Move Headlights to Toggle Switch

[BeePea]

Friends,

I think I would like to move my headlights from the included dimmer/switch to a toggle switch, I have the vintage GPS gauges which I read have their own dimmer switch (but cannot locate it in my garage anywhere). I know this journey will not be straight forward, but apparently I have a lot of time before my engine can even be started due to the chip shortage, so I might as well use that time.

My overall goal is to have one 3-way on-off-on toggle switch, down is driving lights, up is high beams, middle of course is off. I would also like to wire my dash lights to engage when the toggle is in one of the two "on" settings. With this configuration I lose the parking lights, but not sure I would ever use them anyways.

Has anyone done something like this that I can use as a reference? Is there anything that I should be aware of that will be a big hurdle that I didn't think of?

Thank you!

BP

[BrewCityCobra]

I'm attempting to do the exact same thing but don't have anything sketched out yet. Probably in the next few weeks. I'm curious to see if anybody prepared any schematics showing how its done as I have seen a good deal of people ditch the traditional pull switch for a lucas style on-off-on

[BeePea]

I'm attempting to do the exact same thing but don't have anything sketched out yet. Probably in the next few weeks. I'm curious to see if anybody prepared any schematics showing how its done as I have seen a good deal of people ditch the traditional pull switch for a lucas style on-off-on

Glad I'm not alone!

[skidd]

I went with an OFF-ON-ON toggle designed just for this purpose.
the 1st on is running only, the 2nd on is running+headlights on.
I'm trying to find the link to the one I bought. I think the company I bought it from might have gone under.
Pretty sure it was made by Carling Technologies though.

*edit*
I still can't quite find it.. but.. I belive it's called a
ON-ON-OFF Progressive Switch.

Find in this page the text "ON-ON-OFF". You'll see what I mean. I just can't for the life of me find where I bought mine from.
https://www.carlingtech.com/basic-circuit-function

[skidd]

I found it!!
i'm 99.8% sure this is the exact switch I bought.. I grabbed the .250 terminal one. 99% sure it was from these guys too.
https://12voltunlimited.3dcartstores.com/Progressive-Toggle-Switch_p_40.html

[phileas_fogg]

That's a great find!!!

[AC Bill]

Yes, if your going to use a toggle switch for low/high beam switching, you'd definitely want an off-on-on, not an on-off-on. If you had that, it would mean your lights would go off momentarily whenever switching from low to high, or vice-versa. If you mishandled the switch, you could end up driving along, with no lights on.

Better still, get a foot operated hi beam switch. You won't have to take your hand off the steering wheel, and fumble for the toggle switch. Plus, you could then use the toggle switch for your running lights, and headlights on.

Personally, I like having a instrument light dimmer switch. On really dark roads, you will find your gauges reflect in the windshield, and can be a bit bothersome. I dim them as much as possible. In the city, with street lights, lights from buildings and other cars, I brighten them up.

[CraigS]

I am pretty sure that most states require the park lights to be on w/ the headlights on both high and low beam..

[rich grsc]

"Yes, if your going to use a toggle switch for low/high beam switching, you'd definitely want an off-on-on, not an on-off-on. If you had that, it would mean your lights would go off momentarily whenever switching from low to high, or vice-versa. If you mishandled the switch, you could end up driving along, with no lights on."

"I am pretty sure that most states require the park lights to be on w/ the headlights on both high and low beam.."

I agree with both these statements

[Jim1855]

I'm planning an on-on-off switch for headlights. It's what I've had in the past and like it. Head & Park - Park - Off.
But high beams will be on a separate switch on the steering stalk or near that, maybe integrated into the turn signals. I wouldn't want to reach for the dash to toggle high beams on/off.
Jim

[BeePea]

I hadn't considered the "off" portion being an issue when toggling between low and high, very good point. Sounds like I should swap out all my 3-ways (on-off-on) to off-on-on (2x seat heater switch, park/low beams, wiper low/high). I'll need to find a location for the high beam switch, not a fan of the foot switch myself.

Any wiring blueprints out there already? (doubt it, but never hurts to ask) Does this mean I also need to get the ididit relay?

[David Hodgkins]

I used an on-off-on toggle for my parking lights/running lights. Down for parking lights, up for running lights.

I use a foot switch for high beams.

:)

[BeePea]

I used an on-off-on toggle for my parking lights/running lights. Down for parking lights, up for running lights.

I use a foot switch for high beams.

:)

Good to know that I can go this route. Anything special to be on the lookout for the wiring?

[cob427sc]

I believe if someone has one of the old (Gen 1 circa late 90's) manuals, this is how the early FFR cars were wired for the headlight dimmer. I remember wiring this up on my first Cobra back in 97 and somewhere in the manual ( all of about 40 pages back then) it showed how to wire this to work the way you want.

[JoelB]

If you plan to do mostly fair weather driving you could put in a floor button popper for the high beams. That way your three position dash switch can be off, parking lights, low beam + parking lights.

[BrewCityCobra]

So in light of this thread I started laying out how I wanted to run the "toggle" style headlights and had one question I think this thread could possibly help with...

I'm going to be using two toggles, the first will be off-on-on (off, parking lights, parking and headlights). The second will be the switch between high and low beams (still undecided on foot style or another lucas switch on the dash).

That said, I want to wire the lights so that the parking lights, high beam, and low beam are all controlled through three separate relays to avoid frying the lucas switches.

The question is - what size circuit breakers should I have associated with each relay? I was thinking 25A or possibly 30A but wanted to see what the group thought. I anticipate eventually going to a halogen or LED style headlight upgrade.

A sample of what I was looking at is: https://www.amazon.com/Fastronix-Automatic-Reset-Circuit-Breaker/dp/B07NSD3KYH for the circuit breaker.

Any suggestions for good relay/relay holder suggestion?

[BeePea]

So in light of this thread I started laying out how I wanted to run the "toggle" style headlights and had one question I think this thread could possibly help with...

I'm going to be using two toggles, the first will be off-on-on (off, parking lights, parking and headlights). The second will be the switch between high and low beams (still undecided on foot style or another lucas switch on the dash).

That said, I want to wire the lights so that the parking lights, high beam, and low beam are all controlled through three separate relays to avoid frying the lucas switches.

The question is - what size circuit breakers should I have associated with each relay? I was thinking 25A or possibly 30A but wanted to see what the group thought. I anticipate eventually going to a halogen or LED style headlight upgrade.

A sample of what I was looking at is: https://www.amazon.com/Fastronix-Automatic-Reset-Circuit-Breaker/dp/B07NSD3KYH for the circuit breaker.

Any suggestions for good relay/relay holder suggestion?

Is that what the ididit relay does?

[rich grsc]

Headlights draw about 8-10 amps,(conventional, LED way less), running tail lights about 2 amps, again LED less.

[Gale K]

30 is plenty. I use an OFF-ON lucas toggle for lights (driving a relay), and another lucas toggle for low-hi again through a relay. Both 30 amp. As Rich said, much lower draw than 30

[rich grsc]

Here's the thing, the fuse must be the correct size for the wire. If the wire size is good for 20 amp, don't use a 30 amp fuse, the wire then becomes the fuse, and a fire hazard.

[skidd]

So in light of this thread I started laying out how I wanted to run the "toggle" style headlights and had one question I think this thread could possibly help with...

I'm going to be using two toggles, the first will be off-on-on (off, parking lights, parking and headlights). The second will be the switch between high and low beams (still undecided on foot style or another lucas switch on the dash).

That said, I want to wire the lights so that the parking lights, high beam, and low beam are all controlled through three separate relays to avoid frying the lucas switches.

The question is - what size circuit breakers should I have associated with each relay? I was thinking 25A or possibly 30A but wanted to see what the group thought. I anticipate eventually going to a halogen or LED style headlight upgrade.

A sample of what I was looking at is: https://www.amazon.com/Fastronix-Automatic-Reset-Circuit-Breaker/dp/B07NSD3KYH for the circuit breaker.

Any suggestions for good relay/relay holder suggestion?

Just my opinion.
But.. I would not want to add a bunch of relays to control the lights. Only because it adds an unnecessary layer of more complexity , and more potential things to go wrong.
The off-on-on switch I used is rated to handle 20A, and is more than enough to handle the amps (15A fuse, 2x65W@12v=11A) I put through it.
In other words... might be worth simply getting heavy enough sized switches. I know they make lucas style toggles that can handle up to 20A.
again.. just my opinion.

That said.. if you are looking for decent, lower profile relays. These are the relays I used for my DIY TurnSignal (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?24625-DIY-SolidState-Arduino-Self-Canceling-Turn-Signals) system
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RVCFNCK

[GT53]

I used an on-off-on toggle for my parking lights/running lights. Down for parking lights, up for running lights.

I use a foot switch for high beams.

:)

I’ve been wracking my brain trying to remember the last time I tapped a foot switch to hit the high beams, and to the best of my recollection it was in a ‘69 Mustang. Sure wish I still had that car.

Greg