Scott Dorsey wrote:
> Mike Romain <romainm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>>Ashton Crusher wrote:
>>
>>>There is almost no difference in the current draw between the old
>>>bulbs and halogen.
>>
>>There is enough difference to blow the bimetal circuit breaker,
>>especially when the high beams kick in. There is a 'reason' we needed
>>the conversion kits, every one I have seen without it has sooner than
>>later cooked the switch.
>
>
> On many American cars, the current supply for the lamps was very
marginal.
> Going to a halogen doesn't pull a lot more current, but it still pulls
> too much more.
>
> This is opposed to some British cars where the switches just burn up all
> the time anyway, even using the stock lamps.
>
>
>>Some kits (one for my 1970 Pontiac Safari Wagon) even wired the relay in
>>parallel with the light switch circuit so the headlights got two power
>>sources which was enough to keep that bimetal switch cool.
>
>
> Hmm, that's a cute idea. I like that.
> --scott
>
The CB built into all the Ford headlight switches even back in the '60s
was rated at 22 amps, which was plenty of capacity to run all the
exterior lights, when new; the main real culprit is age, affecting
current draw and CB reliability. In the case of Ford, it was compounded
by using marginal quality parts and very light gauge wire; there's a
reason why it's always been called the "Ford fla****ng headlight
syndrome", even though other makes have re****tedly done it (just not as
much).
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