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ajsstormer
Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2020
Posts: 14
Location: North Saanich, British Columbia
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 Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 3:09 pm Post subject: Dune buggy headlight dimmer |
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Our dune buggy headlights have single filament H3 100w headlight bulbs. They're quite bright w/ great night time visability but there is no dimmer switch in the vehicle. Other motorists let us know that the lights are dazzling them @ night.
Does anybody know a way to wire in a dimmer switch using these bulbs? If not are there dual filament bulbs for these headlights & if so how do you wire in a dimmer? See pics.
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 5474
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 3:46 pm Post subject: Re: Dune buggy headlight dimmer |
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You are going to need new headlight housings and new headlights to switch to a standard dual beam headlight system. You will need to run a couple more wires up front too.
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jspbtown
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Joined: January 27, 2004
Posts: 5156
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aircooledmark
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2006
Posts: 210
Location: MN
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Dune buggy headlight dimmer |
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Yep - 100 watt low beams are gonna make people mad if they're not adjusted properly.
Maybe start with the free solution - adjust your headlights so you're not blinding people. A quick "how to adjust headlights" google search will answer the "how".
If you're looking to add high and low beams, the easiest solution would be two dual filament headlights, a 3-position switch, two relays, and some wire.
This is essentially how mine are wired...
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20377
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: Dune buggy headlight dimmer |
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IF you like the halogens go to H4 bulbs and additional wiring, headlamp sockets/lenses and standard VW dimmer relay....
Wiring would be straight forward off almost any VW wiring diagram...
Just use "headlight" side of this wiring diagram for new wiring..
And there is always the LED option if the H4's are not to appealing...
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Last edited by Dale M. on Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:45 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Pajero
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2018
Posts: 38
Location: Kenmore, Washington
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 5:29 am Post subject: Re: Dune buggy headlight dimmer |
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| It won't make one bit of difference what you do with these lights, as they are driving lights. Even if you put a 55w bulb in, you are still going to have a pencil beam and not a properly formatted headlight beam. |
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aircooledmark
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2006
Posts: 210
Location: MN
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Dune buggy headlight dimmer |
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Here's what I used on my buggy - found these on Amazon. They do the trick!!
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didget69
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004
Posts: 4927
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Dune buggy headlight dimmer |
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| aircooledmark wrote: |
Yep - 100 watt low beams are gonna make people mad if they're not adjusted properly.
Maybe start with the free solution - adjust your headlights so you're not blinding people. A quick "how to adjust headlights" google search will answer the "how". |
You won't be able to get much adjustment on those lights... They're not a focused beam lens - those lights just scatter unfocused light.
bnc
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MrGoodtunes
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2012
Posts: 851
Location: South Florida
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| Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2021 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: Dune buggy headlight dimmer |
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Well, at least that "headlight" has a parabolic reflector. So light is directed straight out. But, look at its lens, plain flat glass! It totally lacks all the little magnifying areas on a standard SAE type lens, or the modern single magnified and focus'd beam. SAE lenses also have nubs to help with aiming adjustment.
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