<VV> Re: 3 bad lamps at once

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

Probably not "three-at-once" -- probably one at a time over a period of 
time when the headlights were not checked for proper functioning on both 
high and low on a regular basis, like only driving in the daylight for a 
year or two. Or maybe that dimmer switch that was replaced was bad and 
not switching on the burned out pair to see that they didn't work 
anymore -- don't recall any info on why the new dimmer switch in the 
first place ...

I have had at least two rigs come into the shop over a period of many 
years where the driver had claimed the headlights just went out all at 
once and all they had was two bad lamps (older Ford pickups excluded - 
that is a headlight switch failure - bad circuit breaker) -- it is a bit 
of a head scratcher at first -- well, you see these folks driving around 
with only one headlight all the time -- what do you think happens when 
the other one burns out?

Now, back *before* the day when there were three brush generators (and 
no regulators) if the battery connection came loose (happened rather 
frequently) you'd get an extreme over voltage that would burn out 
headlights -- you generally don't get that type of voltage out of an 
alternator even if the regulator is dysfunctional -- if one has a 
generator, maybe the regulator function should be checked -- I'd also 
replace that fourth lamp.

Bill Strickland