higher wattage bulbs without relay

[wewoy_romero]

i often see the advise here that whenever we install higher wattage bulbs on the headlight, that we should add a relay and ceramic sockets.

with ordinary sockets, i know that they might melt because of the high heat generated by the bulbs. but what about the relay? what if i don't install a relay and use 90/100 bulbs? what would be the effect? hindi iilaw? mabilis madrain battery? somehow, i just read the warnings pero wala namang nakapost on what the effects would be.

thanks.

[JohnM]

On stock wiring the current goes through a roundabout route to get from battery to bulb including passing through the headlight switch. Car companies use the thinnest possible wire to support stock bulbs e.g. 60/55W.

Using higher wattage bulbs increases the current and therefore the heat on the stock wires. Some are lucky enough to survive without upgrading the wiring. Most are not as lucky and chances are the headlight switch is the first to go kaput. Headlight switches are expensive to replace.

So be safe and upgrade. Won't cost you that much too

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

[kinyo]

without a relay and corresponding larger-sized wires, the stock wiring for headlights on a honda civic (92-95) is protected by 10A fuse for each filament ... which means you may only have less than 120 watts for each filament

the original design is 55/60W bulb so this have sufficient safety factor ... using 90/100W bulbs on the original wiring is pushing the limit and although it would appear to work, and would in fact work for a long time, the wirings are actually suffering slow decay due to higher currents and eventually become blackish and brittle ... this goes for the switches too in the civic as they also carry the lamp current (although other cars use relay for switching)

hence, the recommended relay and larger wirings for higher powered lamps is not without basis, especially for civic

the alternator and battery in a civic are not affected by 90/100W headlights .. but of course, the battery would drain sooner if headlights are on while engine is off

[170kphlang]

isang bagay ang siguradong mangyayari dyan...


...smoked headlamps

[wewoy_romero]

thanks for the reply guys :D

[hitomi]

naku, use relays sir

i installed high power bulbs on our toyota corona without relays
and it was fine - at first. in the end, the fuse receptacles in the
fuse box melted along with the fuse rendering the whole fuse box unusable.

so i had to go find a used fuse box and had relays installed.
lesson learned hehe

[alwayz_yummy]

noong bata pa ako ginawa ko yan sa maxima ko--145/120 pa nga,e.. ok na ok... pero--

1. tinunaw sockets ko
2. lalong pinalabo reflector ng headlight
3. sinunog headlight column switch ko! buti di wiring...

now i learn--60/55 nalang ako.....