headlight bucket wiring

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NY John T
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Last Name: Killelea
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring, 1927 Tudor, 1925 Touring
Location: Northport NY
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headlight bucket wiring

Post by NY John T » Mon Jun 17, 2024 9:18 am

Hi,
Installing the wiring on my 27 headlight bucket, there are two wires, black with red tracer and black with green tracer. Is there a difference which screw each one is attached to? The black with GREEN tracer is indicated as the low beam. I'm wondering if I have the wires at the plug reversed. Does it make a difference? Does the bulb care which contact gets the one with the GREEN tracer? Thanks,
John


Moxie26
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
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Board Member Since: 1999

Re: headlight bucket wiring

Post by Moxie26 » Mon Jun 17, 2024 9:27 am

Just attach the wires to the terminals. Doesn't matter which one... It only matters after bulb installation. When switched to dim, if one bulb is brighter than the other, just remove that bulb and reinstall after you turn it 180°. .... If you feel that that is wrong, just reverse the wires on that bright bulb socket, then reinstall the bulb so both have the same brightness on dim.

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Mark Gregush
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
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Re: headlight bucket wiring

Post by Mark Gregush » Mon Jun 17, 2024 9:39 am

There is a correct way to install bulbs. There is a center filament and the other is off center. The off center one goes at the top. The wires at the back need to be switched not the bulb. The off center is low beam.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup


Moxie26
Posts: 1863
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:20 pm
First Name: Robert
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Re: headlight bucket wiring

Post by Moxie26 » Mon Jun 17, 2024 10:44 am

NY John T . .. Even after the correct bulb installation, and one headlight is brighter than the other... Just disconnect the thimble socket in back of the bucket, rotate 180° , and reinstall to get both bulbs the same brightness


Allan
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
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Re: headlight bucket wiring

Post by Allan » Mon Jun 17, 2024 5:30 pm

And if you still have a difference after applying Robert's suggestion, you may have a ground problem on the dim side. Solder a wire between the bulb socket in the lamp to one of the rivet heads inside the bucket. Do both sides to be sure.

Allan from down under.


Topic author
NY John T
Posts: 436
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2020 12:45 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Killelea
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring, 1927 Tudor, 1925 Touring
Location: Northport NY
Board Member Since: 2020

Re: headlight bucket wiring

Post by NY John T » Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:33 pm

Thank you folks,
I looked carefully and I don't see a filament that is off center; unless my eyesight is worse than I thought. It's hard to see a real difference when I put the lights on during the day or early evening, while looking into a crowded garage. I guess I would notice more if I aimed at a blank white wall. So the filaments themselves (within the bulb) are oriented in a horizontal position, correct? That way would give a flat spread of light, correct?
John


Allan
Posts: 6609
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
First Name: Allan
Last Name: Bennett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: headlight bucket wiring

Post by Allan » Tue Jun 18, 2024 6:27 pm

John, LEDs don't have fillaments to align. The spread of the beam is achieved by their reflector. Either the socket into which the bulb is fitted is a little bit off, or the headlight stem needs a little bending.

Allan from down under.

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