i have an idea

[blh0007]

Hey guys, I have read the tech article in the tech library about how to get your lights brighter... there is one idea where the author came up with a relay set up where both the high beam filament and low beam filament are on at the same time when you have your brights on... if i am not mistaken i think that the flash to pass switch in the multi function switch switches on the high beam while the low beam is on too... would it work if you just swap the high beam and the flash to pass wires in the multifunction switch. It seems like it would work, but i am not sure if there would be an added load on the multi function switch. I don't think that there would be but i am not an electrician so i was looking to get ya'lls input. thanks

 

[Original_Ranger84]

It would probably work in theory but I dont think that is how the multiswitch is wired up. I think the flash to pass just connects to the highbeam wire so there isn't really a wire to switch. A relay is a much safer and less potentially expensive way to make the highs and lows come on.

I wouldn't do they mod if you leave your highs on for an extended period of time like I do. You'll run the risk of melting your bulb from the heat.

 

[DieselTech07]

I wired my 97 ranger up with relays powering hi and low beams and a relay to turn the low beams on with the high beams, also put a switch in so I could run the hi beams without low beams if I wanted to but I never used it, I also had fuses between the relay and the battery. the way it was wired I had normal LOW beams, and HI/LOW together for my hi beams. I ran it like that an hour to work in the mornings, and an hour home at night on hi beams except for when near other cars five days a week for over a year, also took it on several 9 hour trips at night, I never melted the plastic housing or the glass bulb. seemed to be able to see slightly further and clearer close in.

I also replaced the headlight plug at the passenger side headlight-always was dim on high beams- the plug was bad, I have seen a lot of rangers with the passenger side dimer so apparently it is a common problem. You can buy them at the parts store for maybe $4 each

 

[blh0007]

It would probably work in theory but I dont think that is how the multiswitch is wired up. I think the flash to pass just connects to the highbeam wire so there isn't really a wire to switch. A relay is a much safer and less potentially expensive way to make the highs and lows come on.

I wouldn't do they mod if you leave your highs on for an extended period of time like I do. You'll run the risk of melting your bulb from the heat.

Yeah i probably wasn't going to do the mod just b/c right now i depend on the truck too much and some mods tend to fail. I am just looking at ideas for when it is my designated off roader
based on what i have found in the electrical/ vacuum schematic (EVTM Manual) for my year ranger the flash to pass and the high beams are on two different circuits. but like i said i am not an electrician.
thanks for the input.

 

[blh0007]

I wired my 97 ranger up with relays powering hi and low beams and a relay to turn the low beams on with the high beams, also put a switch in so I could run the hi beams without low beams if I wanted to but I never used it, I also had fuses between the relay and the battery. the way it was wired I had normal LOW beams, and HI/LOW together for my hi beams. I ran it like that an hour to work in the mornings, and an hour home at night on hi beams except for when near other cars five days a week for over a year, also took it on several 9 hour trips at night, I never melted the plastic housing or the glass bulb. seemed to be able to see slightly further and clearer close in.

I also replaced the headlight plug at the passenger side headlight-always was dim on high beams- the plug was bad, I have seen a lot of rangers with the passenger side dimer so apparently it is a common problem. You can buy them at the parts store for maybe $4 each

hey man thanks for the reply...
well its good to know that the bulbs won't get messed up...

 

[06RangerXLT]

just buy HID's. you'd be amazed how well they work. in the winter the reflect the road lines, so even in a white out, you can see the road. ill never drive something without them again.

 

[4.0B2]

IF you do HIDs, please do it RIGHT! all i'm saying...

that and-- i'm putting HIDs in my Hella's, and the next little punk kid that has HIDs in their z71 and aimed higher than HIDs should be, is getting lit up...

 

[Original_Ranger84]

I wired my 97 ranger up with relays powering hi and low beams and a relay to turn the low beams on with the high beams, also put a switch in so I could run the hi beams without low beams if I wanted to but I never used it, I also had fuses between the relay and the battery. the way it was wired I had normal LOW beams, and HI/LOW together for my hi beams. I ran it like that an hour to work in the mornings, and an hour home at night on hi beams except for when near other cars five days a week for over a year, also took it on several 9 hour trips at night, I never melted the plastic housing or the glass bulb. seemed to be able to see slightly further and clearer close in.

I also replaced the headlight plug at the passenger side headlight-always was dim on high beams- the plug was bad, I have seen a lot of rangers with the passenger side dimer so apparently it is a common problem. You can buy them at the parts store for maybe $4 each

For an hour its no big deal but when you make regular 5 hr trips in a start were its dark atleast 80% of the time in the winter... trust me they do mess up. the napa here had a bin of bulbs that they show people who try and do this. I did the mod to my old 84 with the sealed beams but they are set up differently.

HID's would be the way to go and when my current lights burn out I'm probably gonna pick up set of crystal clear lights and a 4300 or 6000 kit with the h3 low beams.

 

[chicagodude]

quote DieselTech07: "I ran it like that an hour to work in the mornings, and an hour home at night on hi beams except for when near other cars five days a week for over a year, also took it on several 9 hour trips at night, I never melted the plastic housing or the glass bulb. seemed to be able to see slightly further and clearer close in."

Would a time delay relay be feasible for controlling the lights in that setup? To make sure they only ran 1 hour. An off delay relay like at the link?
http://www.ics-timers.com/op4142.html