Question by  Wilson (32)

What is an automobile headlight's current draw?


Answer by  EddieT (44)

Approximately 5 Amps, however this figure can vary a great amount depending on what sort of headlights you have and the voltage of the car's electrical system.


Answer by  Steve95 (108)

This is impossible to answer since newer cars have different types of headlights. Halogen lights from the last years pull less than the earlier sealed beam, but in today's cars the small halogen or blue light takes less amperage. I suggest you check your owners manual or search for specific information online.


Answer by  crabfoot (253)

Dividing the wattage of the bulb by the voltage of the system gives the current drawn in Amperes. So, for a 60W bulb in a 12V system, the draw will be 60/12 = 5 amps. For a 100W bulb in a 12V system, the draw is 100/12 = 8. 3 amps.

posted by Anonymous
Good answer, however actual current draw may be less. Most vehicles run anywhere from 13.5 to 14.5 volts once running. Higher voltage means less current for any given wattage. Dividing by 12 is a good baseline but can be conservative because it over-estimates.  add a comment
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