Fitting a headlamp relay.

[supercass]

Hi.,
Have searched this but can find no suitable info. Does anyone have an idiots guide to fitting a relay to the headlight switch to reduce the risk of the switch burning out? I am competent enough to fit a relay to a straight forward headlamp switch, but in the case of the TR7 am not sure how it would impact on the relays already fitted. Given that my headlights have performed faultlessly, including the flash function, since new (i.e.33 years) I don't want to risk messing this up!. I propose placing the relay just behind the headlight panel in a position that I understand would be used for the A/C relays where fitted. supercass

[Workshop Help]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The corollary to this wisdom is, 'If it ain't broke, break it and then fix it'.

Which is followed by, 'Once it's broke again, junk it and buy a new one'.

Mildred Hargis

[supercass]

Well yes, except that I am planning on connecting up the driving lamps that have been mounted below my bumper for a while! supercass

[HDRider]

When I did this on the Wife's car I mounted two relays, one high beam and the other low beam, on the front of the right front tower. I then used the existing light wires as the "triggers" for either relay.

You will need a wire back to power and a ground. I had some extra wire end plugs so I made up the wires to the relays with those n place and plugged into either side of the original wire feed plug (male and female)that is located under the right head light.

Edward Hamer
Petaluma Ca

[sonscar]

I have considered this and what would make a nice install is to have some plug ends the same as the existing headlamp connectors and break the existing circuit behind the panel to connect the relays,none invasive and easily reversable.Just need the find the connectors.Steve..

[TR Tony]

Autosparks have some of the connectors in the original style:

http://www.autosparks.co.uk/index.php?cPath=94_735

And these tools are invaluable to remove old connectors from the plugs:

http://www.autosparks.co.uk/product_inf ... ts_id=5252


Tony

<font size="1">1981 TR7 FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 TR7V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow</font id="size1">

[sonscar]

Thanks for that link ,when my car is roadworthy I shall be investing in some relays.I fitted relays to my son's classic Mini after the second melted lightswitch and was surprised at the difference in brightness.I guess there was still some high resistance in the circuit.Steve..

[manwithtool]

Lots of vehicles have a fair drop in voltage by the time the live reaches the lights. My other hobby vehicle is a VW T4 Transporter. One of the guys on the forum sells a headlamp upgrade which is pretty much as described above....original light connector triggers the relay using a new 12v live direct from the battery (via a fuse obviously) All we need is for some auto electrician to make a up a loom and an idiots guide to fitting. As you say it would stop those burnt out light switches (mine went last Saturday !) and give better lights.

If it isn't broken, I can still fix it

[whitenviro]

Cobber did a write-up on this for the Workshop Manual:

http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.a ... C_ID=20493

Take a look and feel free to expand on it when you have finished your setup. A few photos would be nice.


[/img]
1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

[sonscar]

Thanks to TR Tony's link I ordered some connectors,relays and fuse box and with some wire that I had in stock I set about fitting some headlight relays.I used to do this kind of thing for a job but years away has left me rusty and I made a meal of it taking most of the day to do it and then managed to get one lamp on dip and the other on main,easily rectified.Have a quiet giggle at some pictures of wiring all in the same colour for easy identification.Steve..




thanks for looking Steve..

[troydeon]

When I got my TR8 I found that a previous owner had "upgraded" the headlights by installing halogens and putting a larger fuses in. My first indication of this was lights that had stopped working and a blown fuse. Also, I had the high beam switch go bad... I have made some temporary repairs to the wiring and have put the correct fuses in. Prior to replacing the high beam switch I am going to install a headlight relay kit that I purchased from VB. I have ordered some water proof connectors and I am waiting for them to arrive prior to starting. Once I am done I will take some photos and let everyone know how it goes. I am anxious to get the wiring corrected. I haven't had to use my lights but want to get it right before the days get shorter...

Troy
1980 TR8 DHC
1980 TR7 DHC - Sold

[Odd]

There's an article on this topic I wrote for The TRDC Magazine a few years back - had most or all info needed to make this installation neat, tidy and efficient. Better than oem I'd say...

[trekcarbonboy]

Vic Brit harness works great. The trick that you don't get with the instructions is that in order to get the light plugs into the TR7 pod you need to use a pin to remove the individual connectors from the plug. Feed them through individually then re-assemble.
http://www.victoriabritish.com/icatalog ... px?Page=99
Summit Racing has a similar kit. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/upd-34263



Craig '75 2.0 FHC