Last week I was following the wife while she was on her Heritage...I noticed the tail light went out....thinking it was the bulb, I pulled up and had her tap the brakes...brake light worked and by the time I got back behind her the tail light was back on. Thinking it was a poor bulb connection...I didnt worry about it and it didnt go off again that day.

Fast forward to tonight.

I replaced her head light with a lense that accepts H4 bulbs, it has a 55 watt in it. I replaced her spots with lenses that accepted H3 bulbs...they too have 55 watt bulbs. We went for a ride tonight and the lights, tail-head-spots went out after about 2 miles. They came back on after about 20-30 secs. We continued with our ride and the lights went out probably 15 times and each time they went out I tried to count at the same pace as to how long they were out...each time I counted to right at 24-28. So..I guess the "fuse" for the lights is a thermo-protected type? I assume it gets hot and the 24-28 count lets it cool and make contact again?

The only thing that doesnt make sense is that they (I can assume after tonight the headlights/spots were out too) went out a week before with OEM style bulbs.

When we got back home tonight..I put all the OEM style bulbs back in so I can see what happens on our next ride tomorrow night.

Where would I start at troubleshooting if it continues to go out with OEM style bulbs?

If it turns out to be a freak thing that they went out a week ago....what would I need to do to run the higher wattage bulbs.

Thanks for your help!

 

Bad breaker?

 

+1 on the breaker. Replace them all: can be found at Auto Zone

 

will do....should I get a higher amperage one for the lights to run all the new 55 watt bulbs (three new bulbs)? or will the 15 amp be enough?

 

I'd say yes but I don't know what amperage...20/25/30?

 

ok...threw a 25 amp breaker in...put all three 55 watt bulbs back in and.....they still go out every once in a while.

Went for a ride last night...all three lights on. After about 15 miles they went out twice so I had her turn off the spots. From then on they didnt turn off the rest of the ride.

Am I missing something? there must be more involved than simply upping the breaker to cover the amps?

I am going to try running 35 watt bulbs in the spots and see where that gets me....

 

as stated in my first post...I just cant bring myself to believe that there is a poor connection, short, or bad ground because the lights stay off for almost the same amount of time each time they go out...thats what leads me to believe and overload on the breaker....if it was a short....it would be a spooky coincidence that it un-shorts at exactly the same time everytime???!!! Or am I way off base in my thinking?

But a 25 amp breaker should handle three 55 wat bulbs and the tail light shouldnt it?


boggles my mind....

 

All 3 55w bulbs on is probably drawing more power than you think. Its the breaker, getting hot from the amperage load

 

could be i spose...I am going to try 35 watt bulbs in the spots...

 

Three 55 watt lamps all by themselves are drawing about 14 amps at 12V. Now add in everything else in the lighting circuit.