Late Federal (Fail-safe) Headlight Wiring

[pharriso]

I spent hours trying to figure out how the late fail-safe headlights should be wired studying the unclear workshop manual diagram & the many posts on this forum.

Here is the wiring diagram I have put together to help other's with their wiring diagnosis:

Federal_Failsafe_Headlamp_Wiring_Modified_Schematic_V1.13.pdf

(78.13 KiB) Downloaded 1528 times

Fail-safe wiring differs in that there are no contact switches on the light pods themselves (even though the wiring is still there), being replaced by twin micro-switches mounted on the dash mounted vacuum switch.

Any constructive comments or corrections appreciated. Post them here or send them to me by e-mail (pph <at> lionheartsolutions.com)

[pharriso]

Just corrected switched terminals on the main relay W1/C2. Rev changed to 1.01

[umbyfer]

thanks a lot ! I don't know how the original wiring was build. My elan sprint 1971 federal, but converted for Italy from some crazy man, has a tangled skein of wires with no sense.

Just to give an examle the two micro switch are working as one only and not devided in two different function.

I was looking for a clear diagram in order to rebuilt the wiring of my car and your job is very usful. Now i don't know if it is better to start from a new federal wiring or from european version.

The rear light are not full red with one lamp only but amber and red. I found on ebay the lucas control box for federal.so my car is a mix between federal and european standard.

what to do? to be or not to be? this is the question!

Umberto
7108000193K

[umbyfer]

Hi,

checking the wiring diagram, are you sure that the flasher relay works on the main beam light and not on the deeped beem? usually the flash light is by the deep beem...

[pharriso]

Hi,

are you sure that the flasher relay works on the main beam light and not on the deeped beem? usually the flash light is by the deep beem...

According to the workshop manual, the white/blue feed from the flasher relay joins the blue/white feed from the Main headlight relay in a connector before going to the headlight.

[umbyfer]

In my opinion it is something without logic sense: if i have the main beem switch on as on standard night drive and i need to make a flash, the effect can be made only by the deep beem otherwise the effect is none because by the same light already switch on...

[pharriso]

The flash function here is only function with the headlights turned off, but the vacuum switch pulled out. The headlights will raise and flash automatically every second or so.

D is dipped beam which is the normal driving position.

M is Main (or raised beam) that is normally used when no one is driving toward you, or to flash.

With the lights already on you would use the dip switch to flash somebody.

[umbyfer]

OK. sorry for my english, I swapped the meaning of "DEEP" and "MAIN". it is the opposite as in italian where DEEP means as deeper, so longer distance, so to have light as much as possible, used when nobody is driving toward.
Anyway, solved this matter. Thank you.

Could you explain better the function when you say "...and flash automatically every second or so."

It is clear that if i pull out the vacuum switch the headlights will rise but it is not clear about the automatically function...

Thank you.

[pharriso]

Could you explain better the function when you say "...and flash automatically every second or so."

It is clear that if i pull out the vacuum switch the headlights will rise but it is not clear about the automatically function...

Thank you.

Umberto, if you look at the flasher circuit you will see that the flasher system is made live by the 2 micro switches attached to the vacuum switch. The flasher relay winding is grounded through a Lucas FL5 flasher unit, this is a bimetallic element like you would have on your directional indicators.

[pharriso]

V1.11 Wiring diagram updated to show 5 terminal ON/Off switch
Centre terminal is feed
Off position supplies power to headlight flasher relay
On position supplies power to microswitch (for dip switch), panel light switch & side lights; also cuts power
to headlight flasher relay

[pharriso]

v1.12 Wiring diagram updated:
Swapped terminal designations for Headlamp flasher relay (W2 & W1); verified C2 & W2 are common with SRB104 & may be bridged with SRB111
Added terminal positions for Headlamp flasher relay
Added mounting flange to terminal layouts to show orientation
Added old & new Lucas part numbers for relays

[pharriso]

OK, last update....(I hope)

Changed headlight flasher relay to 3 terminal (33232), but shows that you can use a (commonly available) 4 terminal & connect C2 to W2 to function the same as the obsolete 3 pin relay.

Moved Headlight flasher unit to the headlight ground circuit (instead of in circuit to ground the headlight flasher relay) per Alex Black's suggestion.

All now operational in my car, I love the flashing feature!

[mariodschy]

congratulations pharriso, you did a realy good job.

Your wireing diagram helps me to understand the federeal wireing and helps me to save many hours in thinking about it.
This wireing diagram should be in the wiki...

Thanks
Mario

[terryp]

Phil
Thanks for the diagram. I still can't work out why everything works on mine apart from the main beam warning light.
Unfortunately I got hold of a new UK front loom and joined it to my federal dash. I had to run a separate wire from the micro switches on the dash to the relay.
Everything works apart from the warning light
Anyone any ideas??
Thanks
Terry

[mariodschy]

Phil
Unfortunately I got hold of a new UK front loom and joined it to my federal dash. I had to run a separate wire from the micro switches on the dash to the relay.
Everything works apart from the warning light
Anyone any ideas??
Thanks
Terry

Hello,

on the Fed Sprint a red/black wire were installed from Lotus, this wire was not in the wireing lom implemented, it was a typical "Lotus" solution...
I'll modify the headlamp wiring as you can see in the appendix. This modification has some advantage to the original solution:
1: The red/black wire is no more needed, so no extra bad looking/not protected wire in the engine bay
2: When you are flashing, the high current for the light's will not come from the dasboard switches and the small blue/yellow wire


If someone founds errors in the schematic please lett me know.
Thanks