the relays are is that they take the load off the light switch.
__________________
If it aint broke, don't fix it!
Steves46 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2014, 08:53 PM   #19
moonshine runner
Senior Member
 
moonshine runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Webb City, Missouri
Posts: 349
Default Re: Poor Headlights

Brooks, and Steves46, THANKS!!! That's what I was needing. Guys, what relays did you use and where did you get them?

Thank again!!

Can't wait to get good headlights!!

Kevin
__________________
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently".

Henry Ford.
moonshine runner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2014, 10:20 PM   #20
josh1331
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Charlestown,R.I.
Posts: 465
Default Re: Poor Headlights

What and where do you get the relays and how to connecticut them please. Thanks
josh1331 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:08 AM.