VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 using a lighting relay to boost 6v headlights..

Has anyone tried installing the Delco 6v headlight relay 1116789 to get some more voltage on the headlights? The instructions call for mounting the relay close to the headlights and running a #10 wire to it. I know my wiry joe replacement harness does not use #10 wire to the headlight junction posts, so I'm wondering if it will make a difference?

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14325332/%21B95%2CZewBWk%7E%24%28KGrHqIOKk%21EzKC6P%21IfBM7E%29bhi9%21%7E%7E_12.jpg

Thank
Mike

The relays main purpose is to bring the power more directly and closer to the light bulb. This eleminates power loss at the dimmer and headlight switch contacts as well as eleminating many feet of poor wiring. From what I have experianced if you have good wiring , such as a new harness the 10 Ga. wiring is not necessary. That being said I have WiryJoe harnesses in two of my cars and bright lights with no relay.
The other thing that may be just as important is to have good grounds. Often the ground can be improved by either adding a ground wire or shake proof washers with good "teeth" that will bite into the metal.
A good test would be to turn on the head lights. Then run a wire directly from the battery (cable) to the light and see if the light (bulb) is brighter with the wire from the battery. On at late '30's car this can be done easily at the head light junction block. Then test the ground the same way. Best done in a fairly dark garage.

My car had 6V sealed beam lights on it when I got it. They looked really bad. I wanted the bugeyed orginal lenses and 6V halogen bulbs. They wouldn't work without relays(chevyofthe 40s),one for dim and one for bright. The electrical engineers at work said to mount the relays close to the headlights. I wanted to put them under the dash,but went along with the experts. They work great.



As far as #10 wire. You can get smaller dia. wire that has the same specs as the #10. (teflon coated w/silver base) It's about twice as high but you won't need but a few ft.

Chevgene, I did your quick test of 12' of #10 & #14 battery to headlamp and there is no difference. I found a wire chart online that confirmed that a 2330 32 CP bulb only carries 4 amps max so your right, the wiryjoe wire should be ample.

Wawuzit, did you change over to H4 6v Halogens? Did you replace the stock 2330 3pin bayonet mount?
Thanks,
Mike

The halogen bulbs came with a chrome like reflector that the halogen bulb pluged into. There were HUGE warning tags about NOT touching the bulb or reflector with your fingers. They are pretty bright,I was impressed. I'm not sure if they were H4 or not,it came as a kit.