wig wag head lamps

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Lights, Neon, LEDs, HIDs
Forum Discription: Under Car Lighting, Strobe Lights, Fog Lights, Headlights, HIDs, DRL, Tail Lights, Brake Lights, Dashboard Lights, WigWag, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=128336
Printed Date: May 02, 2024 at 10:12 AM

Topic: wig wag head lamps

Posted By: renegade605
Subject: wig wag head lamps
Date Posted: August 23, 2011 at 2:57 PM

Hi all. I'm trying to install wig wag head lamps in my car. Here's the circuit I'm using:

posted_image

*The LED shown is actually the LED built into the switch, and has a resistor built in as well.

The problem is, that I can't find the correct value for the other resistor. Anything with a resistance of about 30 ohms or greater has no effect (the right high beam and LED stay on the whole time instead of flashing) and anything lower than that flashes once or twice and then the resistor melts from the heat and fails. How is it that I can solve this problem?

Thanks in advance for your help.

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1998 Ford Contour SE
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X794
Boston Acoustics ProSeries 6.2, Proton 250
Kenwood KFC-C6893PS, Proton 222

Replies:

Posted By: casofwaco
Date Posted: August 23, 2011 at 4:55 PM

https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=33860&KW=wig+wag

I found this thread hope it helps

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BAD Boy Emergency Vehicle Lighting

Posted By: casofwaco
Date Posted: August 23, 2011 at 4:59 PM

https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~88726

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BAD Boy Emergency Vehicle Lighting

Posted By: casofwaco
Date Posted: August 23, 2011 at 5:06 PM

this one has two different diagrams u may try.

https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=90392&tpn=1&PN=1

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BAD Boy Emergency Vehicle Lighting

Posted By: renegade605
Date Posted: August 23, 2011 at 5:49 PM

The problem with all these diagrams is they have the flasher supplying the power to the head lamps. I had wanted to avoid this because I have plans to add the fog lamps flashing in conjunction with the high beams. And if I keep it the way I have already I can choose if one or the other or both will flash with the stock switches. Does anyone know how to fix the current system rather than using a whole new one?

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1998 Ford Contour SE
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X794
Boston Acoustics ProSeries 6.2, Proton 250
Kenwood KFC-C6893PS, Proton 222

Posted By: KPierson
Date Posted: August 23, 2011 at 7:40 PM

If the resistor is getting too hot then you need a larger wattage heater. You can calculate how much current is needed by dividing the voltage by the resistance and then multiplying it by the voltage. For instance, for a 20 ohm resistor and a battery voltage of 14.4vdc you would have 14.4/20 = .72A. .72A * 14.4vdc = ~10 watts. Typically, for best results you double that number giving you a 20 watt resistor. The ones you get at Radioshack are 1/4 watt, just for reference!

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Kevin Pierson

Posted By: renegade605
Date Posted: August 23, 2011 at 8:15 PM

After a little reading that's what I had figured. Do you know where I can find that kind of resistor and how much they cost?

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1998 Ford Contour SE
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X794
Boston Acoustics ProSeries 6.2, Proton 250
Kenwood KFC-C6893PS, Proton 222

Posted By: KPierson
Date Posted: August 23, 2011 at 8:42 PM

digikey.com or mouser.com would be where I would start.

They are anywhere from $4 - up. Also, keep in mind that the resistor will still get hot as it is dissipating quite a bit of heat. It will need to be mounted somewhere where the heat won't damage anything.

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Kevin Pierson