Will a replacement incandescent sealed beam headlight of 12V 50/60W require a relay to protect the standard wiring/switches?
Jack
I’ve never had any problems using 60W headlight bulbs with standard early 70’s lucas switches and wiring.
Nor have I although others say different, the switches fail fairly readily regardless of which type of lights are fitted ime. Dirty contacts and bad earths everywhere I think are probably adding more load than the extra wattage of the lamps on many cars out there.
“Regular” incandescent lamps do not “require” relays, they are what the Mini came with in various countries other than the U.K. However…
It is not an exaggeration to say that ALL headlight installations benefit from having headlight relays. Why? Factory wiring typically passes all the headlight current through the switches in the passenger compartment. Over time the switches and wiring connections build up some corrosion which increases the resistance of the system. This results in slightly dimmer headlights and switches/wiring that overheats. With the relays installed the switches and dash wiring only carries a tiny fraction of the current so the dash wiring and switches last longer. Most people also find the headlights seem slightly brighter. The cost of one new Mk1 switch is typically more than the cost of adding the relays.
I have installed relays in several cars and not regretted it. I am working with a family member on his project car and will encourage him to use relays as well.
I was just wondering if 60W would be an extra load on the wiring since I thought the original Lucas lights were around 35W.
Jack
Regardless of what the car may have had in the U.K., in North America it would have been fitted with the 7" round 6014 Hi/Low sealed beam lamp. Those bulbs are rated for 60/50 Watts respectively for Hi/Low.
There are 7" sealed beam Halogen lamps available at most local parts stores that can be used instead. They are supposed to have the same Wattage rating. However, everyone I know who has installed them is certain they actually draw higher amps than traditional incandescent bulbs. If you fit the Halogens a relay kit is very justified.
Thanks all.
Jack
