Hey good folk of the buggy world.. I am planning on a revamp of my dash and am thinking of maybe controlling the dip / main beam of my headlights via a push button switch mounted somewhere inside the buggy where it is easily reachable (similar to the old school floor mount switch but to hand)
My question is.. Can anyone suggest what kind of switch I need to find? Do I need a latching switch or would a simple on / off work?

Depends on how you want to wire it.  If you are using the standard beetle headlight really then a simple momentary push switch will be enough.

If you want to use a changeover relay then you will need a latching switch to hold current to the relay to maintain the main beam.

I wouldn't wire without a really though

At the moment I have a Car builder solutions rotary Off/side/dip/main switch but its bloody huge and means that switching between dip/main beam is like juggling jelly. I am thinking of going to a rotary off/side/dip and controlling the main remotely via a push button if that makes sense ?? Not being an auto electrician all I need is the simplest solution 

[Stick with the floor switch!]

I have a savage switch (like CBS ones) which is momentary and a relay as described above - so when lights are off, it just flashes But when lights are on, it latches to full beam.

But my advice..... Stick with the floor switch! I had it on my old buggy and wish I stuck to that on when I rebuilt this one. remember at night you want to get to the main beam on/off quick and easy and trying to find & reach the right switch on the dash is a pain. (unless of course it is on the column stalk)

Hi Andy,
I did consider the floor switch option but being a 6 footer in a short wheel based buggy there isn't room..

I was thinking maybe a switch fitted on the bodywork somewhere inside the cockpit so that it can be hand operated, or even knee operated if I put it in the right place ?

Can't you have it on the indicator stalk??

I have the original 69 beetle column head with just the indicator stalk,
I have read that there is a way of wiring so that pulling the stalk towards the wheel flashes the headlights but I didn't think that this was designed to operate dip / main beam..

I have the original 69 beetle column head with just the indicator stalk,
I have read that there is a way of wiring so that pulling the stalk towards the wheel flashes the headlights but I didn't think that this was designed to operate dip / main beam..

Yes is can, again you need an original beetle headlight relay to latch the main beam on

The beetle indicator stalk is designed for that and simply connects the earth, through the stalk when you pull it, to terminal 's' on the standard beetle headlight relay.

When the light sare off the stalk only flashes, but when the lights are on the stalk switches between the two (because a different part of the relay gets power if that makes sense?)


Chad

As Chad says fit a beetle relay and the switch will be fine, you need a live from the headlamp switch to the relay, dip and main out then the wire to the column switch plus a new live power wire ( ignition so only flash with ign on or battery so they flash with the ign off )to the relay for head lamp flash with the lights off

I have an early stalk on mine with the main beam button on the back and it is wired with a beetle relay so when the lights are off the button just flashes the main beam but when the lights are on it switches the main beam on and off!

Don't know if you sorted this but what you want is a "DNI 0127" relay.

Basically it means that you can use the indicator pull on the stalk Or any other momentary switch to earth) to flash your lights when the lights are off or cycle between full/dip when they are on. Instructions are here or google  http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/accessories/at113a.htm

On mine the brown/white and the brown are from the pull stalk - looking at the construction I think they are supposed to be isolated but on mine the insulation had gone so I just made that brown earth anyway

HTH.