Driving (Riding?) light wiring

[SigepKat]

I've just mounted some LED lights on my forks (down low), what's the best option for wiring? Tap into the low beams? Straight to the battery/fuse box w/an independent switch? Any of the above?

Thanks

CM

 

[A41Billy]

I would wire it to an independent switch. A guy I ride with put a couple strips on his windscreen and has been hassled by the law about it.

 

[garyahouse]

Don't suppose they're Clearwaters? If so, just call 'em and they'll walk ya through. However, I'm guessing that because you are asking this question, they are not.

Judging by your question, you don't have a built in relay with these lights. I would hook them up via a relay, and run the relay trip wire to the low beam headlight relay just under your speedometer inside the cowl. There's no need to be able to turn them off, you'll want them on whenever the bike is running. While you're in there putzing around, consider installing a voltage meter. They can be had for 25-45 bucks and are easy to install. With winter coming, they're sooooo helpful. Anyway, hook up your power directly from the battery for the "switched" side of the relay. One advantage to this set up is that you can't kill your battery by forgetting to shut of the lights, which you WILL eventually do (if you hook them up via a manual switch). As you know, your Yammie's headlights will not come on unless your bike is running, a safety feature from Mama Yamma. So the switched wire coming from your headlight low beam relay is the one you want. Do not try to tap in to the low beam. It will not supply the voltage you need. Bad idea.

Here's a link to a Clearwater install showing the headlight relay.

EDIT: MY BAD, FORGOT TO PUT IN THE LINK. HERE IT IS: CLICKY

Gary

 

[graler]

I went with a controller from Skene Design. You can program the LEDs at different power level (10% increments) with the low beam. As soon as you fire the high beams they are at 100%. I have an Eastern Beaver fuseblock and the LEDs are connected to a switched circuit. That takes care of the relay issue. There are lots of ways to skin this cat and this forum is da bomb for finding that info.

 

[900gc]

What Gary said.

Although you can still wire them through a switch too, but if you want people to see you better, obviously you want them on all the time. Depending on the wattage and beam pattern, you don't want to blind people at night either so a dimmer may be needed.

Of course you could go the "fuse block" route and then have many circuits available to farkle away!

 

[johnww]

OK, I need a clarification here. What is the importance of wiring the lights through a relay? I intend to use the Skene Design light controller and wire the lights through my low beam wire. What is the ;low beam relay wire? What color wire should I look for when doing the installation? I don't mean to jack this thread but some clarity will sure help me and possiblly others.

 

[graler]

Using a relay eliminates the need for an On/Off switch.

 

[garyahouse]

OK, I need a clarification here. What is the importance of wiring the lights through a relay? I intend to use the Skene Design light controller and wire the lights through my low beam wire. What is the ;low beam relay wire? What color wire should I look for when doing the installation? I don't mean to jack this thread but some clarity will sure help me and possiblly others.

See my post above for wire color. I did a similar write up, but I have a Gen 1 and the relay is located in a slightly different location. The link above will show ya what cha need to know. Sorry I forgot to put in the link when you first read it, it's been edited now, and the link is there.

RELAYS:

You don't HAVE to use a relay. There are no rules about that. it's a good idea because of the guarantee you enjoy... that those battery eaters are turned off when the bike is turned off. Also, you don't want to power your relay by any other switched wire that comes on when ya turn on the key... like the running lights for example. You don't want those lights on when you're trying to start the bike. You want them to come on automatically AFTER the bike starts. That's why you use the wire coming out of the headlight relay. And ya can't use the actual wire going to the headlight as it won't power anything. Trust me on that.

FUSE BLOCKS

You don't have to use one of these either. You can wire directly from the battery as long as you use a fuse right off the battery. It's not a big deal, but it can get messy if you have multiple wires coming off the battery. Fuse blocks, most of which are located near the rear of the bike, do make things much easier to deal with. If ya get the kind with individual fuses, it makes life a lot easier for trouble shooting, blown fuses, wire routing, etc.