Notices
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Headlight switch question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 24, 2020 | 09:30 AM
  #16  
ReForder's Avatar
ReForder
Fleet Mechanic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
Originally Posted by Bob Ingram
The 6v switch will be ok for the long term. The limiting factor isn’t voltage as much as current. Since the current will be lower at 12v it will be fine.

That said, running all that current through any switch is not the best way to go. I installed headlight relays in my 48, one for low and one for high beams. The current through the switch is just a few ma.
^This is great advice, too. The headlight relays take the heavy work away from the switch itself, which doesn't necessarily allow all of the current to go through to the lights anyway, and off-loading that to the relays often produces a brighter light. The Galaxie also got this upgrade over the summer. The difference in lighting was night and day (no pun intended).
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2020 | 02:39 PM
  #17  
Bob Ingram's Avatar
Bob Ingram
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 763
From: Hillsborough NJ
Originally Posted by avf100
Thanks Bob...thats what Ive read also so Im going to try my original switch.
And I put halogen lights in with relays so Im good there too
I wouldn’t recommend running halogen off of the light switch. They draw a lot of current.

I installed relays and circuit breakers on my 48 when I put the halogen bulbs in.
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2020 | 05:15 PM
  #18  
52 Merc's Avatar
52 Merc
Hotshot
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 4,735
From: Burbank, WA
Originally Posted by avf100
Thanks Bob...thats what Ive read also so Im going to try my original switch.
And I put halogen lights in with relays so Im good there too
If you've done all that, I'd say you're golden.
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2020 | 05:45 PM
  #19  
avf100's Avatar
avf100
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,089
Likes: 598
From: Lancaster, CA.
Originally Posted by Bob Ingram
I wouldn’t recommend running halogen off of the light switch. They draw a lot of current.

I installed relays and circuit breakers on my 48 when I put the halogen bulbs in.
Im not...im using relays
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2020 | 05:54 PM
  #20  
Bob Ingram's Avatar
Bob Ingram
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 763
From: Hillsborough NJ
Originally Posted by avf100
Im not...im using relays
then the whole debate in the headlight switch is done, you only have a few ma running through the switch. You could use a micro toggle and be safe.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1low50
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
Oct 5, 2009 08:55 PM
EastTexasTruck
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
18
Feb 24, 2009 12:11 AM
knash0727
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
14
Sep 13, 2008 06:04 PM
orangeford
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Mar 18, 2003 06:22 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:47 AM.

story-0
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Slideshow: Ranking the 5 things owners love about their Super Duty and 5 things they don't

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:36:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Slideshow: Ranking all 12 Ford truck engines available in 2026.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 13:32:20


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Slideshow: The best Ford F-150 deal for every trim level (XL through Raptor)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-21 15:59:01


VIEW MORE