lighting question

[snookes]

i've got the tuscan style lights and just fitted hids on the dipped beam. when i put full beam on, my dipped beam switch off. can i alter the wiring so the dipped stop on when using the main beam. Has anyone done this and if so can you advise me on how to convert the wiring
many thanks

anthony

[Robscim]

Anthony,

I had this on my cerb when I got it. I had the garage look at it and apparently, there was a short/bad connection on the wiring. They said it shouldn't work like that!!

I think I'd be checking the connections on the light control module in the boot (did that sound like I have any idea what I'm talking about?)

Best of luck

Rob

[G20RG B]

Hi Snookes,
I also fitted HIDs recently.
I fitted them to the dipped beam( top light, tuscan style)and fitted led light to the small sidelight also.

First turn of the light switch turns on the small LED side light. When I fitted the HIDs to the upper dipped light,they flickered on the first turn of the light switch also with the small sidelights remaining on. The only way I could resolve this flicker was to cut the red/black wire on the dipped lighting control box in the boot. NOW first turn is small sidelight, second turn is dipped HIDs and full beam is the flash button on the steering wheel. All three bulbs are illuminated at the same time.

George

[snookes]

thanks for the replies lads
george, before i fitted the hids mine used to work as follows
engine on
1st turn - small side lights on and dipped head lights on dim
2nd turn - small side lights on and dipped headlights on
when i press the steering wheel button for full beam the main beam comes on but the dipped headlights went dim (the same as position 1) and small sidelights on.

once i had fitted the hids i had the same problem with the lights flickering so i cut the red and black wire to solve the issue they now work as follows
engine on
1st turn - small side lights on
2nd turn - small side lights on and dipped headlights on
when steering wheel button is pressed the small sidelights stay on, the main beam come on but the dipped lights switch off.
i believe this to be correct because mine is a headlight conversion.
i want to be able to fit hids for my main beam as well as dipped but i req the wiring altered to keep the dipped headlights on when the steering wheel button is pressed or else it will go very dark untill the hids warm up on the main beam!
can any body help!

hope this makes sense

thanks

anthony

[G20RG B]

Hi snookes,
Yes your lights are operating diferently from mine, My car came with the tuscan lights fitted 2003 model.When I press the steering wheel flash/main beam button small sidelight, dipped and main all stay on.

I'm sorry I can't help you with you wiring question hang in there I,m sure someone will be along soon to help

Edited by G20RG B on Monday 1st March 21:31

[VPower]

I have Tuscan style and HID on main only and its not too bad when I change from main to dip.
Apart from the poor Halogen dip!

But I have to say I don't think you need to keep the dip on if you fit HID to the main!
It's like the sun coming up on mine!

If you insist, then here is one possible way to do it.

You need to fit power relays to drive the headlights directly from the battery, controlled by another low power switching relay. So 2 simple on-off 40 amp relays and a double pole double throw 5 amp switching relay.

One relay will power the mains and one will power the dips.
The existing power wires will then only be used to switch the switching relay and thus reduce the loading on the original components. A good thing in itself!

Now when the main beam in off, the switching relay is off and should feed the existing supply to the dip beam power relay, such that the dip can be used as normal but gets its power via the "off" switching relay contacts.

Let me say that again differently - the original dip power wire from the light unit goes through the off switching relay and is only used to switch on the dip power relay!
But this can only get to the dip beam relay when the switching relay is OFF.

Now the original Main beam power wire, when live, will switch ON the switching relay and the dip beam original feed is isolated.
But the switching relay can now power both the dip and main power relay on contacts and they are then both switched on.

You might get a flick as you switch between main and dip, but doing it the above way avoids the need for any high power diodes, electronics and any back feed to the dip circuitry.
Which may or may not cause problems!!

The switching relay is therefore not just a simple on off relay, but a switching relay which has contacts on the closed and open positions.


This all sounds rather complicated, but if you just power the dips via a main beam power relay, you then back feed the dip circuitry and I don't feel this is such a good idea.

[snookes]

But I have to say I don't think you need to keep the dip on if you fit HID to the main!
It's like the sun coming up on mine!

hi steve thanks for the reply
the only thing i was concerned with was when driving down a dark country road and i put full beam on it will take a couple of seconds for the hid to light up so in effect i will be driving without any lights for a couple of seconds!
any thoughts?

anthony

[VPower]

Not sure why, but mine don't take very long at all to light up!
Could be the relays laging in the control unit??

When I go from dip to main, I get a flash and then it just gets brighter very quickly.

Going the other way is my problem, as the adjustment to the dim tungsten glow takes me a second to cope.