6 volt headlight relay

[DonaldSmith]

I'll be rewiring my engine compartment on the 47 DeSoto in the next few months. While I'm at it, I'll add a headlight relay. I found a 6 volt headlight relay at Fifth Avenue Antique Auto Parts for $27 (probably plus shipping) Anyone know any other sources? Local auto parts stores?

The 12 volt relays are a dime a dozen, or more like six to ten bucks apiece.

The relay goes in the circuit between the headlight switch and the dimmer switch to relieve the headlight switch of the heavy amperage. So the dimmer switch can take the amperage with no problem? Otherwise I would need two relays, one for low beam and one for high beam.

[Bingster]

They're always listed on ebay. I think one's on there now.

[DonaldSmith]

Thanks, Bingster. I bought one.

The one on e-bay looks period-correct, and it looks like it goes after the dimmer switch, so both the headlight switch and the dimmer switch are spared the high amperage load of the headlights.

I can mount the relay on the inner fender, next to the regulator and the transmission relay, near the firewall. It will look like it's always been there.

[48mirage]

I use the period type relay's and run my lights at 12 volt. What I've done is I have a dual voltage car. I use the 6 volt to pick up the coil and the 12 volt flows across the points with no problem. I use 2 of them.

http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii86/jacobsheir/?action=view&current=DualVoltage2.jpg