Relay Kit?

[Ray]

Hi Guys,
Happy new year to all PCGB members.
I have been trying to find some info on headligh relay kits? I was going to purchase a kit from the States but the price is far too much.
Can someone put me onto a company (UK) who do them or the parts needed to cobble one up, electricals on auto's is not really my bag however?
I am sure this has been covered on the aircooled forum but I cannot manage to find it. Thanks.

Ray

 

[chrishak]

If you get no joy on here, try the Impact Bumpers forum - lots of the members on there have carried out the conversion with US supplied kits. However, as a alternative you could fit a replacement fuse panel from Classic Retrofit, an English company. This looks close to stock but uses modern blade type fuses and includes a headlamp relay. Looks like a relatively easy fit and is pretty good value so it's probably the route I'll take - when I get round to it!
Check their website, it includes comprehensive instructions.
Hope that helps
Chris

 

[GeoffB]

Ray
hi, I fitted one of these kits to my old Speedster very easy to do. I bought through a group buy on the impactbumpers forum but I am sure someone covered it in detail on the forum by buying parts and making up the kit
well worth looking on impactbumpers.com a wealth of info and great bunch of guys

 

[bellaboots]

If electricals are not really your strong point buy the one from the states comes with good instructions the last thing you want to be doing is trying to cobble parts together cars are far to precious for that
best of luck Bob

 

[Ray]

I went to purchase a kit from J West Engineering but the cost of a couple of relays and 50cm of cableing was to my mind overpriced. If this is the only company which makes them up then I shall have to look at an auto electrician to make some up.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I bought the J West kit from Pelican Parts. It was about $30 and $30 for shipping, so about £50 all-in. Is it really worth the trouble of making your own?

The Classic Retrofits fuse panel Chris mentions does look the business.

 

[bellaboots]

As with most things in life if you dont know what you are doing your not just buying the parts your buying the info on how to do it i,m a bit surprised someone who owns a 3.2 is bulking at the cost

 

[Ray]

You would do better keeping those remarks to yourself. Why spend $70 for an item if you can buy for less?

 

[graham tompkins]

As with most things in life if you dont know what you are doing your not just buying the parts your buying the info on how to do it i,m a bit surprised someone who owns a 3.2 is bulking at the cost

You would do better keeping those remarks to yourself. Why spend $70 for an item if you can buy for less?

I can see both views here, with parts "buy cheap..buy twice" .....been there and Dunn it on more than one occasion and will probably do it again...gulp.
i also sometimes wish I could just chuck money at an issue, and let's face it with these cars, there are and will continue to be issues and problems. Sadly I can't justify doing so, it's a hobby. To me it's part of the fun/ challenge of owning a classic car, as is doing as much as you can yourself. It's becoming more and more expensive though as parts costs have escalated along with the values of these cars.
ive had 3.2's for the last 20 years and it's annoying when you look at the prices you pay for parts compared to 10 years ago for these cars. I have friends with TVRs Stags and other classics of similar vintage and they don't face the same issues, admittedly though their cars are not worth 3.2 money, but to me thats no consolation.
Recent case in point.....check the price of an ICV valve from Porsche.
Now check the price of the same valve from Peugeot, or Volvo, same valve, made by Bosch, same part number.
Hmmmmm

Graham

 

[bellaboots]

Well you carry on cobbling bits together thats your choice i just hope for your sake they dont come back to bite you i have had two 911,s and spent £££££££,S keeping them in good order. This is a good forum but it does not mean you will always get the answer you want to here

 

[chrishak]

Well you carry on cobbling bits together thats your choice i just hope for your sake they dont come back to bite you i have had two 911,s and spent £££££££,S keeping them in good order. This is a good forum but it does not mean you will always get the answer you want to here

That's a bit harsh - at no point does the OP propose 'cobbling something together' but he does suggest that he may enlist a professional to carry out the mod. And as we all know, the modification is a relatively simple one and well within the capabilities of any competant auto-electrician - or even a confident amateur. The only thing the J West kit does is package a bunch of proprietry parts together and add instructions.

 

[Ray]

Thanks Chris. You have hit the nail on the head. Enough said on the matter I dont need the grief. Relays dont cost an arm and a leg I am looking for a UK company that can supply/build me a small unit.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Maybe the parts are £20-ish, but how much is someone going to charge you for the time for working out the wiring and putting the kit together? £50 an hour?

Your cheapest solution might be to get 2-3 others and buy as a group. At the very least, it would minimise the shipping cost.

 

[Ray]

Interesting piece regarding relays: http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/relay-guide.html

 

[RICHOT89]

Interesting piece regarding relays: http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/relay-guide.html

Hi Ray,

That was an interesting and informative article - amazing what you can still learn, even at my old age!!

 

[Ray]

Interesting piece regarding relays: http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/relay-guide.html

Hi Ray,

That was an interesting and informative article - amazing what you can still learn, even at my old age!!

Rich,
I dont fully understand the whole issue of relays and electronics as it was not my field I was a mechanical engineer but dabbled in some minor electronics/instrumentation in the chemical industry. Most of this is smoke and mirrors along with a touch of voodoo magic thrown into the mix.

 

[RICHOT89]

Ray,

I too don't understand electronics particularly well, but found this account of how relays work and why they are used quite helpful in increasing my very basic knowledge and I will look at them in a different light next time i replace or rewire one!

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Ray]

Richard,
I may have some good news regarding this post/issue of headlight relay kits. I am in contact with a UK company who build relay kits for many different makes/models of vehicles. I have spoken to the owner of the company and he is looking into the idea of making a Porsche 911 relay kit up for me. If this works out then maybe others might be interested in purchasing a kit manufactured in the UK. The cost of the kits he does at present are in the area of £39. Some are more expensive but they come complete with uprated bulbs.

Ray

 

[chrishak]

Richard,
I may have some good news regarding this post/issue of headlight relay kits. I am in contact with a UK company who build relay kits for many different makes/models of vehicles. I have spoken to the owner of the company and he is looking into the idea of making a Porsche 911 relay kit up for me. If this works out then maybe others might be interested in purchasing a kit manufactured in the UK. The cost of the kits he does at present are in the area of £39. Some are more expensive but they come complete with uprated bulbs.

Ray

Sounds interesting Ray - the kit with improved bulbs will at a sweep fix two of the major failings of our cars, i.e. burnt out dip / main beam switches and poor headlamps. Looking forward to an update - and maybe a bulk buy?

 

[911 targa]

Here's to that my dipped beam is pathetic
Paul