Chintzy headlight wiring?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 5
Chintzy headlight wiring?
I just soldered in H3 headlight connectors to replace my 9007 bulb connectors, upgrading the front end of my Ex from the faded, yellow 2000 headlights to 2005-2007 XL Sealed Beam headlights. (Gonna sell my 2005-2007 Clear headlights, as I prefer the sealed beams.)
Man, I thought I'd find 14 gauge wire... The high beam wiring looked decently thick, at like 16 Gauge.
For the low beam and grounds, though... I think I've seen thicker wire in cell phone chargers, and those are rated at 2 amps.
You figure a 9007/HB5 bulb is rated at 55/65 watts for Low and High beam respectively. At 12 volts, that's 4.6 Amps low beam and 5.4 Amps high beam.
Welp... Time to start looking at building a wiring harness.
Man, I thought I'd find 14 gauge wire... The high beam wiring looked decently thick, at like 16 Gauge.
For the low beam and grounds, though... I think I've seen thicker wire in cell phone chargers, and those are rated at 2 amps.
You figure a 9007/HB5 bulb is rated at 55/65 watts for Low and High beam respectively. At 12 volts, that's 4.6 Amps low beam and 5.4 Amps high beam.
Welp... Time to start looking at building a wiring harness.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
16awg is good for about 11 foot run drawing 6 amps.
https://www.wirebarn.com/Wire-Calculator-_ep_41.html
https://www.wirebarn.com/Wire-Calculator-_ep_41.html
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
I used this for my headlights: 9007/9008/H13 Conversion Harness Pigtail Set
Stewart
9007/9008/H13 Conversion Harness Pigtail Set
We have upgraded our pigtails to ceramic high temperature 9008 (H13) plugs. This pigtail will convert your 99-04 9007 headlight wiring to 9008/H13 so you can install 05-07 headlights.
We have upgraded our pigtails to ceramic high temperature 9008 (H13) plugs. This pigtail will convert your 99-04 9007 headlight wiring to 9008/H13 so you can install 05-07 headlights.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, CO
I upgraded the entire headlight wiring on my Expedition with a relay kit from Daniel Stern:
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Doing this kit gives your headlights power straight from the battery (via a relay) and not through the headlight switch. It made my lights noticeably brighter.
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Doing this kit gives your headlights power straight from the battery (via a relay) and not through the headlight switch. It made my lights noticeably brighter.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 5
I upgraded the entire headlight wiring on my Expedition with a relay kit from Daniel Stern:
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Doing this kit gives your headlights power straight from the battery (via a relay) and not through the headlight switch. It made my lights noticeably brighter.
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Doing this kit gives your headlights power straight from the battery (via a relay) and not through the headlight switch. It made my lights noticeably brighter.
There's a Code 3 model 710 WigWag that has a set of relays for the headlights and gets battery power straight from the battery.
I'm gonna put that back together... Minus the emergency lighting part, obviously.
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