Upgrade Question ??????
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2010
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Upgrade Question ??????
I upgraded my truck to a 3G but it has come to my understanding that I will also need to upgrade the headlight harness as well as the headlights to get the full effect...Upgrade them to what?.....Also how do i post pix?...
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Highly unlikely. You can build one yourself for fairly cheap using off-the-shelf components.
As a side note, the lighting system is independent of the charging system; I'm not sure who told you that you need to upgrade your headlights to maximize the benefits of a 3G alternator. Headlights are just one of many electrical loads on your truck. The benefit of a 3G alternator is that it can do a better job keeping the electrical system close to 14 volts at idle with multiple loads; the resistance faced by your headlights doesn't have anything to do with this.
I guess you could say that a 3G alternator can make your headlights brighter, and the relay upgrade makes your headlights brighter as well, but the relay upgrade isn't necessary for the 3G alternator to operate at its full potential. The alternator is going to behave the same regardless if the headlight switch contact resistance is in the direct path or not.
As a side note, the lighting system is independent of the charging system; I'm not sure who told you that you need to upgrade your headlights to maximize the benefits of a 3G alternator. Headlights are just one of many electrical loads on your truck. The benefit of a 3G alternator is that it can do a better job keeping the electrical system close to 14 volts at idle with multiple loads; the resistance faced by your headlights doesn't have anything to do with this.
I guess you could say that a 3G alternator can make your headlights brighter, and the relay upgrade makes your headlights brighter as well, but the relay upgrade isn't necessary for the 3G alternator to operate at its full potential. The alternator is going to behave the same regardless if the headlight switch contact resistance is in the direct path or not.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
The complaint with the original setup is that the wiring going from the headlight switch out to the headlights is undersized (higher resistance). The headlight switch placed directly in the path also adds resistance (contact resistance). These resistances in series limit the actual voltage that can appear across the headlight filaments, which lowers the output power, and hence limits the brightness.
The relay upgrade usually uses larger wire (solving problem 1) and then uses relays to switch the headlights directly off the battery. Automotive-grade relays tend to have lower contact resistance than the factory headlight switch. As a result, the voltage across the headlight filaments gets closer to the actual voltage applied to the circuit, with less dropped across the contact resistance and dropped along the wires that go out to the headlights. This yields brighter headlights.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 66
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Ok i understand, the headlight issue was brought up in my readings from other post...but i will look into a harness ....
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Cargo Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 47
From: Eagle River, AK
Nothing. Ford made millions, and millions, and millions of vehicles using the standard headlight setup. The relay upgrade is an improvement.
The complaint with the original setup is that the wiring going from the headlight switch out to the headlights is undersized (higher resistance). The headlight switch placed directly in the path also adds resistance (contact resistance). These resistances in series limit the actual voltage that can appear across the headlight filaments, which lowers the output power, and hence limits the brightness.
The relay upgrade usually uses larger wire (solving problem 1) and then uses relays to switch the headlights directly off the battery. Automotive-grade relays tend to have lower contact resistance than the factory headlight switch. As a result, the voltage across the headlight filaments gets closer to the actual voltage applied to the circuit, with less dropped across the contact resistance and dropped along the wires that go out to the headlights. This yields brighter headlights.
The complaint with the original setup is that the wiring going from the headlight switch out to the headlights is undersized (higher resistance). The headlight switch placed directly in the path also adds resistance (contact resistance). These resistances in series limit the actual voltage that can appear across the headlight filaments, which lowers the output power, and hence limits the brightness.
The relay upgrade usually uses larger wire (solving problem 1) and then uses relays to switch the headlights directly off the battery. Automotive-grade relays tend to have lower contact resistance than the factory headlight switch. As a result, the voltage across the headlight filaments gets closer to the actual voltage applied to the circuit, with less dropped across the contact resistance and dropped along the wires that go out to the headlights. This yields brighter headlights.
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