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thefladge Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2005 Posts: 1290 Location: Anaheim, CA
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 9:50 am Post subject: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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I'm wondering if anyone here is using a 4 position headlight switch typically sold for hot rods and kit cars.
It's a single pull out style switch that activates the high beams when pulled all the way out.
The switch would eliminate the need for the floor mounted high beam switch.
I'm looking for advice from someone using the switch.
Does it work well? Are there any problems?
Thanks. _________________ 1957 Vintage Baja Bug.
2110cc engine, 40 IDF Webers on Gene Berg manifolds, Engle 110 cam, Bugpack 40×35.5 Street Pro Heads, W8CC plugs, 12.5 pound Flywheel, Kennedy 1700 pound pressure plate. |
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heywebonya Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2010 Posts: 823 Location: Portage, MI
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 10:18 am Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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Why not install a floor switch? Cheap and easy - plus young people don't know what is is for. _________________ If I knew what I was doing; I wouldn't be building a buggy! |
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thefladge Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2005 Posts: 1290 Location: Anaheim, CA
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 10:26 am Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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The question is concerning a 4 position headlight switch.
Thank you. _________________ 1957 Vintage Baja Bug.
2110cc engine, 40 IDF Webers on Gene Berg manifolds, Engle 110 cam, Bugpack 40×35.5 Street Pro Heads, W8CC plugs, 12.5 pound Flywheel, Kennedy 1700 pound pressure plate. |
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TSFR Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2013 Posts: 365 Location: Columbia, SC
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 11:59 am Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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I had one in my first buggy and it worked, but there was no flashing the highbeams. It was a good option for what it was and made wiring easy to where I didn't use relays. If you are not a high beam flasher type of person then its a solid solution. Also it seems to be a better switch than the cheap pull switches that are sold at the local parts stores. _________________
Thanks,
Jeff
Manxter 2+2 #160 |
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5475 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 12:06 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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I'm using one in my beach buggy that I bought from Speedway Motors. It works fine but would be less fun if I was switching between low and high beams all the time. If I switched back and forth more I would be temped to wire low beams as all the way out (position 4) and high beams and position 3, making it a quick flick to switch to low beams.
The terminals on the switch are simple enough.
1. Power in
2. ON in positions 2, 3, and 4 (tail lights)
3. ON in position 2 (front parking lights)
4. ON in position 3 (low beam)
5. ON in position 4 (high beam) _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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thefladge Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2005 Posts: 1290 Location: Anaheim, CA
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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Thanks.
If I go with this switch I might hook it up so the front running lights stay on with the headlights. _________________ 1957 Vintage Baja Bug.
2110cc engine, 40 IDF Webers on Gene Berg manifolds, Engle 110 cam, Bugpack 40×35.5 Street Pro Heads, W8CC plugs, 12.5 pound Flywheel, Kennedy 1700 pound pressure plate. |
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MrGoodtunes Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2012 Posts: 852 Location: South Florida
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 4:11 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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thefladge wrote: |
... I might hook it up so the front running lights stay on with the headlights. |
That was the way I went at first, but... on long drives at night, especially with brights, my headlight switch would get awfully HOT (stock 1967 bug switch). So I changed it to the more conventional, lower amperage hook up. |
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Wolfgangdieter Samba Member
Joined: June 25, 2008 Posts: 1958 Location: FL Panhandle
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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Headlights should be hooked up through a relay (one for low and another for high beam) - don't use the switched to directly turn them on and off as the switch won't last long. _________________ CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy |
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thefladge Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2005 Posts: 1290 Location: Anaheim, CA
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 11:21 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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Wolfgangdieter wrote: |
Headlights should be hooked up through a relay (one for low and another for high beam) - don't use the switched to directly turn them on and off as the switch won't last long. |
I think you're right. Adding relays is a good idea. There are no relays with the stock switches currently in the car. _________________ 1957 Vintage Baja Bug.
2110cc engine, 40 IDF Webers on Gene Berg manifolds, Engle 110 cam, Bugpack 40×35.5 Street Pro Heads, W8CC plugs, 12.5 pound Flywheel, Kennedy 1700 pound pressure plate. |
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slalombuggy Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010 Posts: 9145 Location: Canada
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:08 am Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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When I build a car I use 2 relays for the lights.
One relay powers up all the park lights and a pair of fog lamps that are on all the time when the ignition is on.
A second relay powers a 30amp (@120V) DPDT toggle switch that I use to control the headlights that I mount so it switches vertically on the dash. High beam is up, low beam is down.
I also use a toggle for the signal lights, but that's another story.
brad |
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5475 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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I've been using the 4 position switch from Speedway Motors without any relays for several years. The contacts, at least on positions 3 and 4, seem to be of sufficient size to handle standard H4 halogen headlamps just fine.
There is nothing special about a relay that makes it better than a switch. Either way works equally well if you have contacts sized for the current involved. Relays can be used.to reduce wiring length as wire has resistance, or they can allow you to use a small low power switch. Sometimes they are used to allow the use of an old switch with failing contacts. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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thefladge Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2005 Posts: 1290 Location: Anaheim, CA
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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EVfun wrote: |
I've been using the 4 position switch from Speedway Motors without any relays for several years. The contacts, at least on positions 3 and 4, seem to be of sufficient size to handle standard H4 halogen headlamps just fine.
There is nothing special about a relay that makes it better than a switch. Either way works equally well if you have contacts sized for the current involved. Relays can be used.to reduce wiring length as wire has resistance, or they can allow you to use a small low power switch. Sometimes they are used to allow the use of an old switch with failing contacts. |
Is this the one you use?
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Universal-Headlight-Switch-with-Hi-Low,41767.html _________________ 1957 Vintage Baja Bug.
2110cc engine, 40 IDF Webers on Gene Berg manifolds, Engle 110 cam, Bugpack 40×35.5 Street Pro Heads, W8CC plugs, 12.5 pound Flywheel, Kennedy 1700 pound pressure plate. |
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5475 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:33 am Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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That is the one I used, I remember that ugly brown knob. Speedway offers a nice aluminum knob to replace it, that I also bought. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Makua Kane Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2018 Posts: 7 Location: Bellingham, Washington
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 1:04 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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slalombuggy wrote: |
When I build a car I use 2 relays for the lights.
One relay powers up all the park lights and a pair of fog lamps that are on all the time when the ignition is on.
A second relay powers a 30amp (@120V) DPDT toggle switch that I use to control the headlights that I mount so it switches vertically on the dash. High beam is up, low beam is down.
I also use a toggle for the signal lights, but that's another story.
brad |
I've been looking to do this exact thing with my buggy. Is there a wiring diagram that I can reference? |
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thefladge Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2005 Posts: 1290 Location: Anaheim, CA
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Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2018 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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I ordered a 4 position headlight switch today. I will follow up with the results after I install it. _________________ 1957 Vintage Baja Bug.
2110cc engine, 40 IDF Webers on Gene Berg manifolds, Engle 110 cam, Bugpack 40×35.5 Street Pro Heads, W8CC plugs, 12.5 pound Flywheel, Kennedy 1700 pound pressure plate. |
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thefladge Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2005 Posts: 1290 Location: Anaheim, CA
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Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2018 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: 4 Position Headlight Switch? |
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Installed.
_________________ 1957 Vintage Baja Bug.
2110cc engine, 40 IDF Webers on Gene Berg manifolds, Engle 110 cam, Bugpack 40×35.5 Street Pro Heads, W8CC plugs, 12.5 pound Flywheel, Kennedy 1700 pound pressure plate. |
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