I am home but the lights arent on

[Ace]

Hi guys, last year after the July Ace's BBQ my driving lights packed it in, they worked for the trip because i used them coming out of the Jenolan State Forrest. Some time after that they stopped working, not sure how long, the bulbs are good and the wiring is fine. At the 2nd last BBQ we did a night run through Gardens of Stone NP so scouse helped me fix them, we traced it back to the relay, we swapped one of the relays being used in the bullbar indicators set up to the driving lights circuit and they worked no worries all night, not long after the trip they stopped working again, now i can only assume that the relay is gone again, i havent looked that hard. Can someone think of anything that would cause the relay to keep going like that? Please note that i know as much about electrics as the general public know about why fuel prices are so high. Matt

[Bytemrk]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Please note that i know as much about electrics as the general public know about why fuel prices are so high. Matt[/b][/quote]

So you know the cause but you can&#39;t fix it hey Matt https://www.aulro.com/afvb/


Seriously though..... have you checked it&#39;s all earthed properly? Often a simply solution to intermittant electricals...

Mark

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:#3333FF">also check to make sure the relay is big enough to handle the current required by the lights........

and make sure it is all wired up correctly......do you know what each terminal on a relay is for....?</span>

[Larry]

Also check the relay is away from any water/mud etc. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/05/59.jpg

Larry.

[LandyAndy]

Hi Ace
Buy very good quality relays,they have a heap of current running thru them,cheapies dont last very long at all.I get bosch relays,last around a year,narva and others dont cut it.But remember,if Im travelling to or from Perth in the dark its a hour and a half running the spotties (minus the odd oncomming vehicle).All the replaced relays in the last 20 years have been burnt out,feel how hot they are with the spots running.
Andrew

[alexmacca]

Also ensure that you have a fuse fitted. There could be a short that is burning out the relay. By fitting an in-line fuse, you should hopefully blow the fuse rather than the relay.

Alex

[drivesafe]

Hi Ace, how many driving lights are you running off the relay(s) and what wattage are the globes.

I have been running driving lights on different vehicles for over 30 years and I have only had to replace a few relays.

In the early days, I occasionally had to replace the New Era relays but most relays were, in those days, renowned for sticking not burning out.

I do heaps of night driving and I can’t remember having to replace a relay, for any reason, in the last 10 years but I also don’t overload my relays.

If you are having problems then, as LandyAndy pointed out, crap relays are most likely the problem and the worst relays on the market are Narva.

Post us the stats for your set up and we will see if there is any obvious problem.

Cheers.

[rick130]

and the worst relays on the market are Narva.

ahhh, poop. I used Narva when I 'upgraded' my headlights Drivesafe four years ago. (used to usually use Hella or Bosch)
I was really happy in my ignorance, now I'm going to worry till I swap them out....:p

[stevo]

water and mud will kill relays if they are mounted in the engine bay always mount them with the terminals facing down,most relays are rated at 30 amps which is more than enough and the reason they get hot is the coil gets warm like any solenoid or ignition coil.

Does the relay still click? the contacts may be arcing and building up resestance, on my hyd winch setup the two relays controlling the solenoids I've put a doide on the terminal going to the solenoid when the solenoid is turned off the excess voltage produced from the solenoid coil is shorted to earth.

You can buy relays with the doide in them they only work connected one way.

[drivesafe]

Hi rick130, in this day and age, ALL relays should work and work well but, just recently, I was after a specific type of relay, to use in one of the wiring upgrade projects here on the site.

I deal with one of the large Auto Electrical Wholesales companies and asked my rep for this type of relay.

He informed me his company carried them but as they were Narva, he advised me not to buy ANY Narva relays because of the amount of warranty returns his company gets.

He gave me this info knowing he would probably loose the sale, so it’s not likely that he was spinning a yarn.

As it was, I was able to source a different type and brand of relay through his company anyway.

Cheers and sorry mate.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

In the early days, I occasionally had to replace the New Era relays but most relays were, in those days, renowned for sticking not burning out.
Cheers.

ahhh-- New Era!!

still have a NEW one in the box:D

it should be noted that new era are a PHYSICAL relay---
copper coils and all that
if you know what a set of ignition points looks like on the contacts,, well---

[Ace]

Hi guys thanks for all the info. I know the problem is with relay i just wanted to ask if anyones has had any similar problems. I will modify the location of them and buy new relays and see how it goes. Matt

[drivesafe]

Hi Ace, do you know how much current is going through the relay or how many lights do you have connected to the relay.

Cheers.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/05/57.jpg

[Ace]

Hi Ace, do you know how much current is going through the relay or how many lights do you have connected to the relay.

Cheers.



http://www.traxide.com.au/pics/SigPic.jpg


Hi drivesafe, there are 2 lights running through the one relay, and they are just the run of the mill round narvas, 100-120W or something like that. They ran for 8 months or so with regular use before the first problem, then to have them go within a few weeks seemed odd to me, thats why i didnt go out and get another relay. Matt