LED Headlights now no highbeam

[MonkeySee]

So I installed some LED headlights in the '70 Bay and now I can't get the highbeams to work. Highbeams worked with the standard headlights, they worked with one LED headlight and one standard headlight. But with both LED headlights the highbeams won't come on. In my unprofessional thinking I'm thinking there's not enough draw to trip the relay over to the highbeams. Similar to how LED turn signals flash fast with a regular flasher relay.
My question is how accurate is this thinking. And does anyone know of an electronic relay for the highbeams if my thinking is correct?

[NASkeet]

So far as I'm aware, the current to activate the headlamp-dimming relay, has nothing to do with the current consumed by the headlamps themselves, but the switch-current passing through the relay's solenoid coil and the steering-column dimmer switch.
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Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

http://www.vwt2oc.net

[Tcash]

Which LED headlights?

[MonkeySee]

Headlights are JW Speaker.
Trucklite has some that were my second choice. Maybe I'll still buy them and put them on my other bus and see which ones I like better.

[OB Bus]

Have you contacted the vendor?
_________________
Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper.

[SGKent]

spin the fuses and check the grounds for corrosion. There may not be enough current to make a good connection if there is corrosion. A standard bulb pulls a lot of current due to lower resistance during the milli-second it heats up. Sometimes that current is enough to arc thru a little corrosion. Your LED may not have enough current draw to arc thru a bad ground or resistance. There are two headlight fuses.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[scrivyscriv]

My Jeep buddy's opinion after doing LED research is those JW headlights are he best LED headlights out right now. But no they don't operate at all like a turn signal, it's totally different tech. The flasher is a bimetallic spring that uses heat from amp draw. The headlight relay uses 12v and ground to pull the solenoid in and contact the internal switch pads.

Building on SGKent'a theory you might have bad contacts in the relay not letting the current through since the draw is so much less.
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[busdaddy]

Does the relay click when you pull the lever?, or nothing happens at all?
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[MonkeySee]

There is clicking.

[busdaddy]

Then the relay is working, SGK's theory about resistance in a fuse, relay contact or ground is the most plausible answer.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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[Tcash]

[MonkeySee]

This one. Model 8700
http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlights-model-8700-evolution-2/

[1967250s]

Have you tried a new relay? Bet the old contacts are pretty worn and may not flow enough juice to jump the pitting.
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'72 Elm Green Deluxe

[Tcash]

[mrbell321]

Did you get this resolved? and were there any fitment issues?

Thanks,
Tyler
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[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate2-42413.png]Click to view image[/url]

1972 Type 2 (T2) mod. 221(1)

[MonkeySee]

Have not gotten this resolved. I just drive around on the low beams and actually that's sufficient for now. As far as fitment goes I did have to grind down some of the cooling fins on the back to get it to fit in the headlight bucket but doesn't seem to be an issue. I was careful to only grind the fans where I can see both sides so I didn't actually go into a sealed portion of the light.

[Danwvw]

If that relay is like my 71 it's a bi-stable relay mine gets wet sometimes and rust out the spring and mucks things up.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[mrbell321]

[vwwestyman]

Sounds kind of like the LED headlights I put on my Thing.

Due to poor connections somewhere along the way, they don't always flip over to high beam. Sometimes they will actually flicker between high and low, especially when a turn signal is on.

I don't remember the exact explanation from the seller but it was something along the lines of if the connections aren't perfect, the light will default down to low beams.

This whole thing is somewhat annoying, but I guess it isn't annoying enough to inspire me to go through and clean every single ground/connection. I don't drive on the highways in the Thing often, and even more rarely at night, so I don't end up using the high beams all that much anyway.
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[BUSBOSS]

IMHO, the existing LED "upgrades" aren't worth it on two fronts: functionality and aesthetics.
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All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten)