'75 280Z Headlight Relay Upgrade

[TomoHawk]

I just got one of those relay mounts from the JY.  It was from a 1998 Corolla LE, not the cheaper car. I think it was neat because it even had a cover for the bottom.  So all I need to do is to document the relays, the wires, and figure out to re-label the cover.

Edited June 10, 2015 by TomoHawk

[tamo3]

It's been busy with kids.

Looks like big relay is dimmer relay.

 

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=1432910&parttype=3264

http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/1998/toyota/corolla/body_electrical/dimmer_relay.html

 

Edited June 9, 2015 by tamo3

[TomoHawk]

I don't know what a dimmer relay is.

[tamo3]

It's kind of strange relay.

There is resistance in relay.

 

[SteveJ]

The resistor is probably there to reduce the inrush current when the coil is energized. It also serves to drop the voltage at little going through the coil.

[Captain Obvious]

Nah. Just a resistor in parallel with the coil winding to help reduce the flyback voltage spike when you turn it off. Kinda like the flyback/freewheeling diode, but burns a little bit of current even when the coil is energized.

 

Bad side, burns more power. Good side, cheaper, more reliable, and it doesn't care about coil polarity.

Edited June 10, 2015 by Captain Obvious

[Namerow]

Interested in relays? Have time on your hands for a little light technical reading?  Try this website...

 

http://www.the12volt.com/relays/relays.asp

 

It has a complete forum on 12VDC relays!

Edited June 10, 2015 by Namerow

[TomoHawk]

I was looking at the photo of the Impala relay box I sent to Bruce (CapnO) and I noticed what looks like a big relay using two small sockets.  Is that right?  If so, then this relay box has a total of seven relays capacity, plus 10 or so fuses in different combinations.

 

 

 

 

If you wanted  to borrow a fuse/relay box from another automobile, my choice for the most useful one would be from a '99-2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee,  It has what looks like the tight footprint, a good number of relays and fuses, and it's already wired for mains power.

 

 

[Captain Obvious]

I don't know what GM is thinking with their label nomenclature, but there's nothing special about either of those two relays. One of them is SPST and the other is SPDT:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/161716893434

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/111673850865

 

[Hodgimus-maximus]

this might be a little pricy but how about a Cooper Bussmann RFRM and custom build your own really/fusebox?

 

http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/public/en/bussmann/transportation/products/power_distribution/power_distribution_modules/series_15400_rfrmrear-fedfuserelaymodule.html

 

 or a RTRM

 

http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/public/en/bussmann/transportation/products/power_distribution/power_distribution_modules/series_15300_rtmr.html

[TomoHawk]

Those should be fine if you are wiring the entire car, but all we need for this thread is a pair of 65W/55W dual-filament 12VDC headlamps.

 

And maybe a pair of 55W fog lamps, and a pair of 100W driving lamps.

[Hodgimus-maximus]

the RTRM has room for just 5 relays and 10 fuses

Edited June 15, 2015 by Hodgimus-maximus