Brighter headlight bulb?
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: NY
I got a new headlight with the small 5w daytime running lite, but couldn't figure a good way to wire it. The old light was always on and the switch has only low and hi beam, no off. If it had an off, I'd be able to wire the small light so that it was always on and the big light would be off. Any ideas would be helpful.
Joe
Joe
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 542
Likes: 4
From: Louisville, KY
I got a new headlight with the small 5w daytime running lite, but couldn't figure a good way to wire it. The old light was always on and the switch has only low and hi beam, no off. If it had an off, I'd be able to wire the small light so that it was always on and the big light would be off. Any ideas would be helpful.
Joe
Joe
What I'm finding in my Clymer wiring diagram for my '72 XLH is an orange switched ignition wire on the fork terminal board. (position #5) This feeds the white starter, green horn and gray front brake light. I expect to tap onto that for the DRL. I'll use a 16ga orange in keeping with the switched ign color code.
I'll need to drill a hole in my headlight bucket and insulate the DRL wire with a hardware store rubber grommet. Inside, the DRL bulb holder will go black to the headlight black and an insulated bullit connector on the red wire to my new orange feed. No fuse as the bulb element will serve as suffecient ciruit protection.
Well, that's the plan.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
Does anyone have a suggestion for a brighter headlight bulb? The one i have is functioning normally but i ride in the country with alot of deer and would feel better with a little more lighting without having high beams on. I thought about adding additional lights but don't like the look.
Thanks!!!!
Thanks!!!!
It is possibly a not good idea to run an HID on a generator IronHead. The gen puts out only 10 amps. Check the HID specs - i suspect that there would not be enough amps to run the ignition and charge the battery with an HID installed.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 5
From: S.E. NC
When I had my 82 FXRS, the switch was three posistion with a jumper wire for the lights to the middle. I just clipped it and could run with no headlight. That way I could still ride until I could afford to fix the charging system.
Glad my friend had those bright double headlights on the way home at night.
Glad my friend had those bright double headlights on the way home at night.
The stock ignition key switch on the IronHeads is 3-position - off, ignition, lights. There is a small green wire that connects the ignition and lights positions on the back of the key switch assembly; this ensures that the lights come on at the ignition position.
This is a USA/North America version. I believe the European bikes do not have this wire. I disconnected that wire on mine so the headlight does not come on until the lights position.
I also installed an extra pair of turnsignal fixtures set up for 1157 bulbs. I installed 1157 LEDs, wired so both "filaments" are active for maximum brightness, and wired them from the accessory circuit breaker so they come on at the ignition key stop.
So if i have generator trouble i can turn the key back one click which turns off the headlite [4 amp], but leaves on the two LED bulbs - which together draw less than .1 amp total.
This is a USA/North America version. I believe the European bikes do not have this wire. I disconnected that wire on mine so the headlight does not come on until the lights position.
I also installed an extra pair of turnsignal fixtures set up for 1157 bulbs. I installed 1157 LEDs, wired so both "filaments" are active for maximum brightness, and wired them from the accessory circuit breaker so they come on at the ignition key stop.
So if i have generator trouble i can turn the key back one click which turns off the headlite [4 amp], but leaves on the two LED bulbs - which together draw less than .1 amp total.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,609
Likes: 240
From: the 'ville' kentucky
i run a HID on a generator ironhead-have for 20 yrs or better-no problem-it be a 100/35 watt bad boy-i said it is bright-same bulb also since getgo-but it be a 59 XLCH-no battery and no worries about burning headlite unless i toggle it on
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 566
Likes: 3
From: rural ontario
I put a battery in mine because my lights would dim too much at stop lights. I have recently switched to a generated mounted regulator and I'm going to drop the battery again and try without for a while and see how it works.
s