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13,504 Posts
Installed HI&LO headlight relays, 10ga direct power & ground, driving lights w/both
I am the worst about getting things done quickly, this job has taken forever, but it finally works.
That is not to say there aren't some cosmetic and reliability finalization needed.
No smoke, only blew 1 fuse getting it wired. Everything works, I can't wait for dark to really gauge the visual effect.
Even for someone who understands the basic circuitry involved, relays controlling power and ground circuits coming directly from the battery, this circuit is a bit more complex than I expected. One of several modes I want to have the option of using the outboard mounted driving and conspicuity enhancing aux lights is w/ low enough brightness to be acceptable in use all the time, with both high beam and low.
When I planned a relay for high and one for low, and driving lights attached to both, I got one shorted together mess. I had to add a pair of diodes to make part of the circuit one-way, otherwise having the driving lights across both hi and lo beam circuits made everything common without some trickery.
Trying to take pix shows the headlight is pointing into the dirt, and I've reversed the hi and low
signal wires so the controls are reversed. Just needs some debugin'
This is the 20W yellow flood light. All my other bulb choices are much brighter.
Pix and circuit diagram.
First time I saw this triangle of lights on another bike, I said WTF is THAT?
I think I just had a chance to see the "WTF is THAT?" reaction is progress.
I went out to put the bike away, it fully dark now, in turning the bike around, I got a chance to point out across some open fields. This was the first chance to see if the headlights look like they are reaching out further or better. Seems like they are a good bit brighter with better voltage.
While I'm checking how well the brighter lights light up the darkness across the field,
I saw at least a dozen pairs of eyes, looking back my way, and in their own little mouse and rat and raccoon and rabbit and fox way, saying "WTF is THAT?"
I am the worst about getting things done quickly, this job has taken forever, but it finally works.
That is not to say there aren't some cosmetic and reliability finalization needed.
No smoke, only blew 1 fuse getting it wired. Everything works, I can't wait for dark to really gauge the visual effect.
Even for someone who understands the basic circuitry involved, relays controlling power and ground circuits coming directly from the battery, this circuit is a bit more complex than I expected. One of several modes I want to have the option of using the outboard mounted driving and conspicuity enhancing aux lights is w/ low enough brightness to be acceptable in use all the time, with both high beam and low.
When I planned a relay for high and one for low, and driving lights attached to both, I got one shorted together mess. I had to add a pair of diodes to make part of the circuit one-way, otherwise having the driving lights across both hi and lo beam circuits made everything common without some trickery.
Trying to take pix shows the headlight is pointing into the dirt, and I've reversed the hi and low
signal wires so the controls are reversed. Just needs some debugin'
This is the 20W yellow flood light. All my other bulb choices are much brighter.
Pix and circuit diagram.



First time I saw this triangle of lights on another bike, I said WTF is THAT?
I think I just had a chance to see the "WTF is THAT?" reaction is progress.
I went out to put the bike away, it fully dark now, in turning the bike around, I got a chance to point out across some open fields. This was the first chance to see if the headlights look like they are reaching out further or better. Seems like they are a good bit brighter with better voltage.
While I'm checking how well the brighter lights light up the darkness across the field,
I saw at least a dozen pairs of eyes, looking back my way, and in their own little mouse and rat and raccoon and rabbit and fox way, saying "WTF is THAT?"