Headlight Switch

[tincan1966]

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

Actually, you were correct with your initial description. I disagree with what tincan1966 said about the orange wire being an output from the headlight switch. The orange wire is a fused input to the H/L switch that is live all the time (not switched on/off via the H/L switch like an output would be).

If you look at the factory wiring diagrams, the main power feed wire (usually red) has a factory splice that branches off to feed the headlight switch, ignition switch, and one side of the "TAIL STOP" fuse (among others). The other side of the "TAIL STOP" fuse is connected to the orange wire that feeds power to another factory splice that brances off to feed the brake light switch, dome light, and headlight switch.

As you said earlier, the two inputs to the H/L switch (red unfused, and orange fused) allow the circuits to be separated so a short in the tail/brake lights won't take out the headlights or vice versa. And yes, there is usually a circuit breaker built into the H/L switch to protect the headlight circuit since the red feed wire is unfused.

Since we're being so critical of descriptions, I never said the orange wires were a "switched" output.
BUT like I said, I'm ok with you disagreeing, I never claimed to be an expert and darn sure don't want to ruffle anyone's painties over it. I just read the diagrams I have differently and know how mine and all the ones I've wired in the past worked. That's all.