I currently have APC headlamps installed on my 98 F150. For normal operation the low beam filament switches off when the high beam is turned on: both filaments are never on simultaneously.

The question: if I modify the wiring to maintain the low beam filament on when the high beam is turned on, will this generate too much heat for the headlamp assembly? Has anyone done this before with any dual filament, single lamp headlights?

APC technical support was not able to answer the question.

X

 

Tough call but, I'd definately say that they're going to be putting out a significantly greater amount of heat... Another worry of mine would be that the circuit be able to handle that type of draw.

It seems like I've read this discussed somewhere on here before thus, you might try doing some searches however, I can't specifically remember if it was dealing with an APC assembly or a stock assembly...

G'luck.

RP

 

Thanks for the reply. There's no chance of overload as the high and low beams are independently fused - in fact the left and right low beams are also independently fused.

To preclude any possibility of switch contact overload and to maintain high and low beam circuit independence I would probably utilize relays.

However, right now my most pressing concern is the possibility of excess heating, and I won't proceed with any modification until that concern is resolved.

X

 

xytsrm,

I won't fool with those APC high wattage bulbs. I used to run them in my 98 F150, but I ended up melting the bulb sockets 4 times before I finally gave up. The stock harness can't withstand the powerful draw the bulbs have.

I'ts up to you, but I wouldn't %&^&& with those APC bulbs !!!!

 

Thanks for the reply. Actually the APC headlamp assembly does not come with lamps. I've installed "Ultra Whites" but they are the standard 55watt. As I mentioned before each filament is independent, with separate fuses and wiring. My concern is within the headlamp assembly itself, and whether it has the capacity to dissipate the heat from both the high and low beam filaments being on simultaneously.

X

 

I'd propose that your problem is not going to be melting the headlight housings themselves - even though they're plastic. What you will probably end up doing first is detonating a bulb from the heat. The bulbs are just not designed for that amount of extra heat and the glass will blow. For short periods of time though it might work. Good luck!

 

Thanks for your reply. Good point, I'll check with the lamp manufacturer to see if the lamp can have both filaments lit simultaneously.

X

 

Hello--I just got a set of those headlights...but no instructions! Do you have a copy you can e-mail me? Or maybe just tell me what the hook-ups on the harness (for fogs?) attach to. I can probably do the wiring from there with my manuals and wiring diagrams, but are the 35w hard-wired lamps for DRLs, fogs (already have 'em on my '99 Lariat Off-road package), or what? I got the 9007 capsules in just fine, but need to adjust them. Any help on any of these questions would be appreciated. Thanks, Y'all!