UPDATE Passing Lamp Wiring Help Please

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May 10, 2006 | 11:25 PM

Coaster

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From: PA

***UPDATE*** Passing Lamp Wiring Help Please

I installed the light bar and passing lamps on my Springer Classic tonight. I haven't wired them yet because I'm not sure which route to go. Hoping someone might be able to answer some questions.

Instead of installing a seperate switch for the lights I would like to wire them directly to my head light. I know this can be done easily but I'm not sure about the halogen lamps I picked up. Can I use these in a high/low beam setup? Also, are there any disadvantages other then not having independent control if I wired them through my headlight? Finally, if I do have to wire them independently, any suggstions as to where to mount the switch? I don't want to mount it on my handlebars since I have 1 1/4" bars with internal wiring and I can't see pulling those off just to install a switch and some wiring for the passing lights.

Thanks for any help!

May 11, 2006 | 12:12 AM

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2006

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From: Charleston, SC

RE: Passing Lamp Wiring Help Please

I'd follow the recommended method as laid out in the installation instructions when it comes to wiring them, but alternatively you could possibly "hide" the switch on a down tube?

May 11, 2006 | 01:40 AM

wildman67

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Joined: Feb 2006

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From: Maryland

RE: Passing Lamp Wiring Help Please

Hey LP sweet looking ride!!

May 11, 2006 | 08:24 PM

Skip

Road Captain

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 517

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From: Erhard, MN

RE: Passing Lamp Wiring Help Please

My Springer has the light bar but mine are wired through a switch. But, what if you wired it through the accessories side of the ignition? wouldn't this have the lights on whenever the key is turned on? I think thats what you want. Wiring them into the headlights may cause problems with hi/low beams as you noted.

May 11, 2006 | 10:00 PM

Coaster

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From: PA

RE: Passing Lamp Wiring Help Please

Thanks for the suggestions. Right now I went as per the instructions. Job is more involved then I thought. Takes a little while pulling off the gas tank and all. Haven't found the time to be able to just do it. Hope to finish off on Saturday and will take a closer look at the wiring again. I just don't see the need for a seperate control since I'll be running them all the time anyway. Bought the kit because I want to be seen better. People have been driving a little too crazy this spring.

May 11, 2006 | 10:01 PM

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 11,471

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From: Charleston, SC

RE: Passing Lamp Wiring Help Please

Thanks dude...been a long time coming. Wanted a Fatboy since I saw Arnold on one!!

Back to the original question, when I did the light bar on my bike I was directed to connect to this one yellow wire (which already had a terminal ready for connection) that was behind the lamp. This yellow wire powers the low beam. So when you flick the switch to high beams, another wire (don't know the color) powers up and the yellow wire goes dead. You should be connecting your new lights to this wire because the lamps are supposed to be off during high beam operation. But I guess you could wire it to some circuit that is always on....? I would believe the halogens would be fine.

lp

Quote:

ORIGINAL: wildman67

Hey LP sweet looking ride!!

May 11, 2006 | 10:12 PM

Coaster

Thread Starter

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Joined: Sep 2005

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From: PA

RE: Passing Lamp Wiring Help Please

lp, you got the colors right. I understand that the passing lamps should turn off when the high beams are on but I don't really think it would be an issue if I left out that little detail unless it would cause me problems with the state inspection. But I'll probaly end up just wiring them the way they should be. Did most of it already anyway. I'll just mount the switch on my down tubes somewhere.

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May 14, 2006 | 07:50 PM

Coaster

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From: PA

UPDATE - Passing Lamp Wiring Help Please

So finally today I found some time to wire these lights. After going through all the trouble of pulling the gas tank in order to run the wires underneath from below the seat I couldn't get the darn things to light up. I went over my wiring at least 5 times and it all checked out each time...nothing. This isn't the first time I did vehicle lighting and wiring and it just drove me nuts. Didn't have any testing instruments but my only guess is that I either had a bum switch or relay. Fuses checked out to be ok. Long story short I decided to just go ahead and wire the passing lights directly to my headlight. Presto...worked right away. After installing the passing lamp all I had to do is run the hot lead to the yellow wire in the passing lamp and all was good. Now they come on when I turn the key to ignition and they turn off when I flick the high beam switch as they should. All is good.

I just don't get the whole wiring harness thing they include in this kit. I understand that now I do not have seperate on/off control but I really don't care about that. The only thing I'm not 100% sure about yet is the fuse and weather it can handle the additional draw of the passing lamps. But I ran the lights while ideling for a while and don't think it will be an issue. With only 1 wire to run from the passing lamp directly to the headlight there's absolutley no wire mess to tuck away and the whole install is clean as a whistle.

If anyone thinks I'll have a problem blowing fuses please chime in.