JeepSnake
September 8th, 2008, 05:18 PM
Guys, I talked with Alan at Pigeon Forge about the hot headlight switches some of us experience, combined with the popping fuse/tripping circuit breaker on the switch. I think we've come up with the culprit and solution.
The factory switch is rated at 15 amps. The short version is that if you're running meatball lamps or upgraded headlamps, you're probably overloading the switch by a little bit. On our car, it's just a couple of amps, but that's enough to heat it up (especially on a switch that has some wear & tear on it).
I have swapped my switch out for a NAPA Echlin #HL6049 headlight switch, rated at 30 A. (I installed my 20 A breaker in it to protect the circuit.) This switch runs nice and cool to the touch, and I have experienced no breaker trips since installing it. Before, even my 20 A breaker was tripping in hot weather and low speeds due to the carryover heat from the switch.
So, if your headlight switch is getting hot to the touch and blowing fuses, this switch should be the ticket. Your original knob will even fit on it, which is a good thing as the NAPA knob is, well, pretty hideous looking.
The factory switch is rated at 15 amps. The short version is that if you're running meatball lamps or upgraded headlamps, you're probably overloading the switch by a little bit. On our car, it's just a couple of amps, but that's enough to heat it up (especially on a switch that has some wear & tear on it).
I have swapped my switch out for a NAPA Echlin #HL6049 headlight switch, rated at 30 A. (I installed my 20 A breaker in it to protect the circuit.) This switch runs nice and cool to the touch, and I have experienced no breaker trips since installing it. Before, even my 20 A breaker was tripping in hot weather and low speeds due to the carryover heat from the switch.
So, if your headlight switch is getting hot to the touch and blowing fuses, this switch should be the ticket. Your original knob will even fit on it, which is a good thing as the NAPA knob is, well, pretty hideous looking.