Headlight Relay

[heavyd]

I think I finally have this clear in my head after looking at a number of diagrams but I want to make sure I'm right before I start cutting wires. I didn't see how I could use 1 relay for both the hi and low beams of the headlight, but if I am reading thishttp://www.barnettdh.com/Valkfiles/HLDLdualrelayST.pdf diagram correctly, the relay goes in before the hi/low switch. I am using a 100/60W bulb and I thought I would need to run heavier wire along with the relay. But if I am reading this right I would run a heavier wire to the relay and then it would use the stock wiring from the relay to the bulb? Or is it better to use 2 relays and only use the stock wiring to trigger it?

Thanks

[heavyd]

On a related note, i am trying to sort out some of the cut/splice/tape/splice again of the previous owners and i need help identifying some of the wires. I am currently stuck on a wire in the headlight bucket. There is a pair of green wires with a single female spade connector bundled with the blue/orange signal light wires. There was nothing plugged into it,according to the wiring diagram from tim skelton it is labeled "fuse to poslt sw". What is that and should it be plugged into anything or just sealed?

[BobB]

There is more than one way of doing this.  I had this issue two years ago, specifically my hi/low beam switch failed.  You seam to be knowledgable on electricity, so I'll say we just want to reduce the amperage going thru the starter switch and in my case the hi/low beam switch.  I handled it as follows:

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,55747.0.html

[heavyd]

There is more than one way of doing this.  I had this issue two years ago, specifically my hi/low beam switch failed.  You seam to be knowledgable on electricity, so I'll say we just want to reduce the amperage going thru the starter switch and in my case the hi/low beam switch.  I handled it as follows:

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,55747.0.html

That's a very informative writeup BobB, thanks a lot for the information, that makes it a lot clearer.

[MarkT]

In a nutshell, w/o reading the above link, use seperate relays for the high - lo beams, put them in the bucket, and use the wires that went to the bulb to trigger the relays.  Power the relays with #12 wire and their own fuse from the battery or a panel if you want to add several circuits.  I have it here:  http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/Headlight_Upgrade/headlight_upgrade.html

[heavyd]

Thanks Bob and Mark for your inputs, I have it all wired up now, just need some weather to test it. The weather is warming up here, it is only supposed to be -25C tonight but there is still 8ft or more of snow.

I saw MarkT's writeup early on but for some reason I can't find 3 pin relays anywhere. After doing more reading I realized that I could run in a ground wire and link the two grounds together.

All of the wiring I pulled out has been replaced and seems to be working while sitting in the garage, no more wires with 3 splices/ft or wires twisted together without even being soldered. Now my only issue is with my Cobra light bar, the same issue I had last spring so I am wondering if anyone else has an issue.

The last 3 springs, the signal light on the left side of the light bar (the low side when on the kickstand) won't work. Last year I tried to find a new 1157 plug but they don't seem to exist in my city so I pulled it all apart found the closest plug I could and put new contacts and springs in both sides, sanded the socket down to bare metal and rubbed on some di-electric grease to try to keep it from corroding again. This year, same problem. Cleaned up the rust again and got it working intermittently but not good enough. I got fed up, went on ebay and ordered 5 plugs for like $6 free shipping. Now I am going to have to pull the light bar off again and run more new wires. Anyone else have a Cobra bar with issues?

[BobB]

I had an issue with the little switch on the right bracket failing.  It is worthless at that location anyway, so I wired around it.  I later added a relay and brake reservoir switch.  The sealed beam lamps tended to fail at inopportune moments and they are hard to find on the road.  I replaced them with ones that use halogen bulbs.  If you look at the little profile picture to the left, you will notice that the left lamp is off.  The lamp failed the morning I was leaving for Inzane 12 and the picture was taken the next week, on the Tail of the Dragon.  Did a 3200 mile road trip with one lamp off.