momentary switch toggle hi beams in car

I have a 1956 Chevrolet which has a floor board mounted dimmer switch (rememer those?...showing your yoru age if you do ;)).

Anyway, I am thinking about wanting to have a turn signal switch that has a momentary push button in it that I would use to switch between hi and low beam. Of course, the way it is now, it is a switch that I step on, and it toggles between each beam.

I have found some components from a custom auto wiring company to do this, but I'm thinking they are quite expensive, and am wondering if I can accomplish this myself with a relay. I've been told that I should be able to do it with a SPDT Latching relay. Like this:

• Momentary switch on steering column to
• SPDT Latching relay
• Wires to headlights (one is hi, one is low) hooked to the relay
• Relay common contact go to headlight switch

Sound feasible?

If so, can anyone tell me: what specific relay (or multiple relays) would I want, and what wires to what pole on the relay? I have looked at a number of the diagrams here, and it almost feels to me I need to use one of the 4 or 5 relay systems. So, as you can imagine, I'm a little confused.

So, wires that I know I have to run are:

• Low beam wire
• High beam wire
• Wire from momentary switch
• Power wire from headlight switch?
• Other Power wire?

Thanks for your input.

roger

hi,

look here....   https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=57075&KW=ween&PN=0&tpn=2  

the part you need is a headlight dimmer relay for a older volkswagen.  the wiring you describe will work fine.  if the "other power wire" is connected to battery (fused of course) , the relay should allow you to have  "flash-to-pass" momentary high-beam operation. 

hope this helps

mark

Thanks. That looks exactly like what I need. I'll check that out.

Based on your comment that the wiring I describe will work fine, you are saying to use the VW Relay, right? I do notice that they say it is a loud relay. I wonder if it is waterproof (can be put in the firewall area) as opposed to inside the car. Also, the guy that was getting these answers indicated he needed to add a relay as his application needed 12v. I'm not sure what would be different from his app and mine. But this looks like a good start that I can play with.

I'm intrigued by your comment about the other power wire to fused battery allowing me to have "fash-to-pass". Would that be accomplished with that same VW relay? But I presume with a different button for the flash.

me again,

the relay isn't waterproof, but that isn't to say you can't enclose it in a small plastic box. it's about 1.25" on each side, 1.75" tall...without wiring attached.  it would only be operating momentarily, slight click, might not be too objectionable.  terminal designations at relay as follows:

30.....battery, 56.....feed from headlight switch, 56a....high beam output, 56b....low beam output, S....switch contact (momentary to ground).  the flash-to-pass function is built into the relay, uses the same switch to activate.

additional part number  R 200.958 company name SWF  .....N.O.S. i presume as i have a few of them

m

Mark

Thank you so much for your replies.

I am left with one more question. My expectations were that I would purchase a lever to replace my turn signal arm, which has a momentary button in it. That would hook to S. So pressing the momentary button on the turn signal lever would change between hi and low beam.

Where I am confused is how I would hook to the S to also do the flas-to-pass function. If I have a momentary switch hooked to the S to change between hi and low, I don't understand how the switch woudl interpret between a momentary to switch between hi and low, vs flash-to-pass.

Would you mind just a little elaboration on how I need to hook that up.

Thanks Again!

(I'm going to start my search for the relay)

hi,

my interpretation of the schematic on the side of the relay shows the following:

terminal 30 connects to the coil of the relay and a contact of a spst section,

terminal S connect to the coil of the relay,

terminal 56 to the common contact of the spdt section,

terminal 56b to the normally closed contact of the spdt section,

terminal 56a to the normally open contact of the spdt section AND the other contact of the spst section.

it is these connections of the terminal 56a that allows the flash-to pass function

terminal 30 supplies battery voltage, terminal 56a outputs voltage when terminal S recieves a ground....with the headlights off of course.

hope this helps

m

Oh, duhhhh....it seems so simple.

So with headlight on, you have to toggle them on/off for 'flasth'. When the headlights are off, hitting that button will flash them.

Thanks so much for your help.

Roger

I've ordered the VW switch. I used the NAPA part number in the link you posted above.

Looking at a turn signal arm, I find the following in the description:

"These low amperage switches require a relay for most applications. "

I presume that the switch/relay I'm ordering qualifies for that statement, and I don't need to take the button to a relay, then to the switch. Would you agree?

you would be correct

m

 I have tried to get my high beam working from a momentary switch on my steering column.

One gentleman suggested purchasing a relay that was for a Volkswagen, and wiring this way:

30.....battery, 56.....feed from headlight switch, 56a....high beam output, 56b....low beam output, S....switch contact (momentary to ground).  the flash-to-pass function is built into the relay, uses the same switch to activate.

So, when I have it wired that way, I get no high or low beams. I do get a flash of my lights ( I Presume High Beams) when I press the momentary switch, whether the headlights are turned on or not.

If I change the high beam plug with the low beam plug, that is, I put the low beam on 56a, and hi beam on 56b, then what I get is no lights when I turn the headlights on. I get no flash when the headlights are off. When the headlights are on I get no lights, except when I press the momentary switch, I get lights on (I am presuming high beams, but not sure) ...no flash.

I thought that possibly the light switch belonged on S, and the momentary on 56. I get nothing with it wired that way.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

hi,

well it appears your wiring is correct.  do you have power on term. 56?..lighting switch turned on to headlight position?  term. S is for the switch contact to ground.  the momentary flash you get should be power on term. 56a. (high beam output)

 I mock set up a simple circuit with a few bulbs, power supply and relay of course...everything appears ok here...operates as described. let me know if i can be of any further assistance, since i recommended the VW relay

Mark

Thanks Mark, for your prompt reply.

I'll do some double checking, but I do think I have power on 56 when the headlight is on. That was the first thing I checked, as I presumed maybe I had knocked a wire off teh headlight switch while messing under the dash.

Another thing of note: I have power on 30 (which of course is Hot, and should), and I find that I have power on S. That is where I have the momentary switch hooked.

I wonder if the relay is bad. Any suggestions on how I should test that?

hi,

the relay, connected as described, will have 12 volts on the 'S' term.  the current is flowing through the coil of the relay with power applied to the '30' term. 

if the relay supplies power to the '56a' term, with power on '30' term and 'S' term grounded, that portion of the relay is operating correctly.  it should make a noise/click when the ground is applied.

with power applied to the '56' term, the power should switch between the '56a' and '56b' terms with each application of ground to the 'S' term..it should also click with each ground pulse applied.

try connecting terms. '30' and '56' together temporarily, putting battery power on the '56' term...jumper wire?.  power should be output on either '56a' or '56b'.(headlights on if connected) if they don't come on, i'd suspect a bad relay, assuming your headlight wiring in the vehicle is correct.  if all is fine, then check the wiring from the headlight switch.

mark

Thanks Mark. That is so helpful.

I have confirmed that the headlight wire gets power when I turn on the headlights.

I will do the testing you mention above tonight, or tomorrow night, and post back here with my results.

Well, it's looking like the relay is bad. I moved the BATT wire to the 56 term, and did not have power on either 56a, or 56b, nor did I get the click when grounding.

It was back in March when I purchased the relay from Napa, so I don't know if they'll make it good, but I'm gonna try that route, or buy another, and see what happens. They'll have to order in the relay, so it'll be a few days before I know the results.

Thanks, Mark, for your help. I'll post back when as fyi, or other thoughts, depending on the outcome ;-). I expect to get a good realy and be successful.

sounds as if it is bad.....did you have term 56 and term 30 powered to battery? if just term 56, then the relay is open on the common contact(defective).  the relay won't click unless term 30 has power. that is the other side of the relay coil.  i do have several of those relays if you have problems exchanging...(inexpensive, as i do appreciate the Tri-fives, having one myself)  let me now if you need any further help

mark

I had just 56 powered. I moved the BATT wire from 30 to 56.

I called NAPA, and while a little skeptical ("A Volkswagen relay in a 56?") , I think they are going to change it out. That being said, with this one not working, I'm a little skeptical about another one.

If I had realized I could purchase one from you, I would have done that in the first place.

I'll let you know how it goes. It'll be later this week before they have the replacement for me.

Thanks for your help.

Mark

Well, getting the new relay did it. It now works.

Thanks so much for your help.

Roger

cool...just in time for the summer : )

m