upgrade lighting
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: oklahoma
upgrade lighting
ok, did some searching and i find all kinds of stuff for newer bikes, but my ol' evo needs a little help. i think i may have a few problems that also need to be sorted so i'll ask for opinions AND things to look for to solve potential problems.
i would like to change lighting since these are just not that bright. thinking about the Phase 7 led headlight and passing lamps. seem to be alot brighter AND draw way less amps from the system. this may solve both my problems, but would like opinions on good lighting systems. would like to stay under $700 for the whole system.
first my 91 heritage has adjure tri-bar headlight and passing lights. i have put a meter on the lights themselves and got weird readings, also put my meter on the battery and got great readings. so here is where we are. battery 12.7 volts static. with bike idling 13.4 volts. at 1500ish rpm volts at battery jump to 14 then settle back to 13.5-13.7 volts. this sounds right to me and shows the volt reg is working.
what my bike does. on low beam the headlight is dim. the passing lamps are bright. if i turn off the passing lamps the headlight will brighten slightly. if i switch to high beam the headlight brightens, BUT the passing lamps do NOT go fully out, they dim way down. this is weird. with the switch on high beam i get 12 volts exactly at the headlight, and 4.5ish volts to the passing lamps. this doesn't seem right.
so headlight switch on dim, 12.4 volts at headlamp, same at passing lamps. switch on high beam 12 volts at headlamp, 4.5 volts at passing lamps.
i would like to change lighting since these are just not that bright. thinking about the Phase 7 led headlight and passing lamps. seem to be alot brighter AND draw way less amps from the system. this may solve both my problems, but would like opinions on good lighting systems. would like to stay under $700 for the whole system.
first my 91 heritage has adjure tri-bar headlight and passing lights. i have put a meter on the lights themselves and got weird readings, also put my meter on the battery and got great readings. so here is where we are. battery 12.7 volts static. with bike idling 13.4 volts. at 1500ish rpm volts at battery jump to 14 then settle back to 13.5-13.7 volts. this sounds right to me and shows the volt reg is working.
what my bike does. on low beam the headlight is dim. the passing lamps are bright. if i turn off the passing lamps the headlight will brighten slightly. if i switch to high beam the headlight brightens, BUT the passing lamps do NOT go fully out, they dim way down. this is weird. with the switch on high beam i get 12 volts exactly at the headlight, and 4.5ish volts to the passing lamps. this doesn't seem right.
so headlight switch on dim, 12.4 volts at headlamp, same at passing lamps. switch on high beam 12 volts at headlamp, 4.5 volts at passing lamps.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
ok, did some searching and i find all kinds of stuff for newer bikes, but my ol' evo needs a little help. i think i may have a few problems that also need to be sorted so i'll ask for opinions AND things to look for to solve potential problems.
i would like to change lighting since these are just not that bright. thinking about the Phase 7 led headlight and passing lamps. seem to be alot brighter AND draw way less amps from the system. this may solve both my problems, but would like opinions on good lighting systems. would like to stay under $700 for the whole system.
first my 91 heritage has adjure tri-bar headlight and passing lights. i have put a meter on the lights themselves and got weird readings, also put my meter on the battery and got great readings. so here is where we are. battery 12.7 volts static. with bike idling 13.4 volts. at 1500ish rpm volts at battery jump to 14 then settle back to 13.5-13.7 volts. this sounds right to me and shows the volt reg is working.
what my bike does. on low beam the headlight is dim. the passing lamps are bright. if i turn off the passing lamps the headlight will brighten slightly. if i switch to high beam the headlight brightens, BUT the passing lamps do NOT go fully out, they dim way down. this is weird. with the switch on high beam i get 12 volts exactly at the headlight, and 4.5ish volts to the passing lamps. this doesn't seem right.
so headlight switch on dim, 12.4 volts at headlamp, same at passing lamps. switch on high beam 12 volts at headlamp, 4.5 volts at passing lamps.
i would like to change lighting since these are just not that bright. thinking about the Phase 7 led headlight and passing lamps. seem to be alot brighter AND draw way less amps from the system. this may solve both my problems, but would like opinions on good lighting systems. would like to stay under $700 for the whole system.
first my 91 heritage has adjure tri-bar headlight and passing lights. i have put a meter on the lights themselves and got weird readings, also put my meter on the battery and got great readings. so here is where we are. battery 12.7 volts static. with bike idling 13.4 volts. at 1500ish rpm volts at battery jump to 14 then settle back to 13.5-13.7 volts. this sounds right to me and shows the volt reg is working.
what my bike does. on low beam the headlight is dim. the passing lamps are bright. if i turn off the passing lamps the headlight will brighten slightly. if i switch to high beam the headlight brightens, BUT the passing lamps do NOT go fully out, they dim way down. this is weird. with the switch on high beam i get 12 volts exactly at the headlight, and 4.5ish volts to the passing lamps. this doesn't seem right.
so headlight switch on dim, 12.4 volts at headlamp, same at passing lamps. switch on high beam 12 volts at headlamp, 4.5 volts at passing lamps.
I ran a wire from the passing lamps to a constant hot (with the ignition on).
Now when I hit the bright switch and the switch for the passing lamps I get a lot of light.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
That'll get the Dyna Boys all fired up....imagine, luminescent Black!!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
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From: Ohio
Originally Posted by Tee⋁12704350
Hey Spanners,
I think the terminology would be:
that looks SICK bro'... I'm gonna pull the trigger!
hahahaha
I think the terminology would be:
that looks SICK bro'... I'm gonna pull the trigger!
hahahaha
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Boston, MA
Agreed, I would simply try replacing the ground to the other fork, or... you could make a temporary one directly to your negative battery terminal from the one that is there. I see on the springer that there is a grounding strap on the risers to the frame. This is because of the bushings. I believe the Heritage has something bridging that gap as well.