Which is power, which is ground

[Maxoceanblue]

Got these fog lights, they came with two wires attached, a white and a red one. I assumed the white was the ground and the red was the power.

When I opened the lamp to find out the wattage of the bulb I found this:

To me it looks like the red is the ground and the white is the power. Am I correct or wrong? Does it matter if I get them switched?
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1964 Beetle Sedan/1600cc DP 12v converted

[60ragtop]

yes it looks like red is ground and no you don't want to mix them up unless you want to fail the smoke test
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Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[Maxoceanblue]

Ok thanks. I guess I should open up the other one just to make sure one is different than the other.
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1964 Beetle Sedan/1600cc DP 12v converted

[60ragtop]

yes that would be a good idea to check the other one. I've seen the same parts wired different
_________________
Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986

[KTPhil]

The white lead looks like just the extension of the bulb's wire, which is typically white from the woven insulation they usually have for better heat resistance. The mistake is the red ground wire, which should be brown (preferably, or black) to signify ground.

[Jon Schmid]

That crimp job on the red wire is interesting. I would prefer to have the lower part of the lug crimped directly onto the copper conductor. The upper crimp on the insulation is fine as it is for strain relief. Just my opinion.

[KTPhil]

[Cusser]

VERY sloppy crimp job !!!
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[Harleyelf]

That is beyond sloppy, it is a defect for class 1, 2, or 3 IPC standards. The insulation must end in the window between the insulation fingers and the contact wings of the connector. To have insulation crimped into the contact wings is a clear defect... at the least, solder it up; at best, replace the connector.

Might it be English, wired for positive earth systems like Lucas loved to use?

[KTPhil]

[gt1953]

I would use a VOM (volt ohm meter) and check continuity between lamp case and one of the leads. It appears to be a sealed beam lamps. Not sure could not get past the crimp job. Oh Lucas hmmm.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[Jon Schmid]

[Maxoceanblue]

Well I've already hooked them up without reading about all the crimping discussion. Works fine so far. If they should fail I'll be sure to check "the crimp"

Thanks all.
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1964 Beetle Sedan/1600cc DP 12v converted

[KTPhil]

A high resistance connection will get hot. Maybe hot enough to ruin your light. Have you installed a fuse and relay? If not you can toast your switch and maybe do more serious damage.

[old_n_slo]

[vwpackrat]

id replace the ground with a black wire just for the fact the red is so bright and ugly and also so you dont have a splice connection outside the car. Run full lenghth wires all the way to fuse panel.
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62 Convertible Bug
67 Westfalia

[hitest]

I agree- establish some sense right now (or slip on some cheap black shrink tube)- so a roadside repair in the dark makes more sense later. The spade on the bulb's plus wire is easy- it's so whatever hot lead is running to it- it has a shielded female spade- so no accidental shorting (cause you know how people are so good about working with electrical while the battery and accessories are hot).

I can't believe nobody has addressed that ridiculous crimp job!
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[drs1023]

Lucas - Prince of Darkness - ha, ha, ha!!! Haven't heard that since I weaned myself from my brief (yet unproductive) daliance with British Leyland cars. I tried once to trace down a wiring fault in a 70's Jag XJ 12. When I removed the console, it seemed like EVERY single connection had a label with someone's name on it. When I found the issue, it seems that a bloke named Robert didn't know jack sh*t from peanut butter about connecting dual fuel tanks selector switches.

[Maxoceanblue]

Yea I used a fuse and relay and shrink wrapped the connections.
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1964 Beetle Sedan/1600cc DP 12v converted