Lights/neg earth

[moggyminor16]

can any one help with my lights thay are so dim its unbelivable halagen fitted new switch new dip swith new earth new cables from near the fuse box and an batt earth any more tips the main are o.k how do you change from pos earth to neg earth please let me know thank you

[Willie]

Lo, are All of the lights dim or just the headlights?? If the headlights are
on and you operate the starter do the lights dim even more??
The only thing you appear not to have changed is the battery....
get it checked for 12 volts, it is quite common for one or more of the
six cells in a 12 volt battery to stop producing the 2 volts which each
cell normally stores but this would normally cause difficult starting.
I would suggest that you sort out the problem before you start
changing the polarity. IF the battery checks out ok then run a
wire straight from the unearthed terminal straight to the lead on
one headlamp,if it becomes brighter we can take it from there
Willie

[Willie]

For your info regarding changing to negative earth, if you go to
the 'Technical Tips' section on this web site you will find complete
instructions
Willie

[Gareth]

Hello there!

You're saying that you've replaced the headlamps with new halogen units. Not a bad idea in itself, because Joe Lucas was (still is!) known as "The Prince of Darkness" . Hehehe. However, you might like to think about the following:

Wattage
However, the wattage will make a difference to the brightness. The old sealed-beam units on my Morris were rated at 50w40 or something like that, with 50watts being the main and 40watts being the diped beam.

The dynamo can cope with 60w55, as fitted to Phyllis. Anything more than that, and it hasn't got a cat's chance in Hell, I'm afraid. It just won't produce enough electricity to power them to a decent brightness.

Aside from that, those lovely 130w100 units I've seen for sale really need relays and MUCH better wiring!!

For full brightness of the 60w55 lamps, and to fit accessories like foglamps and a decent stereo, I fitted an alternator.

Alignment
I don't know how you checked the brightness of your lights (I hope it wasn't by looking straight at them... !!), but have you thought that they might be misaligned? Apparently this can make a fair bit of difference.

Failing that, it's probably a dodgy earth to the lights, or indeed anywhere in the loom, most likely.

Anyway, get it sorted and you might even be able to use your Moggy at night .