9 replies to this topic

[GermanMoreno]

I am in the process of wiring spots and fogs. I have a 6 pin auxiliary switch and 2 safety relays.

Heres what Id like to happen:

Auxiliary switch « off » : Headlamp switch operates normally the low beam and high beam depending on stalk position… none of the 4 spots activated

Auxiliary switch « on » : 1 pair follows the low beams (fogs) - 1 pair follow the high beams (spots)

 

Do I need 2 safety relays? what's the safest way to wire this?

 

Thanks!

[GraemeC]

I would do it with two 4-pin NO relays.

 

Relay 1:

Connect the low beam feed from the stalk to terminal 85

Connect an earth through your chosen switch to terminal 86

12V supply to terminal 30 (at correct current rating for fogs)

Feed cable to fogs from terminal 87

 

Relay 2:

Connect the high beam feed from the stalk to terminal 85

Connect an earth through your chosen switch to terminal 86

12V supply to terminal 30 (at correct current rating for spots)

Feed cable to spots from terminal 87

 

Essentially the stalk switches the feed to the coil in the relay and the switch connects/disconnects the coil in the relay to earth.

[Ethel]

Can we assume it's a generic dpdt switch? That is the switch will connect the middle  in a row of 3 terminals to either of the outer terminals but each row of 3 is unconnected to the other.

 

 

Generally agreed with Graeme it'd be simplest to tap the headlight feeds under the bonnet for current to drive the relay coils and feed the aux lights from the battery terminal of the solenoid via the relays' switched terminals, use the switch to earth the relay coil for control by earthing the middle terminals & connecting the relays to diagonally opposite terminals.

[viz139]

ON /OFF would suggest the switch is double pole single throw ( dpst ) . Having 6 pins the "extra" 2 pins could be normally closed contacts or is there a light in the switch?

[Ethel]

You're right about the terminology, but wouldn't that apply to it being a crossover:

 

A-B-C

1-2-3

 

A connects to C, with 1 connected to 2 OR B to C with 2 to 3. 

 

It's the simplest switch mechanically with the most functionality electrically.

[GermanMoreno]

The switch Im using is this, and the following diagram is what a gentlemen from my local mini club kindly drew for me.
Note that my car is a 91 Mainstream Cooper.
 

 

 

Attached Files

•  Front-Fog-switch.jpg   43.26K   0 downloads
•  German AUX light.pdf   116.32K   8 downloads

[GermanMoreno]

Heres the drawings

Attached Files

•  Hi-lo-Spots-when-switch-on.jpg   37.57K   3 downloads
•  MPI-spots.jpg   32.99K   2 downloads

[nicklouse]

So what do your rules of the road in Canada say?

 

in the UK you must have separate warning lights for the fogs and the spots. Using the same as you are suggesting might cause problems.

 

also i can’t remember if the Mini Headlights change from Dip to Main as two separate actions or if the dip stays on when the main comes on.

 

in the wiring diagrams shown. Top DWG if you turn the switch on the fogs come on. But if you flash your lights you end up blinding yourself as the driving lights come on.

 

if you want to possibly use the spots you have  have no warning lamp.

 

in the second you will be running all lights in main. Again no separate warning. 
 

i would not wire it either way.

I would use two switches.
Or an (off/on1 off2/off1 on2) so that could (on1/off/on2)

and relays one for the spots and one for the fogs.

[mini-mad-mark]

Do you want  the "fogs" to stay on when you go from Dip to Main Beam?

 

Per Nick's comment, typically in a mini the headlights are either on Dip OR Main (not both at the same time although that can be a handy mod if you want to do it, with suitable wiring!!!)

If you follow the methods above (wiring after the column switch) the Fogs will go out when you switch to Main beam (as there will be no feed to the Dip/Fogs)

 

I have done it slightly differently so that the fogs will stay on  when I switch to Main beam and that activates the Spots. Hopefully my description will explain as I never made a proper wiring diagram

 

Fogs are fed from a relay from the sidelight feed (via a separate switch so they aren't on every time I use the side/headlamps) - not totally sure if this is legal in the UK but as far as I can understand the immense (C&U) text it says that FRONT Fog lamps can be used in place of Dipped Headlights so in theory I think its OK:

 

 Capture.JPG   31.41K   0 downloads

 

Then as per the previous posts, Spots are fed from a relay from the Main beam but again mine also on a separate switch so I don't have to have them on every time I use Main beam

 

Does mean I have two switches though not just one;  guess you could eliminate the switch for the Spots and just have them illuminate every time Main Beam was used

 

If I understood the UK rules correctly Fogs are treated like Dipped Beams and Spots like Main Beams (which they are really when you think about it) 

All this not much use to you in Canada though...Sorry

 

 

[stuart bowes]

If you're adding a switch with two positions, which is additional to the existing light switch, why not just have 1 position as fogs and 1 position as spots

 

generally if you're turning on your fogs you're not really needing to turn them on and off a lot

 

and spots aren't exactly road legal anyway are they so that's very much a limited use thing anyway

 

seems to me this is just way overcomplicating something that should be really simple.  especially when thinking ahead to possible future fault finding

Edited by stuart bowes, 12 May 2022 - 09:24 PM.