31 replies to this topic

[WiredbyWilson]

Generally anything over 60w is marked for off road use only because the wiring designs in cars are only built to accommodate 60w bulbs.

So there is no legal limit as such as has been stated - but from a physical safety perspective 60w is the acceptable level before you risk melting wiring, plastic bowls etc etc.

 

So I quote the "legal limit" in its commonly accepted means. Apologies for nay confusion.

 

The issue with poor lights in a mini is not the bulbs - its the tired, worn out wiring not supplying 12v. I will quite happily fit a kit to the OP's car as he's in Kent and we can record the difference in beam?

 

David

[1984mini25]

Why do you need to upgrade, the Mini Cooper had halogen headlamps as standard from 1990 onwards yet the wiring and switch were the same as a the cars fitted with sealed beams. Don't waste your money on kits that sales people say you need when you do not need them.

 

So a modification people have been doing for years, me included by adding an extra 2 relays, either using 2 prewired spot/fog lamp wiring kits or a specially made loom is a complete waste of time and money then?

 

Seeing as the sealed beam headlamp loom Isn't fused as standard (unless you can prove otherwise) and the weakest link IS the headlamp switch itself, which have been known to melt and at worst catch fire.

Edited by 1984mini25, 30 November 2015 - 01:38 PM.

[WiredbyWilson]

The wiring on earlier cars is actually a lot thicker than later models - something I have noticed when working on front end looms repairing burnt out wiring. Its all about quality of wiring - which invariably is poor now the cars are getting older.

 

So there a re pros and cons - but you will always get a better power supply through a relay controlled system. Otherwise why would modern cars use them?

[CityEPete]

You can't compare it with modern cars that use an ecu and can bus to control the relays for everything from the main beam to the radio etc.

[Carlos W]

You can't compare it with modern cars that use an ecu and can bus to control the relays for everything from the main beam to the radio etc.

 

I'm fitting a 2004 fiesta fuse box and relays to my car.

 

Should be a big improvement on standard wiring

[CityEPete]

It's definitely better no doubt about it but the two systems are chalk and cheese, by modern I didn't really mean 11 years old guts from a 20 year old design anyway, lol :-D

[surfblue63]

 

Why do you need to upgrade, the Mini Cooper had halogen headlamps as standard from 1990 onwards yet the wiring and switch were the same as a the cars fitted with sealed beams. Don't waste your money on kits that sales people say you need when you do not need them.

 

So a modification people have been doing for years, me included by adding an extra 2 relays, either using 2 prewired spot/fog lamp wiring kits or a specially made loom is a complete waste of time and money then?

 

Seeing as the sealed beam headlamp loom Isn't fused as standard (unless you can prove otherwise) and the weakest link IS the headlamp switch itself, which have been known to melt and at worst catch fire.

 

 

 

Just to clarify, the 1990 Mini Cooper had H4 halogen headlamps as standard, it used the same loom and switches as the lesser sealed beam equipped models, thus when fitting a standard H4 set up it is not necessary to upgrade the circuit. If people are fitting bulbs with a wattage rating above the original H4 spec then relays and fuses would be required. 

If you think you need to do it that's up to you, but I do not, and in my own experience have not found it necessary when fitting an H4 conversion.

[GraemeC]

E marked H4 lamps are tested fitted with 55/60W bulbs - fitting anything of higher wattage invalidates the testing and hence the E mark.
Since Construction & Use regs says cars after a certain build date (can't remember the year) must use E marked headlamps, then in 90% of cases bulbs over 60W are illegal for road use. 

Edited by GraemeC, 30 November 2015 - 07:10 PM.

[WiredbyWilson]

You can't compare it with modern cars that use an ecu and can bus to control the relays for everything from the main beam to the radio etc.

 

My point was that relays are used to protect and control high power circuits. I was in no way suggesting that a mini needs a canbus or bsi system installed!!

 

I stand by my point that a relay powered headlight will always out perform a direct wired system - especially when (in this case the OP has a 90's car) the original system is 20 years old using older style wiring that has degraded and now doesn't supply clean, constant 12v supply.

 

On a separate point the later minis with H4 as standard didn't use the same wiring - they used thinwall wiring which copes with higher amperage and in some cases is made of better copper. But ultimately is still 25 years old and will be suffering from degradation and the performance and power delivery will be less.

[David128]

Totally agree the more volts that arrive will always deliver better output.

[CityEPete]

It's a shame a lot of people that fit extra relays and auxiliary fuse boxes make a right dogs breakfast of them usually topped off with a nest of lovely blue scotchloks! :-D

[Carlos W]

It's a shame a lot of people that fit extra relays and auxiliary fuse boxes make a right dogs breakfast of them usually topped off with a nest of lovely blue scotchloks! :-D

Don't swear.

 

Someone had scotch locked into the earth wire on my heater, then removed it leaving bare wire exposed.

 

Wires replaced at the weekend.

[Spider]

Just to set my own post 'straight', I am reliably informed that my high wattage lamps in this country are not street legal, though in 30 years of using them, I've never been picked up for it or knocked back at our annual rego inspections.

 

None the less, I'd rather run these (and at times all the auxiliary lamps) than hit a 'roo or a wombat - they'll write any car off.

 

 

You can't compare it with modern cars that use an ecu and can bus to control the relays for everything from the main beam to the radio etc.

 

Yes, but aren't these computers on wheels rather than a car?

[dklawson]

Someone had scotch locked into the earth wire on my heater, then removed it leaving bare wire exposed.

 

It's fine you replaced the wire.  However, keep in mind that you did replace an earth wire.  If its bare spot touched anything it wasn't going to short and cause a problem.  It was after all an earth wire.

 

Most of the discussion in this thread has been on what I still consider "new" cars.  Minis legally imported to the U.S. were made before about 1970.  Most people over here that switch to sealed beam halogens add a relay kit.  There are just too many cases of melted headlight switches and damaged headlight wiring to NOT add the relays.  The relay kit typically costs less than one OEM Mk1 headlight toggle switch and is therefore cheap insurance.

[Carlos W]

 

Someone had scotch locked into the earth wire on my heater, then removed it leaving bare wire exposed.

 

It's fine you replaced the wire.  However, keep in mind that you did replace an earth wire.  If its bare spot touched anything it wasn't going to short and cause a problem.  It was after all an earth wire.

 

The heater is all shiny, I couldn't leave split wires