mobileauto2000
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I am tired of always replacing headlights. They are expensive and not available locally for me.
This morning both low beams were out and I only had one spare.
My truck has a 12 volt system. I use a battery equalizer to charge a third battery for 12v accessories.
So I decided to convert to 12 volt headlights. Here is how to do it.
To start you must have a 12 volt system, you cannot just tap off of one battery as they will become unequally charged and shorten their life.
But if you do have 12 volts its an easy mod.
First you get a 24 volt continuous duty solenoid or relay, two 12 volt 7" headlights. You will need some 12g wire and a inline fuse holder. Also some crimp connectors and eyelets. I used a solenoid as it is what I could get my hands on today. A relay may be cheaper.
![IMG_20130116_131107.jpg IMG_20130116_131107.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279165-b6e170e16c4a9fe5a44f069f1d3b08e6.jpg)
Mount your 24 volt solenoid on the firewall above the dimmer switch and using a wire ground one of the small terminals to a mounting bolt.
Next find wire number 16 going into the dinner switch, unplug it and cut it about one inch from the end.
Using a crimp connector splice a wire onto the the 16 wire coming out of the wiring harness. You will run this wire to the other small thermal on the solenoid. now when you turn on the headlight switch it will activate the solenoid.
![IMG_20130116_131508.jpg IMG_20130116_131508.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279166-753f3290630a74e3698b9ee038199831.jpg)
Take the plug you cut off the 16 wire and splice a wire onto it. Plug it back into the dimmer switch and attach the other end to one of the large terminals on the solenoid.
![IMG_20130116_132050.jpg IMG_20130116_132050.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279167-d86e7669fb0de83e29b1c3d122a38d64.jpg)
Now we need to run a wire to our twelve volt source. This was easy for me as I have a disconnect solenoid for the 12 volt system mounted under the map box. (Almost said glove box and I heard Doghead correcting me in my brain). Connect this wire with your 12 volt source end and install a fuse.
(This picture is the solenoid mounter under map box) Notice the inline fuse.
Run the wire from your 12 volt source to the last big terminal on the solenoid and the wiring is almost done.
![IMG_20130116_133411.jpg IMG_20130116_133411.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279168-ca5510163c593f68e9bbbdfccd2f87fb.jpg)
Now To install your 12 volt headlights. This is the place I did not make good notes.
You will need two headlight plugs. You can get these from any auto parts store.
If you look at the back of you 12 volt headlight you will see two terminals across from each other and one under them. If you now look at the 24 volt bulb you will see the wires are arranged the same way.
Make sure you orientate the bulbs with the top up when comparing. Cut the wires off the 24v headlight and splice them to the same location on the 12v headlight plug. Now install the 12 volt headlights and enjoy.
![IMG_20130116_135440.jpg IMG_20130116_135440.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279170-f2025c12d78402644d5a45168e528bd9.jpg)
![IMG_20130116_140817.jpg IMG_20130116_140817.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279171-8a52bd59c3d616426aa0cc2fba4f39d1.jpg)
(Prov 12:1 [NKJV])
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.
This morning both low beams were out and I only had one spare.
My truck has a 12 volt system. I use a battery equalizer to charge a third battery for 12v accessories.
So I decided to convert to 12 volt headlights. Here is how to do it.
To start you must have a 12 volt system, you cannot just tap off of one battery as they will become unequally charged and shorten their life.
But if you do have 12 volts its an easy mod.
First you get a 24 volt continuous duty solenoid or relay, two 12 volt 7" headlights. You will need some 12g wire and a inline fuse holder. Also some crimp connectors and eyelets. I used a solenoid as it is what I could get my hands on today. A relay may be cheaper.
![IMG_20130116_131107.jpg IMG_20130116_131107.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279165-b6e170e16c4a9fe5a44f069f1d3b08e6.jpg)
Mount your 24 volt solenoid on the firewall above the dimmer switch and using a wire ground one of the small terminals to a mounting bolt.
Next find wire number 16 going into the dinner switch, unplug it and cut it about one inch from the end.
Using a crimp connector splice a wire onto the the 16 wire coming out of the wiring harness. You will run this wire to the other small thermal on the solenoid. now when you turn on the headlight switch it will activate the solenoid.
![IMG_20130116_131508.jpg IMG_20130116_131508.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279166-753f3290630a74e3698b9ee038199831.jpg)
Take the plug you cut off the 16 wire and splice a wire onto it. Plug it back into the dimmer switch and attach the other end to one of the large terminals on the solenoid.
![IMG_20130116_132050.jpg IMG_20130116_132050.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279167-d86e7669fb0de83e29b1c3d122a38d64.jpg)
Now we need to run a wire to our twelve volt source. This was easy for me as I have a disconnect solenoid for the 12 volt system mounted under the map box. (Almost said glove box and I heard Doghead correcting me in my brain). Connect this wire with your 12 volt source end and install a fuse.
![IMG_20130116_134915.jpg IMG_20130116_134915.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279169-2c43eb72d8dbe86e7740cc826886ff46.jpg)
Run the wire from your 12 volt source to the last big terminal on the solenoid and the wiring is almost done.
![IMG_20130116_133411.jpg IMG_20130116_133411.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279168-ca5510163c593f68e9bbbdfccd2f87fb.jpg)
Now To install your 12 volt headlights. This is the place I did not make good notes.
You will need two headlight plugs. You can get these from any auto parts store.
If you look at the back of you 12 volt headlight you will see two terminals across from each other and one under them. If you now look at the 24 volt bulb you will see the wires are arranged the same way.
Make sure you orientate the bulbs with the top up when comparing. Cut the wires off the 24v headlight and splice them to the same location on the 12v headlight plug. Now install the 12 volt headlights and enjoy.
![IMG_20130116_135440.jpg IMG_20130116_135440.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279170-f2025c12d78402644d5a45168e528bd9.jpg)
![IMG_20130116_140817.jpg IMG_20130116_140817.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/279/279171-8a52bd59c3d616426aa0cc2fba4f39d1.jpg)
(Prov 12:1 [NKJV])
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.
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