RE: Heat from 80/100W lamps?

[Bradley Peet <btpeet@effervescent.com>]

Yeah, power dissipation under heavy load due to (normal) resistance in the 
wires will do that.

Those 100 watt lamps draw a lot of current (15 amps or so for the pair) ... 
 a good deal more than stock.  You should use a relay to reduce the load 
(current) that has to pass through the ignition switch and the headlamp 
switch.  Place the relays as close to the headlamps (near the battery is 
good) as possible and sufficiently large gauge wire to handle the current.

Otherwise, you can cook your headlight switch and wiring in no time.  I 
actually ruined (melted) my headlight switch one time by hooking up trailer 
lights on my 16V (was towing a Corrado at the time!).

-Bradley
1986 Scirocco 16V 2.0 liter, Quaife, mods, mods, etc., etc.
1987 Quantum Wagon Syncro FOR SALE now.
http://effervescent.com/btp/vw.html

On Sunday, September 21, 1997 9:41 PM, Ilias Glavinas 
[SMTP:elias@tesla.wustl.edu] wrote:
>
> I have recently put 80/100W lamps in my Hellas and I have noticed that
> after driving for about 15minutes, my key got hot!
>
> I took out the lower plastic cover of the steering column, to find out
> that the whole bundle of wires going into the ignition was unusually hot.
> I would bet that it is the higher load of the bulbs, which forces more
> current to go through the ignition when the lights are on. Heating does
> not occur without the lights on.
>
> I don't think it can get too hot to cause problems, but one never knows.
> Does anyone know of a case where the higher wattage lamps caused such
> problems?

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