need help with headlamp relay

[thrill]

for headlamp relays 141-951-253-b-m5206 or 141-951-253-b the add states "Adding the relay guarantees that current is going directly to the headlamps" my question is where are these relays installed or do they just plug in somewhere? i am running cibie lamps on my 75 914.

[Joe Sharp]

I believe the headlight relay is on the board with the fuses under the dash.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

From the text quoted, I believe that the intent is to add the relay and wiring up near the headlights themselves. The stock setup has all of the current that goes to the headlights running through the ignition switch even before it gets to any relays going to the headlights. You want to get that out of the circuit because it serves as somewhat of a limiting factor on the current that the lights can get and as something that shortens the life of the switch...

The general wiring scheme is:
Run a new fat wire from the battery to the relay, terminal #30 (if it follows the standard Bosch nomenclature). Put a fuse in the line within about 18" of the battery.
Run a ground wire to terminal #85 on the relay.
Unhook the old high beam wire from the headlights, and plug it into the #86 terminal on the relay.
Run a new wire from #87 on the relay to the high beam connection on the headlights. You can daisy-chain the lights the same way the stock ones do, going from one high beam connection to the other light's high beam connection.

Then, any time you go to high beams, the only current going through the ignition switch is the amount of current needed to trigger the relay. The main load is being handled by the relay itself.

You can do a similar trick with the low beams, but they draw less current than the highs and are usually OK for the stock wiring and such.

--DD

[thrill]

Dave you are "THE MAN" I have had this relay for years (came with no instructions) and no one could even come close to telling me how to hook this relay up. I am going to give it a try.

Thanks again