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Discussion Topic:
Ammeter discharge w/halogen lights
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len47merc |
09-26-2015 @ 5:50 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1165
Joined: Oct 2013
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Well said Alan. Ditto.
Steve
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Tracker |
09-26-2015 @ 11:48 PM
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New Member
Posts: 157
Joined: Oct 2009
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Len ..to the contrary, I rarely drive this car at night unless forced to for some reason. I did not pursue the incandescent fix as far as you did but far enough to see that I was not making much appreciable headway. Tonight, I went on the road for a short stretch with the Halogens and for once felt comfortable. Thats what started this whole thread...previously I simply could not see well enough to drive safely with the dim lights. May not be the right fix but I'm going to pursue the in line relay idea & see how it goes. I'll report back later when the relay is installed. Thanks again for all your input...I appreciate it. Tracker
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Tracker |
09-26-2015 @ 11:59 PM
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New Member
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Allan..thanks for your thoughts on this...not quite sure I follow 100 % ...all of the fixes I have pursued came from forum members. On my own, I admit I did not have a clue...all I knew for certain. the halogens will allow me the right amount of light transmission to begin taking the car out at night on occasion but I do believe the advanced technology of the harness I mentioned from Ron Francis will help me protect the dimmer and light switch. Since I have done every thing suggested by Tom, Car Crazy & len...I am at the crossover point of making the halogens work. No one would ever know unless I told them so the car for all intents maintains its original look. Thanks again to everyone....I learned a ton on this one. Tracker
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len47merc |
09-27-2015 @ 5:10 AM
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Senior
Posts: 1165
Joined: Oct 2013
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Tracker - you're welcome. When you reach your final resolve with your headlights post us an update if you will on what you learned during the process and the end results achieved. It will be good for us all to hear and learn from. Very glad to hear your headlight brightness and associated discharging concerns are resolved!
Steve
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ford38v8 |
09-27-2015 @ 9:01 AM
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Senior
Posts: 2758
Joined: Oct 2009
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Tracker, the good advice I spoke about was regarding the use of relays. I haven't heard about a breakthrough in the development of wire harnesses. Perhaps the Ron Francis product also incorporates relays, but relays are hardly "new technology".
Alan
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TomO |
09-29-2015 @ 8:10 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7250
Joined: Oct 2009
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Tracker, You are welcome to any advice that I have to give and I appreciate the way that you use the advice that is given on the Forum. I agree that you needed the ground strap from the engine. That should have been there all along. The relay circuit will reduce the problems with reduced voltage to the headlights, but it may not save your headlight switch and dimmer switch. They may just decide to fail in another way. The switches are made to take the current of the 50/40Watt headlight bulbs and the lack of use is the source of corrosion. Each time you use the switch, the contacts wipe against each other and clean the contacts. The lower current draw of the relay will be more susceptible to failure due to corrosion of the contacts. The higher and normal current draw of the headlights will burn through slight corrosion. What I am trying to get across is that there is no substitute for good maintenance and frequent use of the car and all of its functions and every time that you make a change from stock, you take a chance on adding problems or changing the effect of a problem.
Tom
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Tracker |
09-30-2015 @ 6:18 AM
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New Member
Posts: 157
Joined: Oct 2009
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Thanks Tom...being a wannbe mechanic I rely heavily on your advice and the advice of others who responded to learn the art of repairing a 1951 vintage auto. Using the article you posted and the example of Len I went through the entire sequence of steel wool polishing every thing I could reach including the fuse panel. I did a voltage drop and it immediately led me to the dimmer switch which was visibly corroded. I changed it out and even the halogens got brighter. I got the inline relay but I have not installed it and probably won't. I changed out corroded bulbs in the dash, courtesy lights, dome lights, tail lights m, etc and every thing is brighter. I live on the Gulf Coast where corrosion of nearly anything is made worse by the high humidity we get in the summer mos....a closed garage where I keep the car has only a fan & doesn't do much . The key in understanding whats going on was your comment about pumping the light flasher 20x...that actually worked and led me to the voltage drop which identified what appears to have been 90 % of the problem. I am going to use the halogens and took a long drive last night & could actually see where I was going. The main lesson I take away from all this is to use the car more & not let it sit so long unused . Again, I cannot thank you and all the others enough for your inputs. I am more that satisfied with the end result of bright lights, no ammeter discharge and overall good feeling about the car. Tracker
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TomO |
09-30-2015 @ 7:03 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7250
Joined: Oct 2009
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Tracker, I am glad that you are satisfied with the electrical system on your car. It does make driving more enjoyable when you do not have to worry. The whiter color of the halogen lights is probably better for old guys, it makes object stand out a little better. A little electrical light bulb grease on the bulbs base and connectors will make them last longer.
Tom
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