Nope, it is illegal to make the dim stay on whilst the brights are on in every state. It is a DOT regulation. That is why there is a kill switch built in to kill the dim element when the bright element is on on all DOT approved headlight systems whether they are two lamp per side systems or one lamp per side. Why do you think it is like that from the factory? Well, that's it. DOT has some stupid rules. Just like the rules that state what maximum brightness you can have bulb wise and why the lenses on all lighting instruments in the US have a DOT approval.

 

i figure it didn't come from the factory that way for the same reason the headlights were not put on relays from the factory. no one thought of it. its not like you drive around at night with the highs on. you mainly only need them for back roads or empty stretches of highway on dark nights. otherwise my lows stay on.

 

Yeah, plus I think the reason the headlights in older vehicles weren't on relays is there wasn't a real reason for it. It does take load off of the switch but in most cases of modern vehicles that isn't a big deal at all. Plus, it does make the headlights brighter, but the factory certainly doesn't care about that. I think almost all modern vehicles have a relay system stock at least after 2000 something they probably do. I think I read that on Daniel Stern lighting website which is a great place to go for information an quality LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND PARTS.

 

i am still not convince it is illegal to have you lows on while your highs are on just because there are places that sell kits that will do this but they state "Due to Canadian motor vehicle regulations, this product is not available to our Canadian customers". if anything it is probably illegal up here.
http://www.genosgarage.com/Brite-Box/products/9/

 

It is illegal here too since modification of or using other than stock replacement parts to ANY motor vehicle lighting system is illegal. Why do you think some lamps and or off road lights say For Off Road Use Only? That is why. Well part of why. Same reason using a brighter than 55w low beam lamp or 60w high beam lamp is illegal. DOT regulations. Even a headlight brightener relay system is illegal. but let them try and find or identify it! LOL!

 

if i ever finish wiring my 81 it will look like it came from the factory with the headlights on relays. just got a lot of wiring to finish and clean up.

 

I WAS going to do that but wanted to be able to swap it back to stock in the middle of the night when it's raining. I will have to post pics of my final install so people who want to do the same thing can easily do it. With my design, I can swap it back to stock in twenty seconds when it's dark.

 

there is really no going back with what i have done but with the shape some of the stock wiring was in on the drivers side fender i had to. use to occasionally have to pop the hood and wiggle the starter relay wires. soon enough i will also be installing something like a asd relay. all of this is hidden inside my power distribution center

 

why would you want to be able to swap back to stock? Is this relay system less reliable?

 

just in case something fails or if you decide to sell. then you can take the relay harness out and possibly use it in another vehicle. i think i have priced out how much it cost to put your headlights on relays and i came up with about $50 using decent parts. if you spend $50 per vehicle on a relay harness it could get expensive.