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| Light improvement with out extra lights? Possible? https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35061 |
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| Author: | mini74clubman [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Light improvement with out extra lights? Possible? |
I need to take 'little johhny eager' for a 4-5 hour drive but i won't be leaving home till 9pm, currently the lights on him (74 clubman) are s#!thouse. at this stage the plan is to strap a dolphin torch to the dash or hang it out the window, so it can be turned on or off if traffic comes. also what else should i take, other than jerry-can, oil, coolant, etc.? |
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| Author: | Mick [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 12:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
H4 headlights can be had from car and truck wreckers for next to nothing. A pair of 60/90 bulbs and a relay will see you way through the night. Maybe for less than fifty if you shop around. Mind you thos dolphins have a nice bright zenon globe, they can be rather good. |
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| Author: | VicMini13 [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
For a smaller outlay you could add a relay to the existing circuit - it will probably double the brightness of the sealed beams - and you can change to H4's later. |
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| Author: | buztoy [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 4:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
i could nt beleive the difference it made on my car, i think one of the real problems is the height the mini lights are at, i got the light dishs, lenses and rubber jackets that sit at the back for 10 at the wrecker, out of a landcruiser, then relay and 20amp wire and they were beter than the volvo which are pretty close to plane spotting lights |
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| Author: | Mister White Keys [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I definitely agree, a relay is the way to go. Just the relay will add a significant amount of light output. I've got H4's in mine with relays for both high and low beam running 130/100W globes. For a long trip I'd recommend some spare fluids (oil, water petrol etc.) and a basic tool kit. On a well maintained mini these should get you out of trouble in most cases. |
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| Author: | Spaceboy [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
sealed beams shouldnt be that terrible, maybe the wires need some attention or like everyone is saying a relay might be an idea. H4's are pretty good value and very easy to change over.. i put some in my mini, and then noticed they were left hand drive lights 
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| Author: | slinkey inc [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
H4s + relays are the way to go. On a roundy you should get the Minisport kit, which has curved glass (not as curved as originalm but very good!) and for a Clubman/Leyland any flat H4 setup will do. In fact I reckon flat looks better on a clubby anyways. |
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| Author: | Convertible Mini [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Headlights |
Like everything else a light bulb works best when it is getting the power it needs to work efficiently. Wiring up headlight relays should always be first on the list. Remember Minis are all nearly 30 years old now so one can imagine the state of the contacts in all the switches. Switches pass the current to the lights so if the contacts are not all that good the lights will not be all that good either. Fitting a relay overcomes these problems as the relay becomes the switch supplying the power to the lights. I personally prefere getting the power supply to the relays themselves (Pin 30 on Bosch relays) as close as possible to the Alternator output as that is where the best Voltage on a Vehicle is found. Must remind you here always to fuse a power supply as close to the source as possible. Then what happens is that the original wiring in the car will only be energising the relay coils and the draw through the switches becomes next to nothing. Because of this the switch will last another 30 years too as they will be doing practically nothing from then on. Another important thing is to have an Alternator of sufficient output to cater for all the power demand of your vehicle. Big Sound systems and Amps also need to get the power from somewhere. Original Mini Alternators were not designed with these things in Mind. |
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| Author: | d1ck0 [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:38 pm ] |
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The Big issue is Relays. Run decent sized globes (90/100 90/130 etc) without a relay and things can burn/melt really quickly. I used to like the big fused relays that you could get, and made the loom from the relay to the globes from scratch. Use decnt cable and new plugs. I've seen to many burn. Not to mention the sudden blackness when they fail. As others have said, if $$ are an issue do the relay before a H4 conversion, it will make a big difference to Sealed Beams as well. |
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| Author: | drmini in aust [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
what convertible mini said....^^^ ... and if getting the power to the relays from the battery cable stud on the solenoid (most convenient source of good voltage) use decent size wire to the relay and the earth from it, and don't forget to fuse the supply. I like the `New Era' headlamp relays, they have 2 blade fuses (30A) in the front. 
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| Author: | michaelb [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I replaced the headlights in all of my mini's with H4 type from agradepanels for a great price. They work fine, easy to fit and more light output. |
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| Author: | d1ck0 [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
drmini in aust wrote: I like the `New Era' headlamp relays, they have 2 blade fuses (30A) in the front.
That's them. i couldnt think of the Bloody name. Though when i last used one they had glass fuses in em. |
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| Author: | mad-mk1 [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
[quote="Spaceboy"]sealed beams shouldnt be that terrible, maybe the wires need some attention or like everyone is saying a relay might be an idea. quote] did u do the wiring on the red clubby? that was horendus, cost me 400 bux to get a auto electrition to sort the mess out. |
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| Author: | Spaceboy [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:50 pm ] |
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nope i didnt. i remember someone had rewired the switches on the dash, and put a blade fusebox in it. |
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| Author: | mini74clubman [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Ok. thanks... so now i need to go out and buy as soldering iron, some wire??? and new globes, sorry guys, i'm a noob. help a brother out or is there a thread i can skip too that has the stupidarse wording to help me through? |
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