How to wire on/off switch to headlight?
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 380
Likes: 3
From:
RE: How to wire on/off switch to headlight?
It's illegal in Iowa to run without a headlight, and I'm aware of that. But yeah, sometimes when I've had a bad day, I like to go home and start my bike and just listen to it run for hours on end. Am I the only one who does this? It's music to my ears rivaled only by Kenny G.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 1
From: Rome,NY
RE: How to wire on/off switch to headlight?
ORIGINAL: thebestofindica
, sometimes when I've had a bad day, I like to go home and start my bike and just listen to it run for hours on end. Am I the only one who does this? It's music to my ears rivaled only by Kenny G.
, sometimes when I've had a bad day, I like to go home and start my bike and just listen to it run for hours on end. Am I the only one who does this? It's music to my ears rivaled only by Kenny G.
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From:
RE: How to wire on/off switch to headlight?
I don't think it is too wise to run your bike for hours on end just sitting there. Your engine is going to get mighty hot and cause some wear on it. You'll save the cost of a bulb but may end up with an premature egine overhaul.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From:
RE: How to wire on/off switch to headlight?
That's great to be a big fan of relays, it sounds like some of you are big fans of doing ALOT of extra work. Relay's fail as often as switches though (15 years of electrical eng experience talking). That is why in helicopters and aircraft, we only use relays when you have to run a remote switch, are space sensitive, or have high amp transfers. What do you think is in a relay? The same type of contacts that are in a switch!
Take it from an engineer dude, and don't over-engineer this thing. 1. you won't be using it that often 2. the way they are talking, takes alot of time, and if you are asking us, then it takes electrical knowledge that you haven't gotten quite yet. If you buy what I mentioned in my last post, it's a piece of cake. If you are looking for a winter project, go the other routes mentioned here.
Good luck.
Take it from an engineer dude, and don't over-engineer this thing. 1. you won't be using it that often 2. the way they are talking, takes alot of time, and if you are asking us, then it takes electrical knowledge that you haven't gotten quite yet. If you buy what I mentioned in my last post, it's a piece of cake. If you are looking for a winter project, go the other routes mentioned here.
Good luck.
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 941
Likes: 27
From:
RE: How to wire on/off switch to headlight?
ORIGINAL: scotch
That's great to be a big fan of relays, it sounds like some of you are big fans of doing ALOT of extra work. Relay's fail as often as switches though (15 years of electrical eng experience talking). That is why in helicopters and aircraft, we only use relays when you have to run a remote switch, are space sensitive, or have high amp transfers. What do you think is in a relay? The same type of contacts that are in a switch!
Take it from an engineer dude, and don't over-engineer this thing. 1. you won't be using it that often 2. the way they are talking, takes alot of time, and if you are asking us, then it takes electrical knowledge that you haven't gotten quite yet. If you buy what I mentioned in my last post, it's a piece of cake. If you are looking for a winter project, go the other routes mentioned here.
Good luck.
That's great to be a big fan of relays, it sounds like some of you are big fans of doing ALOT of extra work. Relay's fail as often as switches though (15 years of electrical eng experience talking). That is why in helicopters and aircraft, we only use relays when you have to run a remote switch, are space sensitive, or have high amp transfers. What do you think is in a relay? The same type of contacts that are in a switch!
Take it from an engineer dude, and don't over-engineer this thing. 1. you won't be using it that often 2. the way they are talking, takes alot of time, and if you are asking us, then it takes electrical knowledge that you haven't gotten quite yet. If you buy what I mentioned in my last post, it's a piece of cake. If you are looking for a winter project, go the other routes mentioned here.
Good luck.
I really find it funny one recomends a switch to trigger a relay to trigger yet another relay. That is at least 3 switches that can fail, more things capable of failing and leaving one with out light at night.
Do as you wish but Scotch gives good advice in method of accomplishing your goal.
Happy trails.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,231
Likes: 106
RE: How to wire on/off switch to headlight?
ORIGINAL: thebestofindica
I just had a thought (amazing huh?) and am considering wiring a switch to the headlight. Would I just wire a switch to the power lead of the headlight? I am not one to compromise safety and such, but was just throwing some ideas around. There are times where a headlight is not necessary when the bike is running and these would be the only times when it was off.
I just had a thought (amazing huh?) and am considering wiring a switch to the headlight. Would I just wire a switch to the power lead of the headlight? I am not one to compromise safety and such, but was just throwing some ideas around. There are times where a headlight is not necessary when the bike is running and these would be the only times when it was off.
Now with that said.
You must break the feed line to the light switch or you will not kill the high and low beam.
Buy a Aux Accessory Switch Housing Kit. By using this method it is right next to the light switch and will only require a few inches of wire.
70213-02A Chrome Left Side
70248-02 Black Left Side
Buy a Auxiliary Switch Kit. This Kit is designed to run lights.
71718-02
Remove the light fuse before doing any of this!
Now mount this kit and switch on the handle bar beside the light switch.
Now using a service manual schematic find the wire that feeds the lights from the 15A light fuse.
On my Dyna it is marked BE (Blue) and is on pin 3 of the connector.
Of course on your motorcycle the color and pin number might be different.
Cut the wire in the light switch housing and splice extentions on to the ends. Twist the wires and solder. Trim any loose ends and heat shrink the splices.
Route the extentions to the aux switch housing and connect them to the Aux Switch.
Replace the fuse and test the hook up.
Hey! I just had a thought. You could remove that Fuse I talked about and forget all this.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 449
Likes: 1
From: Ventura, CA (So Cal)
RE: How to wire on/off switch to headlight?
if i install a switch to kill the headlight will it also kill the tail and marker lights? This would be good for when you get cut off at night and then kick the side of the car that cut you off, and then you can hit the toggle and the lights would go out , but you would still be able to kick on the highbeam so you can see while your getting away. Just a thought.