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MG MGB Technical - Spot lights wiring

Hi guys good to be back on this forum, have missed it while my computer was down, hope someone can help me with this one, I have fitted two nice spot lights to my MGBGT 1967 positive earth 12 volt battery (not two 6 volts)
Have also got a relay which I bought when I got the lamps, can someone give me a simple wiring diagram or instruction how to wire them up using the relay, I'm nor great on electrics so keep it simple please.

Cheers jack
Jack New Forest

This might help

http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/lights10.htm

with minor mods but it should give the idea.

Basically power to the lights is on pins 30 and 87.
switched power to 85 and earth on 86 (I assume standard auto relays. )
Make sure switched power is ONLY live to the switch with MAIN beam on otherwise you are probably going to fail the MoT

12V/2*6V +ve/-ve earth makes no difference power is power :)

Bernie
B Anderson

"Make sure switched power is ONLY live to the switch with MAIN beam on otherwise you are probably going to fail the MoT"

Not so. Not only are they not tested, but mine are available with just parking lights and have been for years, front and rear. Also my 2004 ZS came from the factory like that. Whilst there isn't usually a good reason for having a spot light i.e. a long-distance narrow beam on without dipped beams (unless there is a short in the dipped beam wiring ...) there is certainly a benefit in having front fog lights (and I mean proper fog lights i.e. the wide, short, flat-topped beam, not those millenium furry dice which so many people insist on using with parking lights instead of dipped beams) available without dipped beams.
PaulH Solihull

Paul,
You are absolutely correct. I was recalling an MoT failure I experienced in the 1980's on a Frod escort with Spots. I guess the rules have changed either that or I was falsely accused :)

Bernie
B Anderson

If only there was a device to switch fog lights off when it's not foggy or snowing!!
Allan Reeling

Amen to that Allan. I find it amazing still that people switch rear hi vis lamps on in slight rain. The clue is in the name 'FOG' lamps!
Rant over :)
B Anderson

" hi vis lamps on in slight rain"

That definitely is illegal, £1000 per light. I've hardly ever used rear fogs even when driving up to 150 miles per day, the only time being in heavy rain, falling snow or fog when there is no one keeping station behind me. As soon as some one does that they go off, even though legally I may not have to until visibility improves. They significantly reduce following drivers ability to see your brake lights coming on.
PaulH Solihull

Don't get me started on rear fog lights...or fronts, for that matter.

Driving sometimes in excess of 1000 miles per week, I see more than my fair share of them.

Some people seem to think they still need them, even when they are driving at 85+ MPH. In such cases, either they are driving too fast for the conditions, or the conditions are such that they don't need them.
Dave O'Neill2

This is a topic for grumpy old men!! Besides the idiots, mostly devoid of common sense who drive with fogs on a clear night, there are the even more dangerous members of the species who drive in heavy spray and mist with no lights at all! Surprisingly they are often driving grey or silver cars. One often wonders if they are driving with their eyes closed!!
Allan Reeling

Or those that drive on sidelights in marginal visibility. Again that is an offence, when driving with no lights may not be! If you turn your lights on because you think the visibility conditions require it, then it must be headlights.
PaulH Solihull

People really shouldn't be allowed to drive at all...
Michael Beswick

Here's one from this afternoon. Front and rear fogs on, visibility was down to about 10 miles!


Dave O'Neill2

One of my pet hates, grrrrrrrrrrr.

So many must have their front fog lamp switch labelled "sidelights" as they drive round with them on all the time!


Why can't the manufacturers arrange the wiring so that front fog lamps work with sidelamps alone, if the headlamps are turned on, the fogs go out.

My old 65 S type Jaguar was like that, as indeed all jags were once.


So annoying having 4 lights coming at you at night, or maybe 3, as invariably the idiots who drive around with their front fogs on switched on, have one headlamp bulb out.


Rant over..................
SR Smith 1

A police friend gave me a good tip for when to drive with lights on, during the day. "Look at the cars coming towards you who already have their headlights on, if you see the lights BEFORE the outline of the car, switch on"!
Allan Reeling

"Why can't the manufacturers arrange the wiring so that front fog lamps work with sidelamps alone, if the headlamps are turned on, the fogs go out."

I don't like manufacturers deciding what is best for me. *I'll* decide whether I want my fog lights on instead of my headlights, or with them. There *may* circumstances when both are needed, although probably very rarely. Manufacturers taking control is causing more and more problems, like when the lights are turned on automatically when the light level are low enough, or on - off - on - off if you are going under a series of trees shortly before dusk with the person in front thinking "If that a**e behind flashes me once more ..."
PaulH Solihull

This thread was discussed between 22/01/2013 and 16/02/2013

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