<VV> HID headlight converstion kit

[Bill Elliott]

Not Seth, but I'll chime in...

V=IR

As current runs through wiring there is a loss from resistance. As it 
goes through switches, even more.

The stock Corvair wiring goes from the battery in the back of the car 
through the headlamp switch, through the dimmer switch, and finally to 
the headlamp. The voltage at the headlamp is therefore lower than the 
voltage at the battery. And the amount of light put out by headlamps is 
strongly related to voltage (sorry I don't have the formual handy, but 
suffice it to say you can visibly see the difference in a fraction of a 
volt's difference... and  with some voltage dropage exceeding a volt, 
the difference can be dramtic.)

So you want to take the switches out of the circuit to reduce 
resistance. The switches now only control the relay which then directly 
port battery voltage to the lamps. You still have the resistance caused 
by the wiring itself (and a very very small drop due to the rely) but 
compared to the drop at the switches, it's almost inconsequential.

The switches are also a common point of failure (as much as almost any 
part of the very reliable Corvair electrical system anyway) ... the less 
current they carry (virtually none switching only the relays), the 
longer they last. This also allows you to run higher wattage lamps 
(disclaimer: may not be street legal) if you prefer.

The great thing about the E-code halogens is the light is concentrated 
where you need it... so more voltage getting to the lamps... and/or 
higher wattage lamps... really provide increased light right where you 
need it, not generally scattered like US-spec lens tend to do.

Easy to hook up... you run a large gauge wire forward directly from the 
battery (less R = more V) then use the existing wiring to switch the 
relays. You can use a single relay for both sides (one for high, one for 
low) or relay each lamp individually.  Having fused relays is a good idea...

On my car I'm running standard wattage sealed beam halogens for low 
beams (not relayed) and relayed "light up the world" E-code H-1s for the 
high beams...

Bill





Marc Marcoulides wrote:

>Seth, please provide a plain english explanation of the necessity/usefulness of the relay
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