Also,
I didn't mention it last night... and I don't see it in Anthony's post
below... but don't forget to add a fuse if you get your power directly from
the battery... probably any circuit you might tap off of at the main panel
would already be fused.

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anthony L. Mourkas" <frankenstein@TELPLUS.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2000 7:48 AM
Subject: Re: HELP with wiring VW foglight switch to Hella 500's in 85 Westy

> >the VW switch has three connectors on back which are
> >designated "+" , "83a" and "83b". Haynes "VW Air-cooled Vanagon" shop
> >manual described switch position (83a) for the front fogs, and the second
> >position (83b) for front and rear.  He also noted that the internal light
> >was lit in second position only (front and rear fogs - "83b") and that no
> >relay was noted in the diagram.
>
> The switch is illuminated when the rear fog light is activated as a
> reminder that they are indeed on, it should be obvious to the driver when
> the fronts are on.  Not having rear fog lights (yet) on my 84 Westy I
> used the second position 83B so the indicator light would illuminate with
> my fog lights.  Seemed more "trick" I guess.
>
> >So, is this switch designed to use a relay
> >or to take a power source into the "+" terminal straight out to front
and/or
> >rear fogs via 83a or 83b?
>
> Well you could do it either way, but the relay is definitely the way to
> go.  I have all of my lighting, high beams, low beams, auxilliary high
> beams, and fog lights controlled by relays and connected by 10 or 12
> gauge wiring direct to the battery and ground.  The headlight and
> foglight switches only have to handle enough current to activate the
> relays.  The difference in the voltage supplied to the lights and the
> corresponding increase in light output over the stock VW factory wiring
> is amazing!  On my sister's van, in which I installed a similar setup, we
> were able to measure an increase in voltage delivered to the lights of
> .75 volts over the factory wiring harness.
>
> >Also, is it best to run a power line all the way from
> >the battery or is there a suitable source that I can tap into closer to
the
> >fuse/relay strip or under the dash?
>
> I ran my 12v power supply line direct from the battery to my relay panel
> I fabricated behind the glovebox.  Easier for me, and I wanted to
> minimize the voltage losses.  If you end up using the factory relay panel
> you may want to tap into 12v there to simplify things.
>
> >would "+" on the VW switch be the "source or supply"
> >line from my parking light circuit (any opinions on the best place to tap
> >into this?)
>
> I drew my power for the switch by splicing into the parking light circuit
> near one of the front lenses.  This way the foglights can be used anytime
> the parking lights are on.
>
> Good luck and have fun pulling wires!
>
> Tony
>
> Anthony L. Mourkas
> Hampden, Maine, USA
> 1984 Vanagon Westfalia
> 1991 Jetta Eco Diesel
>