Hi  All, a new user with a question for those of greater electrical knowledge than me.

 

I've just suffered complete lights failure due to the sidelight switch burning itself out (A common fault from reading through here), I've a new switch on the way, but being reluctant to have to replace the switch again ( if need be), i wonder if i could add a relay to switch the load and use the switch to just switch the relay.

 

Anyone ever tried this? Anyone know how i'd wire it??

 

Cheers,

 

Glenn

Hi Glenn. The contacts of the sidelight switch are very capable to withstand the load. A sidelight switch usually fails from mechanical reasons or from a short circuit in the relay/fuse box.

Was it actually the sidelight switch contact that burned out or the dipped headlight one? It's most unusual to burn sidelight contacts, but the dip headlight one has to carry a much higher current.

Thanks both, i  assumed it was the sidelight switch as, initially the problem was that pressing the switch would give me sidelights only if i was jiggling the switch, it also seemed to get quite warm. The dip beam switch would switch the headlights on ok but only if the sidelight switch behaved itself first.

 

I've removed and dismantled the old sidelight switch and the contacts look to have been OK may have been some other switch gremlin, i guess i'll find out when the new switch arrives if it solves my issue, but may order the dip beam switch now, as if the one has gone from age/use then the other probably wont be far behind.

 

I'll post a follow up when i know more, just in case someone else suffers a similar issue.

 

Cheers.

I've removed and dismantled the old sidelight switch and the contacts look to have been OK

The contacts may have looked OK, but it's the plastic star wheel inside that pushes the contacts that fails from heat.

As what RicardoM says the plastic wheel operating the contacts melts.. I had the same happen to mine that's how I learnt that I could fit leds inside switchs. RicardoM your air bag wire to earth worked on the fellas car I changed clocks on will rember that fix...