Headlamp Flasher Relay S4 European

[l10tus]

Electrics are not my strongest point! But, :-

The original black plastic boxed 3-Terminal flasher has given up the ghost on my '72 S4 Sprint (can't complain for 50 yrs. old!) and I have a newish Lucas 6RA metal canned, 4-Terminal one availablable as a possible replacement?

Question is, can the 4-Terminal one be used in place of the 3 ? - and if so, which colour wires go where?

The S4 wiring diagram dosn't show which terminals to use (are you supposed to know that?)

I see on one of the previous threads, that W2 - C2 can be looped out?, but which terminals do the other wires go to - as you know W1 - W2, C2 - C3 marked terminals are available.

Fitted within my wiring harness I have 3 wires available: 1) Blue / White, 2) Blue / Yellow & 3) Yellow / Blue, (which seem to be as standard spec. for the wiring diagram listed in the S4 Owners Manual).

Just can't work out why there's only 3 wires?: if two of the wires are for the solenoid coil operation, and the 3rd. is the 'load', 'in or out', , where is the other side of the load going, shouldn't there be a 4th. Load, 'in and out' cable ? or is this fed through the solenoid?

Any help would be appreciated.

l10tus.

Sometimes my Elan makes me cry.

[fatboyoz]

How the system works on my 68 S4 with a relay having only three connections: C1, C2 & W1.
(C2) Uy: power in from light switch, which is live whenever the headlight switch (rocker switch) is in the OFF position, provides power to whole flasher system. (Note: if the headlight rocker switch is left ON, the flasher system will not work, the headlights will just come on and stay on when the pods are extended).
(C1) Wu: power out to high beam system. This wire is provided power, from the relay, intermittently as the relay is switched ON and OFF by the control circuit.
(W1) Yu: this is the control circuit wire OUT(one side of the control solenoid inside the relay) which goes to earth via the two pronged flasher unit and the L/H light pod mounted micro switch. The power IN for this circuit (in my relay) is done inside the relay with a connection from C2 to the other side of the control solenoid (if you have a relay with four connections, this "power IN" would be connected to W2).

Operation: Vacuum operated light pod switch pulled out. Pods extend and microswitch is closed. This provides a circuit for power to flow through the control side of the relay and the high beam is activated. The bimetalic strip inside the flasher unit heats up, breaks the connection inside the flasher unit and the earth circuit is broken, the strip then cools, remakes the connection and the earth circuit is connected again. This causes the control circuit inside the relay to be powered on and off and the high beam flashes.

Your connections:
Uy to C2.
Wu to C3.
Yu to W1.
A jumper wire from C2 to W2.
(Note: W1 and W2 can be reversed, not that you would want to, as the internal solenoid doesn't care in which direction the power flows).

Regards,
Colin.
PS. It would be helpful to have your wiring digram in front of you when reading this. I get confused without it.
PSS. Might also be useful to have a wiring diagram for the inside of your relay.
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q ... iQec8K3MDg

Electrics are not my strongest point! But, :-

The original black plastic boxed 3-Terminal flasher has given up the ghost on my '72 S4 Sprint (can't complain for 50 yrs. old!) and I have a newish Lucas 6RA metal canned, 4-Terminal one availablable as a possible replacement?

Question is, can the 4-Terminal one be used in place of the 3 ? - and if so, which colour wires go where?

The S4 wiring diagram dosn't show which terminals to use (are you supposed to know that?)

I see on one of the previous threads, that W2 - C2 can be looped out?, but which terminals do the other wires go to - as you know W1 - W2, C2 - C3 marked terminals are available.

Fitted within my wiring harness I have 3 wires available: 1) Blue / White, 2) Blue / Yellow & 3) Yellow / Blue, (which seem to be as standard spec. for the wiring diagram listed in the S4 Owners Manual).

Just can't work out why there's only 3 wires?: if two of the wires are for the solenoid coil operation, and the 3rd. is the 'load', 'in or out', , where is the other side of the load going, shouldn't there be a 4th. Load, 'in and out' cable ? or is this fed through the solenoid?

Any help would be appreciated.

l10tus.

Sometimes my Elan makes me cry.

[l10tus]

Many thanks Colin, really clarifies things for me.

Your effort is much appreciated.

Kind regards,

l10tus.