Ignition Switch Capacity
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 261
From: Seattle
What that harness does is tie the passing lamps into the fender tip light bulb power. You can do that just by snipping the yellow passing lamp wire and connecting to fender tip wire (red capped wire in nacelle on fhrc). This will run through accessories fuse with all the other junk like horn and rear lighting and what not.
Another way to do it is to take yellow passing lamp wire and snip it, bring over to orange red wire for accessories toggle switch and tie it into that. This places passing lamps on P&A fuse and if you don't have anything hooked up to that little outlet will be the only thing on that fuse.
What I did is simply take the yellow out of the connector and swap it with the red and orange so that I didn't have to cut anything. What this means is that my little accessories outlet now only works on low beam.
Both run through ignition switch.
Another way to do it is to take yellow passing lamp wire and snip it, bring over to orange red wire for accessories toggle switch and tie it into that. This places passing lamps on P&A fuse and if you don't have anything hooked up to that little outlet will be the only thing on that fuse.
What I did is simply take the yellow out of the connector and swap it with the red and orange so that I didn't have to cut anything. What this means is that my little accessories outlet now only works on low beam.
Both run through ignition switch.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
From reading your posts I don't think you understand how relays work. If I'm wrong, I apologize.
To run lights or any higher amp draw accessory you need to add a separate relay to power them.
A relay is a device that has an electromagnetic coil that basically operates an internal switch.
Relays usually have 4 or 5 contacts on the bottom.
Two of the contacts activate the coil. Once energized the coil causes a set of contacts to close.
To wire a relay you ground one of the coil contacts. The other coil contact goes to whatever you want to trigger the coil. In your case I'm guessing some lights.
Now to provide power to the lights you run a new fused line directly from the positive side of the battery to one of the internal switch contacts, usually the one that moves. From the normally open contact of the switch (if it's a 4 contact relay it's just the last connector) run a wire to the positive light wire. Then simply ground the last light wire.
Relays are really pretty simple and take all the stress off the bike's wirinf.
To run lights or any higher amp draw accessory you need to add a separate relay to power them.
A relay is a device that has an electromagnetic coil that basically operates an internal switch.
Relays usually have 4 or 5 contacts on the bottom.
Two of the contacts activate the coil. Once energized the coil causes a set of contacts to close.
To wire a relay you ground one of the coil contacts. The other coil contact goes to whatever you want to trigger the coil. In your case I'm guessing some lights.
Now to provide power to the lights you run a new fused line directly from the positive side of the battery to one of the internal switch contacts, usually the one that moves. From the normally open contact of the switch (if it's a 4 contact relay it's just the last connector) run a wire to the positive light wire. Then simply ground the last light wire.
Relays are really pretty simple and take all the stress off the bike's wirinf.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 261
From: Seattle
I kinda understand how the relay works but I dont understand its purpose. Why would a guy just connect direct to the battery with a fused line straight to the lights. I know how the relay functions mechanically what is it providing for.
So it sounds like adding the relay is the best but is it safe to do as I did?
So it sounds like adding the relay is the best but is it safe to do as I did?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 261
From: Seattle
So your saying my method is cool if I stay below the fuse ratings. I am fine adding electrical but am hesitant...all I've ever owned have been old pieces of shat with all sorts of extra wires and electrical creations, chopped harnesses and problems. Just don't want to start cutting things and adding a whole bunch of wiring and what not if I already have the means to power the lights through the factory system.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
I kinda understand how the relay works but I dont understand its purpose. Why would a guy just connect direct to the battery with a fused line straight to the lights. I know how the relay functions mechanically what is it providing for.
So it sounds like adding the relay is the best but is it safe to do as I did?
So it sounds like adding the relay is the best but is it safe to do as I did?
For instance, I installed an air horn.. By using a relay I can wire the compressor, which is fused at 25A, directly to the battery through the relay. And my horn button activates the relay which activates the compressor making the horn sound. All without stressing the factory wiring which was never designed for a 25A draw.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2015
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Likes: 261
From: Seattle
Oh I see. So I would use any of the hot wires that goes through the ignition switch to power the relay to close when the bike is turned on...allowing power to be fed from the battery and provided to the lights.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
Yes.
Most use something related, like a light or horn wire but anything that's powered on with the ignition switch will work.
Most use something related, like a light or horn wire but anything that's powered on with the ignition switch will work.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Seattle
What type of relay should I be looking for???