How to wire auxiliary lights.
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
How to wire auxiliary lights.
I have a set of 55w lights I am hanging on my bike for that added late night visibility. How are you guys wiring them up? What I mean is do you wire them to be either on or off with a switch, or do you use a relay and wire them to go on or off with the Low or High beam? Just wondering.
__________________________
__________________________
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,945
Likes: 85
From: Florida
I wired mine direct from the battery and fused and switched them seperately from the wiring harness.
The upside is ease in the wiring and I didn't have to mess with the stock wiring. The downside is my lights are not switched through the ignition so will remain on after the key has been turned off.
I am willing to accept that because I only run them on the highway late at night on endurance runs. The rest of the time, I remove the lights and tuck away the wires so the bike is back to stock.
The upside is ease in the wiring and I didn't have to mess with the stock wiring. The downside is my lights are not switched through the ignition so will remain on after the key has been turned off.
I am willing to accept that because I only run them on the highway late at night on endurance runs. The rest of the time, I remove the lights and tuck away the wires so the bike is back to stock.
Last edited by Jonesee; Nov 9, 2011 at 09:41 PM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Yep, saw that thread. Thats why I'm asking. I know "how" to wire them up, I'm wondering which series makes more sense. On/off with the brights, or on/off with a switch. What are most people using. I was leaning toward a switch and just turn them on and leave them on, but I like to ask. This forum has too many minds smarter than mine to pass up the opportunity to draw from it.
_________________________
_________________________
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Ah, OK. So will they go off when you turn on the brights or stay on with the brights? And why do you want one way or the other? Inquiring minds want to know. 
__________________________
__________________________
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 52,957
Likes: 44,478
From: SW OH.
I like idea of going from the battery to a conveniently located switch,since they're for night time use only you're not going to forget to turn them off. Plus if they are properly aimed at the road I would prefer to be able to use them with both low and high beam.That's how I had mine wired on my van and it really lit up the road when I had my high beams on.
Trending Topics
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
If I understand your question, you want the 55w lights on when low beam is on, 55w lights off when high beam is on, correct? You need 2 relays, one 4 terminals(relay 1) and one 5 terminals (relay 2). Connect Battery + to relay 1 pin 30, low beam power to 86, ground to 85, 87 to relay 2 pin 30. Relay 2 pin 87a to your 55w lights, ground to 85, high beam power to 86. That way you will turn off the 55w lights when the high beam is on. Too complicated? I'd like to draw a diagram but it's late, pm me if you are confused.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
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
Neil,
Here are some options showing how the aux lights should be connected, according to H-D's mounting instructions (=DOT regulations).
In this way the aux lights stay on only with lowbeam(spliced to the yellow wire).
If you want them to work with high beam, splice (6) to the highbeam wire (on my 2003FXD it's the white wire).
If you want them to work independently from high/low beam:
Splice (6) to the runing lights wire (see your manual for the color, on my 2003FXD it's the blue wire) or run the "unterminated wire" (6) (= wire to low beam in Fog Lamp Schematic) in the wiring harness back to the + on the battery or the aux fuse in the fuse box.
You can operate the switch (which comes with the H-D aux lights kit) to activate the coil in the relay which will turn on or off the fog lights/aux lights.
I have connected the passing lights on my FXD2003 in the same way and replaced the stock switch from the kit for the handlebar mounted aux switch kit and the chrome switch cap kit.
Here's a wiring diagram on how to wire aux lights using a relay:
Signal current from switch (86 ==> 85) activates coil; coil activates internal relay switch (30 ==> 87)
30 = + from battery (requires mim 2.5 mm2 wire)
87 = + to lamps (requires mim 2,5 mm2 wire)
85 = ground
86 = + (using a switch to activate relay) from:
- battery or
- running lights or
- low beam or
- high beam
Here are some options showing how the aux lights should be connected, according to H-D's mounting instructions (=DOT regulations).
In this way the aux lights stay on only with lowbeam(spliced to the yellow wire).
If you want them to work with high beam, splice (6) to the highbeam wire (on my 2003FXD it's the white wire).
If you want them to work independently from high/low beam:
Splice (6) to the runing lights wire (see your manual for the color, on my 2003FXD it's the blue wire) or run the "unterminated wire" (6) (= wire to low beam in Fog Lamp Schematic) in the wiring harness back to the + on the battery or the aux fuse in the fuse box.
You can operate the switch (which comes with the H-D aux lights kit) to activate the coil in the relay which will turn on or off the fog lights/aux lights.
I have connected the passing lights on my FXD2003 in the same way and replaced the stock switch from the kit for the handlebar mounted aux switch kit and the chrome switch cap kit.
Here's a wiring diagram on how to wire aux lights using a relay:
Signal current from switch (86 ==> 85) activates coil; coil activates internal relay switch (30 ==> 87)
30 = + from battery (requires mim 2.5 mm2 wire)
87 = + to lamps (requires mim 2,5 mm2 wire)
85 = ground
86 = + (using a switch to activate relay) from:
- battery or
- running lights or
- low beam or
- high beam