IS pod lights

[mrider]

i have been having trouble with getting the pod lights working, I run a jumper wire from red off battery to blue coming out of relay lights come one regaurdless of switch on or off. I run a jumper from red off battery to red with yellow stripe from relay lights work, so I replace the relay and light still don't work......I take switch off run jumper wire in place of switch lights don't work all connects are good. I don't under stand what if anything I'm missing......so do the lights have to run through relay? I have ran many fog/driving lights with out a relay just run a hot through a fuse and a ground......any Idea's thanks.   

[fantsybikr]

you will need to have power to lights switched somehow. Pod lights on the bike when you bought it? Have been working up until they quit? does your relay have numbers identifying the spades? ..30-85-86-87 and maybe a 87a..? if you changed relay and still not working, could it be you relay is not getting power from the switch?? relay needs main power that will be switched from a separate power supply 

[mrider]

I thank all for the information, i am no electical guy so all those numbers are like talking french to me so after weeks of jacking with these lights i cut out all the crap ran a hot wire through a fuse to the switch to the lights then grounded the lights and low and behold the lights work imagine that( KISS)........

[fordmano]

Just a suggestion, wire a relay back in to save future load issues,,, Not difficult to do and well worth the work. I believe there are some really simple wiring diagrams to be found if you do a little searching around on this forum or a Google search also.

[R J]

Go to Chet's page on the main menu.

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/circuits.html

Scroll down to the relay circuits.

He has some great EASY to follow wiring diagrams.

DO NOT run them without a relay.

You will fry some wires if you don't use a relay.

Then you will have a real electrical problem.

[MarkT]

If you'd like to install an awesome spotlight mod - and you like to tinker a bit - and you're OK with following a schematic - HAVE I GOT THE SPOTLIGHT SETUP FOR YOU.  (Mrider, not talking to you - you already said not for you.)

OK, not really, I'm not selling this.  This is what I installed on June's Magna.  She recently dropped the bike (while stopped) and broke the glass of a spot.  So we ordered in a pair for replacement.  Spots were already dual filiment, but they were less functional than you'd think because the reflectors were wrong for the bulbs.  Plus the bulbs were special order from Honda and very expensive.  I had already installed most of the circuit below. The old ones were useful because if a filiment burned out, she could just throw the switch and use the other pair until we got to base to change the bulb.

So we ordered in a pair of replacement spots.  Looking for proper functionality of a headlight - that is, a true high beam and a true low beam, properly focussed.

The spots I found - well calling them spots is an understatement, they are actually a pair of headlights.  They use standard H4 bulbs you can find anywhere, and even have a "parking light".  So I modified my circuit to support that.  These lights are from Drag Specialties.  Size, they are standard 4 1/2".  Available with smooth or fluted with visor.  Found them on ebay at $62.95 ea w/ free shipping - which was fast.  Here's a pic as shown at Drag Specialties, the fluted with visor style:



And the "smooth" style:



Note the small bulb at the bottom of the reflector.

The Drag Specialties link is http://www.dragspecialties.com/products/?productId=183298


The seller I got them from is at
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRAG-SPECIALTIES-2001-0249-4-1-2-SMOOTH-SPOTLIGHT-W-RUNNING-LIGHT-/291228039811?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43ce8b3a83&vxp=mtr

If the link breaks the P/N to search for is 20-6011PA.

She actually has THREE headlights now - and each of these "spots" is brighter than her main headlight. They are wired with full functionality - she can control them independent of the headlight, or select the "follow the headlight" function, or shut them off (suppose there's a weak battery) and run parking lights only.  They also go off with the starter button, same as the headlight.


Anyway, I installed these using several relays and a diode (and of course an inline fuse) and a bit of wire.  I always solder and shrink wrap all connections - and have never had one fail as a result of never using crimp connectors or Scotch-blocks.

I set them up with a 3-pos sw, plus another toggle.  The 3-pos sw selects high, low, or "use the bike's hi-lo sw".  The separate toggle switches them off while turning on the "parking lights"

Here's my circuit:



Lastly, here they are installed.  Sorry didn't take pics during the install.  The relays are under the tank, the switches in the tank gussets.








Oh, BTW.  The light bar was donated by Deerslayer - the damaged handlebar after Bambi & pal committed hari-kari.  Cut off the ends and it makes a fine light bar.  While the tubing is surprisingly thick.

[R J]

That looks super good Mark.

I might have to screw around with my Cobra lamps.     They don't have the Cobra bulb, and they aren't dual filament.   The spotlights are GE H7616 they only use 36.5 watts and put out 70000 CP. Lights up the road very well

Things to do this winter while I set and wonder when I'll get the snow blower out and clear the back driveway.