Independant Headlight Relay Conversion
- Gannon
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4580
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bowraville, Mid Nth Coast, NSW
Independant Headlight Relay Conversion
Some of you may well know that electrical current flowing through a wire causes a voltage drop. This voltage drop is caused by cable impedance and thus is directly proportional to cable length (and inversly proportional to cable CSA)
By the time the current travells from the battery to the dashboard and back to the lights, it must have lost a volt or 2.
So i figured i would shorten the length of my headlight cabling.
I used 2 relays (one for low beam and the other for high) and installed them behind the passenger side headlight.
I took a heavy gauge cable directly from the alternator output to the relays and then to the headlights. I havent tested the voltage at the globe, but i can tell you they are brighter and are a whiter light.
Pics and a diagram coming soon.
By the time the current travells from the battery to the dashboard and back to the lights, it must have lost a volt or 2.
So i figured i would shorten the length of my headlight cabling.
I used 2 relays (one for low beam and the other for high) and installed them behind the passenger side headlight.
I took a heavy gauge cable directly from the alternator output to the relays and then to the headlights. I havent tested the voltage at the globe, but i can tell you they are brighter and are a whiter light.
Pics and a diagram coming soon.
Current rides: 2016 Mitsubishi Triton GLS & 2004 Forester X
Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
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Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
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- Chris_Rogers
- General Member
- Posts: 1155
- Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Brisbane
- Contact:
with the upgraded wiring do not be tempted to go crazy with increased wattage globes.
I did the same in my old L, & put in 90/175 (or there abouts) globes...cannot remember the exact wattage but it was near 500W with driving lights on high beam
Light was good, but not that much better, for the hassle and expense and off road the globes would overheat and blow...very costly.
Only advice would some of thsoe 'white' globes by Philips...very good in the wet
I did the same in my old L, & put in 90/175 (or there abouts) globes...cannot remember the exact wattage but it was near 500W with driving lights on high beam
Light was good, but not that much better, for the hassle and expense and off road the globes would overheat and blow...very costly.
Only advice would some of thsoe 'white' globes by Philips...very good in the wet
RS Liberty wagon: stock
Type 3 VW Fast back - awaiting conversion to an electric car...one day
SEAT Cordoba - family car (wasn't won on the New Price Is Right)
Type 3 VW Fast back - awaiting conversion to an electric car...one day
SEAT Cordoba - family car (wasn't won on the New Price Is Right)
- Suby Wan Kenobi
- General Member
- Posts: 1914
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Sunny Godwin Beach Qld
- El_Freddo
- Master Member
- Posts: 12626
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bridgewater Vic
- Contact:
Great anti-climax there Subi WanSuby Wan Kenobi wrote:A while back i changed over the switching in Dads old MY, i used the biggest cable and the biggest relays and much to my delight the standard sealed beams gave off more light than my liberty lights. Did the same to my RX and the difference wasnt as noticeable

Bennie
- BaronVonChickenPants
- General Member
- Posts: 1187
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Nowra, NSW
the semi sealed beam inserts are the same as 80 series landcruser for the dual headlight brumby/wagon
if its dual headlight dont use the h1 inner replacements they short out on the body of the car and you have high beam all the time
unless you wire relays in at the same time
and you can get them for single headlight but not sure of a part number
if its dual headlight dont use the h1 inner replacements they short out on the body of the car and you have high beam all the time
unless you wire relays in at the same time
and you can get them for single headlight but not sure of a part number
- Gannon
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4580
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bowraville, Mid Nth Coast, NSW
I thought i had already posted pics, but i'll try again
My new headlight loom

What i connected it to

I made it so if i wanted to revert back to factory wiring, i could just disconnect the bullet connectors and plug the headlight socket back into the factory wiring
My new headlight loom
What i connected it to
I made it so if i wanted to revert back to factory wiring, i could just disconnect the bullet connectors and plug the headlight socket back into the factory wiring
Current rides: 2016 Mitsubishi Triton GLS & 2004 Forester X
Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
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Ongoing Project/Toy: 1987 RX Turbo EA82T, Speeduino ECU, Coil-pack ignition, 440cc Injectors, KONI adjustale front struts, Hybrid L Series/ Liberty AWD 5sp
Past rides: 92 L series turbo converted wagon, 83 Leone GL Sedan, 2004 Liberty GT Sedan & 2001 Outback
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I did the semi-sealed conversion on my M.Y. wagon, i got them out of an old 180B, They are metal, not glass, and as mentioned above, short on the retainers, so need rewiring with a relay, they work good, and you can buy the nice big bulbs. I think the older M.Y.s with the single light could be replaced with the autobarn polycarbonite style semi-sealed lights from, like, a hilux. That would look cool.