Re: Sealed beam conversion

Posted by Paul on September 10, 1998 at 18:52:26

In Reply to: Sealed beam conversion
posted by Jim on September 10, 1998 at 09:33:16

: I have a 31 which has what appears to be an older conversion (40's or 50's) to sealed beam headlights. Basically the wiring for the low beams are off the steering column switch like the original, but for the high beams, the wires from the steering column switch were modified to activate a fused relay.This relay has 3 terminals -- one for the switch wire, one for a heavy wire directly from the hot site of the starter switch (battery), and one for the headlights.So the way this operates is that when the high beams are switched on, the current from the steering column switch closes the fused relay which makes the direct connection between the battery and the highbeams.Also, there is a wire from highbeam terminal of the relay which is connected to a Highbeam indicator light mounted on the dash.
: I am currently involved with replacing the wiring harness and reconditioning all the lighting hardware.If I use the relay system, I will have to cut modify the new wiring harness, which I perfer not to do.My main question is, "Do I need to include the relay in the circuit?"The printing on the backs of sealed beam bulbs indicate that they are 40/50 Watts.It seems that switching from low to high beam would change the current draw from 13.3 amps to 16.7 amps.Would the 3.5 amp increase justify a relayed circuit?But this also seems like a heck of a load for the generator.Is there a sealed beam headlight that uses less power (lower watts)?Finally, does any know the conversion factor from CP to watts?Snyders, for example, says that their 32/50 CP bulbs can be a little hard on the battery.But they don't say anything like that in their sealed beam adapter kits, nor is a relay mentioned in the kit.
: Thanks for your advice.
Jim,
When I was a youngster, more years ago than I care to count, my Dad had a '39 Dodge on wjich he converted the riginal headlamps to Sealed Beams.The kit was purchased from Sears. It did notinclude a Relay. However, the lights were not very bright and as I remember, some of the wiring would get a little warm to the touch.Later in life, through my occupation as as a computer engineer, I realized that the problem with that old car was related to a lot of resistance in the overall lighting circuit.Dad took the car to a local repair shop and they installed a relay (2 in fact, 1 for low beam, the other for high).The healdight switch only operated a circuit through the "dimmer switch" which controlled the relays.The relays had a heavy guage wire running directly to the battery.Lights were good from then on.
Some of the fellows in our club have had Sealed Beam lights in their cars (all been converted back to original bulbs)and they had no problems with the existing standard wire or their charging circuits and no relays.Of course the wiring harness's were in good condition.When the Ol'Henry's have good reflectors, bulbs and wiring, they do a pretty decent job. 45mph engine, 45mph steering, 45mph suspension, brakes.....and lights.
Have fun!
Paul