As a refresher I rewired by head light by installing relays next to the lights and run the main power cable directly off the alternator. This increases the voltage to the lights and at the same time takes the load off the light switch and the dimmer switch. They should last forever.
I controll my fuel pumps and twin fans manually so I can run either of them , both or none at all. I also have a very good voltmeter hooked to the fuse block monitoring voltage.
I found that running just the fuel pump I had slightly over 14 volts. As I turned on each fan the voltage would drop about 1/2 volt, same with the lights pulling voltage.
By the time the lights were on, both fans running along with one fuel pump in idle conditions the voltage was down to about 12 volts and while running with traffic as low at 13.
Since installing the relays and bypassing the lights through the fuse block I find my voltage much more stable at 14 volts.
If I pull on the lights the voltage gage doesn't move, flipping between high and low while watching the gage doesn't produce any movement in the gage whatever.
While driving down the road I turned the lights off and on while watching the gage and it is rock steady at about 14 volts.
I also find the fans seem to pull the voltage down less then before and the voltage never drops below 13.5 idling with the fans and lights on.
I do have a high amperage alternator but running the lights through the regular wiring did draw voltage down.
As for light performance it was not dark enough to notice any improvement.
I think it is a good modification that cost under $20 bucks and a little time.
The hood has to come off to do this.
This is a close up of the relays and fuses.


This is where I mounted it so it was close to the wiring harness and easy to splice into the existing harness without long extensions

 

Very nice work as usual. Looks so tidy

 

Why didn't you go with fused relays? IMO they are much nicer as they have a fuse on the relay, beats wiring up separate fuse holders in the wiring (and makes it extra tidy )

 

Marck I have an unlimited free supply of relays. I also have never seen a fused relay. This are the only ones I am familiar with.

 

this is a fused relay

 

They are nice Marck but not available here. At least I have never seen them. Too late now to change.

 

Nice job, Norval.

The above quote is funny ... like you're never going to change and refine
your vette ... right.
Once the chilly weather sets in (assuming summer actually arrives),
you will start thinking about fused relays ... I know it.

 

I would have gone that route the first time but I have not seen those available here. I would have to special order them.
MY son get the normal type by the thousands so when I told him I need a couple of relays he dropped off 6. Free is good but in this case I would rather have the fused type.

 

You can get them from J.C.Whitney, but free is alot better than $9.99 plus shipping.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...atalogId=10101

 

I hate to order anything from JC Whitney. They never stop sending the catalog when you do order. Those relays look very inviting. I may have to get me a couple and do the headlight relay thing.

 

Nice looking job Norval


I too rewired my head lights thru relays--activated by the original HL switch. I installed the zillion watt high beams (used to be called aircraft landing gear lamps) at the same time.