General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What would cause this?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 3, 2020 | 07:24 AM
  #11  
Hoginedgewood's Avatar
Hoginedgewood
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1,281
From: Ky
Default

12 volts is 12 volts. An incandescent bulb can get brighter when bumped, but usually doesn't last long after that. An over brilliant led is beyond me. Id suggest checking voltage at both spots with the lights on.
 
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2020 | 07:52 AM
  #12  
barneyboy's Avatar
barneyboy
Seasoned HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,077
Likes: 3,293
From: Plover, WI
Default

Be aware the alignment procedures differ between halogen and LED.


 
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2020 | 07:53 PM
  #13  
Zerk's Avatar
Zerk
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 834
From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs
Default

I trouble shoot for a living. It's a little technical to do. But I woud swap left and right. See what happens
 
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2020 | 08:21 PM
  #14  
RHD51's Avatar
RHD51
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 696
Likes: 487
From: Southern Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by Bubba Zanetti
It’s not the turn signals it’s the passing lamp or What some call the spot lamp.
And no I haven’t wired them to stay on with high beam they are just regular Sunpie LEDs from Amazon.
I’ll try some of the suggestions this weekend and see what’s what.
When I wrote OP, I meant to PO as in previous owner may have wired something wrong.
I am thinking maybe something shorted a hot to ground at that light and somehow is sending 24 V to that light. That would cause excessive brightness.
I also have the Sunpie lights, for three yrs., no problem. Also I added harness to keep passing lights on with high beam.
I don't know about the construction of them but I assume they would take 24 V without burning out.​​​​​​​
It is very possible that you just have a bad light. I would try to confirm that with an independent power source before spending to much time tracing wiring
To troubleshoot, you could hook each light up independently to a 12 V batt. and compare brightness.
 
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2020 | 11:23 AM
  #15  
Zerk's Avatar
Zerk
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 834
From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs
Default

How are you getting 24 volts from 12 volt system? Not expert on LED construction, so I am curious how this is possible
normally if 2 wires touch voltages goes to zero.
 

Last edited by Zerk; Jul 5, 2020 at 11:25 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2020 | 01:35 PM
  #16  
RHD51's Avatar
RHD51
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 696
Likes: 487
From: Southern Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by Zerk
How are you getting 24 volts from 12 volt system? Not expert on LED construction, so I am curious how this is possible
normally if 2 wires touch voltages goes to zero.
I am no expert and know little about LED construction. I was an electronic tech. many, many years ago.
I know that if you hook two 12 V power supplies in series you get 24 V.
My conjecture was that you have 12 v to light on hot wire and ground to ground, completing circuit, If another 12 V source shorted to ground it could send another 12 V in series to equal 24 V. The more I think about it, this is unlikely and you should probably ignore this theory. Just trying to imagine what could cause the light to be super bright...first thought was more voltage and how that could happen?
Have you checked voltages? and swapped lights to check if same result with different light? I am curious to find out the outcome of your dilemma.

Just realized you are not OP with problem, hopefully he will let us know result.
Please let us know what you find out?
 

Last edited by RHD51; Jul 5, 2020 at 01:40 PM. Reason: realized not OP
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2020 | 10:37 PM
  #17  
Zerk's Avatar
Zerk
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 834
From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs
Default

Also when you have a fault/short, voltage goes to zero, and current goes up.
 
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2020 | 08:19 AM
  #18  
stereoguy's Avatar
stereoguy
Outstanding HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 550
From: Springfield, IL
Default

I would lean towards a ground issue, check wires on both sides to verify they are not comprimised the hot and ground should carry/be able to carry an equal load.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 6, 2020 | 11:01 AM
  #19  
Zerk's Avatar
Zerk
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 834
From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs
Default

Maybe poor connection + or ground, could cause lower voltage to one light. Measure voltage. People fixate on grounds, takes two to tango. Swap the lights to see if it is not the light itself. Also as said, it could just be an illusion.

If the dimmer light seems ok, it may just be an angle. My wild guess if bad voltage it would be big difference. Maybe so darn bright even dim, is bright. Kinda doubt, but never know..
 

Last edited by Zerk; Jul 6, 2020 at 11:06 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2020 | 08:30 AM
  #20  
Neggy ZRXOA 5248's Avatar
Neggy ZRXOA 5248
Stellar HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 836
From: KMHT KFMY
Default

poor ground, poor 12V connection, defective light.

As said above swap side to side, that will tell you if it is defective

If the former left light goes bright in the right harness, start looking at the ground ( you could ground it with a jumper wire) and measure the supply voltage making sure it is the same side to side.

If the ground is good, and the voltage is good, and one is still dim after swapping, you have a defective lamp
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:10 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE