DEFENDER2.NET - View topic - Headlight relays

↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home · FAQ · New Posts · My Posts · PMs · Search · Members · Map · Calendar · Profile · Donate · Register · Log In

Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Headlight relays

Page 1 of 1

Print this entire topic ·

athelstan

Member Since: 06 Aug 2019
Location: Kent
Posts: 55

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Montalcino Red

Headlight relays

I am thinking of changing the headlights to either uprated bulbs or LEDs.

Having had problems with the light switch on a previous, much older,Defender due to the lack of a relay being fitted in the circuit I thought I would do a bit of research.

I now have a 2015 2.2 XS and after seeing a You Tube video and suggestions of adding a new loom with relays I found a mention that the 2012 - 2015 Defenders were eventually fitted with a relay.

My question is, if this is the case, does this mean I do not need an uprated loom if I decide to go with uprated bulbs or LEDs. 2015 90 XS Station Wagon Puma 2.2
2015 Morgan Plus 4

29th Aug 2019 10:21am

oneten110

Member Since: 02 Jul 2011
Location: Wish I was still in France
Posts: 741

If Land Rover have fitted relays in the headlamp circuits, it would be a bit superfluous to fit more. Especially for LEDs which should have a lower current draw It is not a Defender, it is a One_Ten

29th Aug 2019 10:20pm

macfrank

Member Since: 05 Nov 2015
Location: somewhere in the north
Posts: 1076

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green

Looking at MY2012 diagrams, the three-stage light switch controls relay R117 which carries the dipped and main beams' current. So no big load on that switch. A MY2008 diagram doesn't have that relay and the switch carries all the load.

The current however also goes through the dim switch. But that one wasn't the problem, wasn't it?

30th Aug 2019 10:25am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17391

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

macfrank wrote:
The current however also goes through the dim switch. But that one wasn't the problem, wasn't it?

Oh yes it was, I am afraid. it is in the hands of the Gods which switch melts first or most often. I had more dip/main switches fail than on/off switches before I rewired my headlights properly.

30th Aug 2019 12:15pm

macfrank

Member Since: 05 Nov 2015
Location: somewhere in the north
Posts: 1076

So I guess to fit a second relay for the dim switch was on LR's to do list for MY2017 then...

30th Aug 2019 12:27pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17391

I expect the new Defender has one. At least I hope so.

Perhaps the optional Heritage Pack will have a programmable switch failure simulator built into the lighting ECU.

I found that the improvement in light output achieved by wiring the headlights with decent-sized cable straight from the battery via relays, and fitting Crystals, was so great as to make any further upgrades unnecessary. The fact that full battery voltage is available at the bulb has also produced a noticeable improvement in bulb life (it is well established that bulbs fail prematurely when operated at lower voltages than they're designed for).

30th Aug 2019 12:57pm

macfrank

Member Since: 05 Nov 2015
Location: somewhere in the north
Posts: 1076

Quote:
The fact that full battery voltage is available at the bulb has also produced a noticeable improvement in bulb life (it is well established that bulbs fail prematurely when operated at lower voltages than they're designed for).

I didn't know THAT. I thought it was the opposite.

30th Aug 2019 1:00pm

90 Dreamer

Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2161

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey

Hi @blackwolf does this apply to the later Puma 2.4 / 2,2 cars even??

30th Aug 2019 2:05pm

ericvv

Member Since: 02 Jun 2011
Location: Near the Jet d'Eau
Posts: 5816

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

macfrank wrote:

Quote:
The fact that full battery voltage is available at the bulb has also produced a noticeable improvement in bulb life (it is well established that bulbs fail prematurely when operated at lower voltages than they're designed for).

I didn't know THAT. I thought it was the opposite.

No, it is correct. Read the below.
https://www.google.ch/amp/s/www.topbulb.co...cycle/amp/ You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o
https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I
https://vimeo.com/201482507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw

30th Aug 2019 2:29pm

dorsetsmith

Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: South West
Posts: 4554

07 to 2012 head light relay kits RH and LH driver as fitted by LR see below

https://www.defender2.net/gallery/albums/u...0relay.pdf

Last edited by dorsetsmith on 30th Aug 2019 3:09pm. Edited 1 time in total

30th Aug 2019 2:30pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17391

90 Dreamer wrote:
Hi @blackwolf does this apply to the later Puma 2.4 / 2,2 cars even??

Yes, I think (as dorsetsmith says above) that it wan't until 2012 that LR did anything about it, and I am not sure how good their solution actually is.

Anything prior to that benefits hugely from a wiring upgrade.

30th Aug 2019 3:04pm

macfrank

Member Since: 05 Nov 2015
Location: somewhere in the north
Posts: 1076

I tried to untangle the relevant parts of the wiring diagrams (I was about to try a new software but was faster on paper

)

The part framed in red was added as of MY2012 and I think it corresponds to what was added in the bulletin.
I added wire cross sections in red. Note there still is a "thick" 2.5 going to the relay 117 - for "historical reasons"

Click image to enlarge

So where would you recommend to improve this?

30th Aug 2019 4:55pm

athelstan

Member Since: 06 Aug 2019
Location: Kent
Posts: 55

Many thanks for your replies folks, extremely useful. To someone who regards anything electrical as a black art, I think I am beginning to understand what relays do and why they are needed.

It has been mentioned that LED lights consume less current than conventional bulbs and coupled with the fact that hopefully Land Rover have now added a lighting relay into the circuit I might forgo the loom and put on as much LED gubbins that I can.

I've ordered a pair of LED stop/tail lights and a pair of LED Side Lights together with a pair of LED bulbs for the numberplate.

I'm currently using "search" on the forum for headlight reviews. 2015 90 XS Station Wagon Puma 2.2
2015 Morgan Plus 4

30th Aug 2019 9:47pm

Balvaig

Member Since: 19 Feb 2016
Location: Fife
Posts: 730

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 Landmark LE Corris Grey

Don’t forget that Led’s are polarity sensitive and will only work if connected correctly i.e positive to positive and negative to negative. Normal bulbs work with positive and negative to either terminal
It is always worth checking the existing wiring for polarity before fitting your new units. LR haven’t always bothered to get it right!
You will probably need a new relay for you indicators too. A search on the forum should assist you find a good one.
Hope all goes well.

31st Aug 2019 7:40am

athelstan

Member Since: 06 Aug 2019
Location: Kent
Posts: 55

Thanks for pointing that out Balvaig, that will explain why when changing my wing light bulbs to LED on my other car, two out of the four bulbs didn't work and were binned forthwith. I'm only glad I didn't give the retailer a rollicking for selling shoddy goods. 2015 90 XS Station Wagon Puma 2.2
2015 Morgan Plus 4

31st Aug 2019 12:57pm

Page 1 of 1

All times are GMT

Jump to

< Previous Topic | Next Topic >

Posting Rules

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum