proper projector wiring

Jacbs2007 · Post by **Jacbs2007** » June 24th, 2006, 12:29 pm

My car's finally going in the shop monday for all the body work and paint. They're going to give me a hand with the Civic projector install as well, and my only question that I havn't been able to find is... How can they wire it properly so that I get that extra 20 watts of power to the lights? I've heard a few ppl talk about it, how if you take the time and wire the lights correctly with a harness or something, you can get 20 more watts, which is about 33% more light. Where can I get some information on this so that I can let the guys at the shop know. I'm doing the Projectors for looks, but I want them to be done right, and be brighter too. Safety is always a plus.

Thanks,
-Curt-

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » June 25th, 2006, 12:52 pm

Curt, my friend, I really can't go and do a search and repost all of those links for the info you need. My friend it's all there. Do a search unde my name for this forum and also look to Neil's FAQ I believe on Civic light install. It's all there and since this is a fairly small forum (Electrical Forum) your search should be quite easy. Take a couple of hours, do some searches, do soem reading and you should have your answers. Taras has got some very insightfull posts with this regaurd and well as Grants is also an electrical guru. Fly VFR is also a newer electrical genius too. So look to posts from those and you'll find what you need or at least directions on where to find it.

Jacbs2007 · Post by **Jacbs2007** » June 27th, 2006, 9:58 pm

Thanks J, I honestly thought I had searched enough. I couldn't find anything as far as how to wire them correctly. But if you say there is lots of information regarding this topic, I will take your advice and use some of the tips you gave me, thanks.

ariesdude · Post by **ariesdude** » June 28th, 2006, 1:04 am

Why would you need extra power for projectors? As far as i know the existing halogens draw upto 65W whereas the projectors (that i have read about) need only 35W. And North American cars already have relayed harness....

Grants · Post by **Grants** » June 28th, 2006, 5:02 am

ariesdude wrote:Why would you need extra power for projectors? As far as i know the existing halogens draw upto 65W whereas the projectors (that i have read about) need only 35W. And North American cars already have relayed harness....

The projectors are probably 100W each for high beam. Maybe your getting mixed up with those blue things...

A harness is worthwhile, its just a matter of running a decent sized wire from the battery (or fuse box in the engine bay) to a relay, and using the existing headlight wires to operate the relay.

ariesdude · Post by **ariesdude** » June 28th, 2006, 10:34 am

Hmmm.... For some reason all the articles i read seem to say that the xenon hid system would draw only 35-45W per bulb after warmup. Even the Bi-Xenon that has a high beam option draws the same power because it has just a metal cover that is moved out of the way for high beam - no change in bullb output.....

Anyways a separate harness is a good idea (due to inrush current) according to this website -
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/headlamp-harness.html -
Their wiring schemes are a bit tedious - and if you are removing the halogens totally then Grant's suggestion is much better.

Grants · Post by **Grants** » June 28th, 2006, 5:43 pm

He's only asked for the projector wiring which are halogens. If he's doing a HID upgrade as well - you're right - he wouldn't need a new harness at all.

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » June 28th, 2006, 6:10 pm

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewforum.php?f=44

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=41814

http://www.evilyeti.com/tutorial/projectors/

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=47842

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

http://faqlight.carpassion.info/

http://www.rallylights.com/useful_info/ ... wiring.htm Here's the schematic from this link. Copy and paste to a white background.

http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/index.php

What do you figure? A ten minute search through the search function and the FAQ's and here you are. I didn't focus on HID's because that's not what you're calling for. The post in particular to focus on would be one from Taras. There in lies the set-up that will beef up the gauge of your wires to reclaim that 20% or so lost because of the current oem configuration. This will aid in helping those who wish to run higher than prescribed wattage bulbs without running the chance of causing an electricl fire.

Jacbs2007 · Post by **Jacbs2007** » June 29th, 2006, 4:02 pm

Thanks again for the information guys. I had already looked and found most of this when J-beef spoke of Taras doing a write-up. Once I knew to search for Taras's posts...it was like a hot knife threw butter. Now all I need to do is print all this information out, hand it to the guys at the body shop, and hope they understand this as well as I do. Thanks again everyone.

BTW, this wiring diagram should be made a FAQ for every one that wants to properly wire their projectors.