H1 lowbeams blowing both fuses

[krasuskyp]

I recently installed H1's - they were dusty barn find condition, but very much diamond's in the rough

I plugged them in w/ the JWest pigtail adapters (4prong harness to 3prong light) and they worked fine, maybe tad bit dim

disassembled them, cleaned them up and they turned out spectacular - just a simple dusting returned them to excellent condition



I cleaned the contacts and plugged them in, and blew both 8amp fuses

high beams work fine

my hi/lo stalk had been wonky for years (copper contacts not touching right and lo's would turn off over bumps, despite my fiddling w/ them)

so we metered the harness yesterday and all was fine

connected each light to the battery and they lit up

swapped out the stalk yesterday (what a colossal arsefukk that was!) figuring it had to be that (tho not sure why suddenly as it'd worked in wonky mode for over a year)... blew both fuses

I'm pretty frustrated as this is now beyond my skill set (limited), and I depart Thurs for der 'PALOOZA and the thought of having to go running just fogs for lows sucks nads

can anyone please try to help me figure this out?

I figured it had to be a ground issue but like I said I cleaned them... and they weren't bad to begin with actually.

[jsveb]

Did you somehow switch ground and +
Did that on a bike once. Stupid mistake, difficult to locate.

[Tt surgeon]

I had a similar issue on the slant, it was grounding in the bucket.

[krasuskyp]

just pulled them and had a look... all's fine in there but I did scuff up all the grounds again just in case

however

instead of screwing the units back into the buckets w/ the mounting screw, I just hung them loosely and tested the lights

this resulted in one low working fine and it's high coming on dimly, and the other low coming on dimly, and that low coming on dimly

when I touched the unit, it made contact w/ the painted bucket 'catch' atop the fender there and made small sparks

I turned it all off, screwed them up, and hoped I'd solved it

nope

blew the fuses again

what is this telling me?

ugh - frustrating

[jsveb]

You have switched Ground and +
Post pigs

[jsveb]

[QUOTE=krasuskyp;8172942]


It is somewhat out of focus, but in the RH (on the picture) lamp, it seems ground might be hooked up to the center terminal, and the negative terminal is vacant. Shouldn't negative be hooked up to that one? Better pictures might help some.

[krasuskyp]

thanks Jesper

I did not change any of the terminals / pins... worked before... then merely took H1's apart and reassembled... meaning... the only wire I took off was the ground.

the rest of the wires remained in their locations

just got in, my RF signal wasn't working so I pulled the lense - saw the filament glowing but not lighting up - followed the wire up to the bucket into the clear connectors and wiggled/pressed and it solved that

had hoped it was my issue

nope

signals fine / blew more fuses

awesome

gdammit!

[krasuskyp]

got another multimeter

w/ both lo fuses installed and key / lights on - I've got 12v @ both low beam wires in the harness, and nothing @ ground

hooked up left light and dangled it there - low works fine

however

when switch to hi's, the low glows

grabbed the headlight, and went to set it into the bucket - ZAP... soon as it touched the car it blew the fuse

I've exhausted the possibility of it being any of the dangling wires I've left from stuff that's been previously removed - they're all sufficiently addressed

I looked in the bucket as I set the light in - nothing appears to be touching / grounding as it goes in

can someone please try to help? I've exhausted everything in my knowhow...

[Kozmo930]

Paul.. not sure about H1's I have H4's , but the light issue sounds like ground on low beams that's why they are dim... but some how the power lead is touching ground somewhere to pop the fuse's that is why it sparks . How does this 4 wire to 3 wire hook up ? is something not right there ?

Kozmo

[krasuskyp]

Thanks, Kozmic1!

So, believe it or not... I just solved it.

Kozmon... you get HALF A COOKIE! Jamie Novak gets the other 1/2 for pointing me sorta in the right direction on the 911 forum. He'd asked if I'd wired the H1 wires on the lights wrong.

The H1 wires are unique, in that you cannot mess them up (even me!). Hi / Lo are differing lengths from the plug to the bulb so have to go 'that' way.

The ground is the ground, it's not a spade like Hi / Lo... it's a wide flat wire w/ a hole to screw thru.

So, nothing I did wrong there (or could).

But, Jamie DID get me a wundrin' (and I came in from victory just now to see your kind insightful reply)... so I went back out and looked @ my JWest pigtails (to convert 4 prong harness to 3 prong light)...

...and I find JWest kindly PINNED THEM WRONG.

How nice. WTF?

Swapped the Lo / ground pins, and Bob's mah uncle.

Thanks Jamie for steering me in the right direction...

all's swell now... and... now on to 80/130w muwhaahahahaa 8-)

...and turboPALOOZA tomorrow - yeeeeeeeeha! (sorry Koz!) With lights, even!

[jsveb]

So as I said, you switched ground and +

Seriously, congrats and enjoy the trip, bstrd.

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by jsveb

So as I said, you switched ground and +

The only "switching" that ole' Paula is familiar with is . . . well, you know!

[pkabush]

Ah, it's good to have the Ronster back in action

[Ronnie's.930]

^^^ Ha! Thanks, too funny!!!

Yep, I've missed slinging excrement Paul's way on here - have lobbed a bit as of late via text, but that's just not as fulfilling as public plastering (though the text message verbage is far less "clean")

[krasuskyp]

Oh crap Jesper! Sorry, credit where credit is due!

3way split of said cookie then! You get lion's share, of course! Here:

Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930

Yep, I've missed slinging excrement Paul's way on here - have lobbed a bit as of late via text, but that's just not as fulfilling as public plastering (though the text message verbage is far less "clean")

You know who flings excrement? Monkeys. Here's live action footage of Ronnie occupying hisself during his BAN:



MMMmmmMMMmmmm GOOD!

Now, let's see how long he lasts THIS time (3strikes, yerOUT!)... I'm guessing it won't be long now...

[Kozmo930]

Good to hear you got it whipped

Well it is going to fun watching this unfold with Ronnie ! You guys are so entertaining
Thanks for the cookie

Kozmo

[Tug68]

Great job guys!

[krasuskyp]

we're good fer something, Koz 8-)

See you Sat, Tim! Call Amy to reg either way!

[Ronnie's.930]

Koz, let me tell you, Paul wants to be VERY entertaining, if you know what I mean!

And Paul, the fact that you even knew where to look to find such a gif speaks volumes about yer psychological and emotional status! Hopefully your "guy time" at TurboPalooza will get you right with the world (not sure who's world, though?!)!

PS: please research the differences between "monkeys" and orangutans and then report back to the group, ya' *%&$#@ !!!!

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by krasuskyp

Now, let's see how long he lasts THIS time (3strikes, yerOUT!)... I'm guessing it won't be long now...

And subject you to the anguish that a long-term ban of my person would bring?! Dude, I am hurt that you think me capable of that (ya' %#$&, and %@$#, and &*%$#)!!!!

BUTT, I had best steer clear of the "Summer Pics" thread, right?!?!