In our early Pace Arrow years I tried replacing dim 1984 factory headlights with the then “improved” technology halogen ones. My 12 volt electrical knowledge was not advanced much past 1950’s-60’s cars and farm vehicles. The new halogens soon fried/melted the common Chevy van headlight switch, and I had a lesson in electrical current and wire size, etc. A trip to the salvage yard for another switch, and reinstallation of the old lamps solved that issue, but not the dimness one. We just tried driving less at night.
Eric’s note regarding new headlights brought that old experience quickly to mind. Today a circuit breaker would respond to my halogen refit before the switch plastic gave up… even a fuse in the proper part of the circuit back then would’ve protected things. So be sure your new headlamp amp rating/draw doesn’t exceed existing wiring or circuit breaker limits… it would react by opening, cooling, closing, overheating, and opening the circuit repeatedly.
Joel