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Headlight Connection

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25 Jul 2023 10:14 #249989 by tomcat
Headlight Connection was created by tomcat
I am proposing to add a pair of spotlights to my Jimny.
Confused as to whether feed connection to switch should be from the "Red" or "Red/White" wire.
Should be from Full beam wire but uncertain as to which is which?
Anybody able to offer guidance please?
Thanks
 

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25 Jul 2023 15:25 #249991 by fordem
Replied by fordem on topic Headlight Connection
Ever thought about connecting a volt meter to see which wire does what?

The red wire is the high beam wire - please make sure that the "loom" you are using will work with negative switched lights, or your spot lights may not do what you think they should.
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25 Jul 2023 20:25 #249993 by lesgrandepotato
Suggest you do more than just splice out the high beam wire. You probably need a relay in there sensing off that wire judging by the burned mess the previous owner left in my headlamp loom. 

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25 Jul 2023 21:10 #249996 by yakuza
Replied by yakuza on topic Headlight Connection
Funny how it is the same colors as my 1984 SJ 410.
The red is high beam in 1984, would be surprised if it wasn't still :)

Norway 2005 Jimny M16A VVT, 235 BFG MT, 2" Trailmaster, ARB rear lck, 17%/87% high/low gears.

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25 Jul 2023 21:12 #249997 by tomcat
Replied by tomcat on topic Headlight Connection
System I have used on previous vehicles that has been successful is:-
Feed wire from Main beam at Headlight to Switch
Switch to Relay Pin 86
Switch to Warning Light [earthed]
Fusebox to Relay Pin 30
Relay Pin 85 to Earth
Relay Pin 87 to Spot Lights

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26 Jul 2023 01:52 #250000 by fordem
Replied by fordem on topic Headlight Connection

System I have used on previous vehicles that has been successful is:-
 

Did those vehicles have positive switched headlights?  I'm guessing the answer is no, but, try it and see.

If it doesn't work the way you expect try wiring #85 to a positive source, same source as #30 should work - the warning light might do odd things though...

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26 Jul 2023 12:31 #250004 by DrRobin
Replied by DrRobin on topic Headlight Connection

System I have used on previous vehicles that has been successful is:-
Feed wire from Main beam at Headlight to Switch
Switch to Relay Pin 86
Switch to Warning Light [earthed]
Fusebox to Relay Pin 30
Relay Pin 85 to Earth
Relay Pin 87 to Spot Lights
 
As Fordem says, Jimny's have negative switched headlights (the bulb common goes to +12V, then each filamanet wire is switched to ground) so you will need to modify the relay as follows:

From +12V to Switch
From Switch to Relay Pin 86
From Relay Pin 85 to Main beam (negative switched) so when the main beam is on this is the ground return for the relay.
From +12V to Relay Pin 30 (Fit a suitable fuse)
From Relay Pin 87 to +Positive on your spot lights
From -Negative on your spot lights to Ground

(Note it is only the relay coil which needs to be negative switched, the spot lights can be positive switch by the relay contacts, handy if they are LED spotlights and the -Negative is connected to ground).

If the switch has a warning light built in take the Earth of the warning light to the headlamp main beam (switched to ground), so it comes on when the spot light switch is on and you are on main beam.

The negative switching on Jimny's is unusual, one of the reasons why fitting LED replacement bulbs (even where it is legal) posses a challenge.



 

2020 blue SZ5 (one of the last to be registered in the UK)
Ex 2011 Blue Jimny SZ4
Northumberland Jimny Blog

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26 Jul 2023 17:02 #250009 by jackonlyjack
Replied by jackonlyjack on topic Headlight Connection
All of my electrical ancillaries are wired buy a busbar with it's own fuse box
this makes things easy imo 
If i ever fit a light bar/spots i would run from a sperate switch  

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27 Jul 2023 03:05 #250011 by fordem
Replied by fordem on topic Headlight Connection

If i ever fit a light bar/spots i would run from a sperate switch  

Unfortunately, in most countries, this is not legally permissible - the law usually requires the spot lights to be switched ON/OFF with the high beam lights.  A separate switch is permitted, but when you switch to the low beam headlights, the spots MUST go off.

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27 Jul 2023 08:38 #250012 by tomcat
Replied by tomcat on topic Headlight Connection
Thank you for all the comments.
As a mere Civil / Structural engineer I always find "advanced" electrics baffling!

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01 Aug 2023 05:10 #250063 by tomcat

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01 Aug 2023 05:21 #250064 by tomcat
Replied by tomcat on topic Headlight Connection
I found the easiest to follow was the following system in attached pictures.
 

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