dimmer switch - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bad6772 · 08-20-2007, 10:11 PM

hey guys quick question.. was driving the 67 today home from work...and my dimmer switch started smoking.....lol i had the headlights on,(brights) and i started to smell that great wire burning smell......lol i reached down and unplugged it ..smoked stoped but the wires was hot ? i ad to change this harness a month or so ago.....can anyone think of whats up....i put one i had liesing around back in it and ....after about 5 mins on the brights it did the same thing...im thinking i got a bad ground????? oh i am running the new tri bar headlamps would this change anything? thanks for any help tony

j

centsless · 08-20-2007, 10:18 PM

The new headlights draw more current than the old stockers. Look at the board vendors to buy and install a headlight relay kit to fix the problem.

bad6772 · 08-20-2007, 10:26 PM

so just buying a new stock switch wont be good enough? i baught the tri bars from good guy s in indy this year(not from a site vendor) funny how the never mentioned<spell anything of the sort,,, (IT LL BOLT RIIIGHT UP TO YER FACTERY EVERYTHANGS) ......sorry had to vent a little thanks centsless

**Palf70Step** · 08-20-2007, 10:34 PM

Run the relay kit. Even if the replacement dimmer would handle it, you are much better off with the relay setup. It'll make your lights brighter and put a lot less current passing through that old harness.

Edit...BTW the tribars will hook up, but it is recommended to have the relay setup because of the extra draw. Don't always believe the salesman!

sleepyboy · 08-20-2007, 10:41 PM

ditto on the relay kit; best 25 bucks spent on the truck so far

Longhorn Man · 08-20-2007, 11:52 PM

even with sealed beamns, the improvement was.. well... night and day.

truckn' · 08-20-2007, 11:56 PM

wires currently in use are not ample enough to hold the current, need to update wiring, everyone is right. not that i'm an expert but i do electrical work for a living

prg machine · 08-20-2007, 11:58 PM

SSSSSSSSSSSMOKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do the relay thing.

bad6772 · 08-21-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prg machine

SSSSSSSSSSSMOKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do the relay thing.

lol yeah i actually said that just like that when it happened ,,,looks as if i am getting a relay. how do i wire this

centsless · 08-21-2007, 07:46 AM

Kit should come with complete instructions. They are pretty straight forward.

bad6772 · 08-21-2007, 05:54 PM

lol it didnt come with anything ..lol but lights.........

Sinister · 08-21-2007, 06:29 PM

Anybody have a link to these relays?

**Palf70Step** · 08-21-2007, 06:36 PM

Try Mad Electrical
They not only have the kits, but a ton of useful information
http://www.madelectrical.com/electri...adlights.shtml

bad6772 · 08-21-2007, 07:47 PM

thanks guys i really appreaciate<spell it... im going there now....ill let ya know what i find
thankss again tony

centsless · 08-21-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centsless

Kit should come with complete instructions. They are pretty straight forward.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bad6772

lol it didnt come with anything ..lol but lights.........

I meant the relay kit would come with details....lol
sorry...

bad6772 · 08-22-2007, 08:24 PM

i want to thank everyone for chimming in on my dimmer switch issue> or the addition of my tri bars......got my relay kit ordered....33 bucks shipped.......hopefully i ll get it this weekend , i hate not driving my 67 at night........thanks again ......tony

prg machine · 08-22-2007, 10:54 PM

I did mine off a post in this forum. I actualy did it on a CJ5 Jeep, but will do on the Chev also. The difference was VERY noticeable. I put mine together at the Napa store from their lighting catalog for like off-road lights. I made a simple mounting plate for the relays, mounted it on a fender and re wired accordingly. Probably the Mad electrical would save you a lot of running aroun though. The amp rating for the relays was a little bit hard for the Napa guy, If you go this route i am sure you don't save but maybe 10 bucks and the shipping from Mad .
If you choose the parts counter route, just tell the parts guy that it is in the off-road lighting catalog.

sneakysnake · 08-23-2007, 09:43 AM

Here are a couple of diagrams(2 or 4 lights) if you want to make up a kit yourself.

bad6772 · 08-23-2007, 11:44 AM

so this set up basically eliminates my headlight switch?

centsless · 08-23-2007, 11:54 AM

No, it does not eliminate anything. What it does is instead of all of the current the headlights use going through the switch and dimmer only go through the relays. The headlight switch and dimmer switch will simply control the relays which are very low current. All of the high current load will only pass through the relay.

prg machine · 08-23-2007, 12:07 PM

Like he say. Kinda brings the 60s up to modern times lighting wise.

JWPOORE · 08-23-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bad6772

i want to thank everyone for chimming in on my dimmer switch issue> or the addition of my tri bars......got my relay kit ordered....33 bucks shipped.......hopefully i ll get it this weekend , i hate not driving my 67 at night........thanks again ......tony

Where did you buy yours at for $33 and did it include 2 seperate relays? I am looking for a kit to upgrade my 70 Blazer and went to the site suggested at MadElectrical and saw this: http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/rly-1.shtml , but it recommends buying 2 kits - 1 for the low beams and 1 for the high beams.

Does anyone know the difference between this kit and the one that the LMC catalog offers that already has 2 relays included? http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/0153.asp

Thanks for any help on this from someone who is clueless and learning.

08-20-2007, 10:11 PM	#1
bad6772 Official Site Guitar Shredder Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 3,955	dimmer switch hey guys quick question.. was driving the 67 today home from work...and my dimmer switch started smoking.....lol i had the headlights on,(brights) and i started to smell that great wire burning smell......lol i reached down and unplugged it ..smoked stoped but the wires was hot ? i ad to change this harness a month or so ago.....can anyone think of whats up....i put one i had liesing around back in it and ....after about 5 mins on the brights it did the same thing...im thinking i got a bad ground????? oh i am running the new tri bar headlamps would this change anything? thanks for any help tony j

08-20-2007, 10:18 PM	#2
centsless sufficiently talented fool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Forest Hill, MD Posts: 2,231	Re: dimmer switch The new headlights draw more current than the old stockers. Look at the board vendors to buy and install a headlight relay kit to fix the problem. __________________ "it's impossible to be surrounded by idiots when you are part of the circle" 2003 Suburban 2002 Pontiac Montana 1981 Corvette 1966 Impala Convertible Click here to support the board

08-20-2007, 10:26 PM	#3
bad6772 Official Site Guitar Shredder Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 3,955	Re: dimmer switch so just buying a new stock switch wont be good enough? i baught the tri bars from good guy s in indy this year(not from a site vendor) funny how the never mentioned<spell anything of the sort,,, (IT LL BOLT RIIIGHT UP TO YER FACTERY EVERYTHANGS) ......sorry had to vent a little thanks centsless

08-20-2007, 10:34 PM	#4
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,762	Re: dimmer switch Run the relay kit. Even if the replacement dimmer would handle it, you are much better off with the relay setup. It'll make your lights brighter and put a lot less current passing through that old harness. Edit...BTW the tribars will hook up, but it is recommended to have the relay setup because of the extra draw. Don't always believe the salesman! __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God! Last edited by Palf70Step; 08-20-2007 at 10:36 PM.

08-20-2007, 10:41 PM	#5
sleepyboy '69 Step Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Marion, Texas Posts: 722	Re: dimmer switch ditto on the relay kit; best 25 bucks spent on the truck so far __________________ It's my truck, and Yes, I CUT the dash, so what??

08-20-2007, 11:52 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: dimmer switch even with sealed beamns, the improvement was.. well... night and day.

08-20-2007, 11:56 PM	#7
truckn' Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: rogersville tennessee Posts: 276	Re: dimmer switch wires currently in use are not ample enough to hold the current, need to update wiring, everyone is right. not that i'm an expert but i do electrical work for a living

08-20-2007, 11:58 PM	#8
prg machine Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 1,069	Re: dimmer switch SSSSSSSSSSSMOKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do the relay thing.

08-21-2007, 07:46 AM	#10
centsless sufficiently talented fool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Forest Hill, MD Posts: 2,231	Re: dimmer switch Kit should come with complete instructions. They are pretty straight forward. __________________ "it's impossible to be surrounded by idiots when you are part of the circle" 2003 Suburban 2002 Pontiac Montana 1981 Corvette 1966 Impala Convertible Click here to support the board

08-21-2007, 05:54 PM	#11
bad6772 Official Site Guitar Shredder Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 3,955	Re: dimmer switch lol it didnt come with anything ..lol but lights.........

08-21-2007, 06:29 PM	#12
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: dimmer switch Anybody have a link to these relays? __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

08-21-2007, 06:36 PM	#13
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,762	Re: dimmer switch Try Mad Electrical They not only have the kits, but a ton of useful information http://www.madelectrical.com/electri...adlights.shtml __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

08-21-2007, 07:47 PM	#14
bad6772 Official Site Guitar Shredder Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 3,955	Re: dimmer switch thanks guys i really appreaciate<spell it... im going there now....ill let ya know what i find thankss again tony

08-22-2007, 08:24 PM	#16
bad6772 Official Site Guitar Shredder Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 3,955	Re: dimmer switch i want to thank everyone for chimming in on my dimmer switch issue> or the addition of my tri bars......got my relay kit ordered....33 bucks shipped.......hopefully i ll get it this weekend , i hate not driving my 67 at night........thanks again ......tony

08-22-2007, 10:54 PM	#17
prg machine Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 1,069	Re: dimmer switch I did mine off a post in this forum. I actualy did it on a CJ5 Jeep, but will do on the Chev also. The difference was VERY noticeable. I put mine together at the Napa store from their lighting catalog for like off-road lights. I made a simple mounting plate for the relays, mounted it on a fender and re wired accordingly. Probably the Mad electrical would save you a lot of running aroun though. The amp rating for the relays was a little bit hard for the Napa guy, If you go this route i am sure you don't save but maybe 10 bucks and the shipping from Mad . If you choose the parts counter route, just tell the parts guy that it is in the off-road lighting catalog.



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08-23-2007, 09:43 AM	#18
sneakysnake It's a catastrophic success. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,077	Re: dimmer switch Here are a couple of diagrams(2 or 4 lights) if you want to make up a kit yourself. Attached Images

08-23-2007, 11:44 AM	#19
bad6772 Official Site Guitar Shredder Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 3,955	Re: dimmer switch so this set up basically eliminates my headlight switch?

08-23-2007, 11:54 AM	#20
centsless sufficiently talented fool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Forest Hill, MD Posts: 2,231	Re: dimmer switch No, it does not eliminate anything. What it does is instead of all of the current the headlights use going through the switch and dimmer only go through the relays. The headlight switch and dimmer switch will simply control the relays which are very low current. All of the high current load will only pass through the relay. __________________ "it's impossible to be surrounded by idiots when you are part of the circle" 2003 Suburban 2002 Pontiac Montana 1981 Corvette 1966 Impala Convertible Click here to support the board

08-23-2007, 12:07 PM	#21
prg machine Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 1,069	Re: dimmer switch Like he say. Kinda brings the 60s up to modern times lighting wise.

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