14 replies to this topic

[minitahiti]

Hi all,

I have a 1992 Rover Mini which I recently purchased with the 3 dial instrument cluster, my partner and I run more modern cars daily so have forgotten on more than one occasion to switch the lights off. I want to wire in a 'lights on' alarm or switch the headlight/instrument cluster lights wiring to an ignition off switch with a relay. Does anyone know (as I don't have the car with me), which wire in the harness to the light switch would need to be changed/adapted?

'just remember to turn them off' isn't working with my brain!

Thanks.

minitahiti

[GraemeC]

Simple 'lights on' buzzers are available on ebay.

Alternatively put a relay into the main power feed to the light switch that is energised with an ignition feed.  

[MiniMadRacer]

I think as said above a buzzer is a good idea, I think (might be wrong) that the law, here in the UK at least requires, the lights to work independant of the ignotion so you can have the lights on, maybe in the case of a breakdown, but the ignition / engine off

[sclemow]

Yep, I think your right @MiniMadRacer.

 

This would do the job easily :

https://www.autoelec...264/category/53

[Tornado99]

Might Car Mods did a utube on fitting an aux light relay to the ign switched wire that then powers the standard mini headlight switch. A very simple splice in and you're done!

https://youtu.be/ti70RkSVpO4

[minitahiti]

Thank you all.

[Ethel]

Might Car Mods did a utube on fitting an aux light relay to the ign switched wire that then powers the standard mini headlight switch. A very simple splice in and you're done!

https://youtu.be/ti70RkSVpO4

 

That's gonna make it impossible to drive without your lights on & put more load on the battery when you're trying to start the engine.

[johnR]

I think as said above a buzzer is a good idea, I think (might be wrong) that the law, here in the UK at least requires, the lights to work independant of the ignotion so you can have the lights on, maybe in the case of a breakdown, but the ignition / engine off

I imagine that is true of the sidelights but not main/full beam for obvious reasons. Not sure how you'd wire that though - need to look at how modern cars achieve it. Aren't there relays that swap feeds?

[GraemeC]

I think as said above a buzzer is a good idea, I think (might be wrong) that the law, here in the UK at least requires, the lights to work independant of the ignotion so you can have the lights on, maybe in the case of a breakdown, but the ignition / engine off

I think it’s only sidelights that must be functional with ignition off. So put the relay after the switch into the wire to the headlamp stalk.

[Tornado99]

 

Might Car Mods did a utube on fitting an aux light relay to the ign switched wire that then powers the standard mini headlight switch. A very simple splice in and you're done!

https://youtu.be/ti70RkSVpO4

 

That's gonna make it impossible to drive without your lights on & put more load on the battery when you're trying to start the engine.

 

 

No. You are connecting the normal light switch to the relay. The relay engergizes with ign on only, then closes its contacts to feed the normal mini headlight switch....you can leave the rocker switch in the on position all the time if you like, lights will only be on with ign. If you want them off while driving, just toggle the rocker to off like normal. 

Edited by Tornado99, 30 March 2021 - 10:12 PM.

[Ethel]

Didn't look like that in the video, but if you did that the relay failing would cause the lights to fail with no back up and as you couldn't park the car showing sidelights without the key in the ignition I can't see it being legal. You could work round both issues, but it'd take more thought.

 

Sticking a buzzer between the sidelight circuit & the door switch would be easier, but you may need a diode to stop getting buzzed when you use the interior light with the door shut - think you'd be ok with the later interior light with an off position.

[Tornado99]

Didn't look like that in the video, but if you did that the relay failing would cause the lights to fail with no back up and as you couldn't park the car showing sidelights without the key in the ignition I can't see it being legal. You could work round both issues, but it'd take more thought.

Sticking a buzzer between the sidelight circuit & the door switch would be easier, but you may need a diode to stop getting buzzed when you use the interior light with the door shut - think you'd be ok with the later interior light with an off position.

My lighting rocker switch has two positions n first is side/parking lights, second is headlights. So if relay only energized the second position headlights, you will still get sidelights with first position with no key in ingn.
As to potential failure, well yes, there is that risk, just like numerous other failure points for lights (fuses, broken wires, blown bulbs, bad switches etc etc). Relays are generally pretty reliable in my experience. Have several vehicles with decades old relays still working great.

[Ethel]

I understand that, you will put an extra break in your tail light circuit and the same in the headlight circuit that you won't be able to readily bypass. 

 

I'm just saying there are safer ways of doing it if you're going to the effort of doing it at all.

[andyapanel]

The Minispares offering is fine. Keep it simple. 

[viz139]

I fitted a 12volt buzzer ,positive to side lights (red/white) and negative to door switch (purple/white) .Works a treat.