Relays - why do we need 'em?

[Brock]

Pretty sure headlights on is not a law

You could be right Terry, how ever the ADRs specify lights on as I recall, and the Law says that the bikes must comply with ADRs, This is way, whgen the ADRs change, the law doesnt need to

[alans1100]

The lights on legislation was repealed in 1996

[Smokeguy]

Yes Diesel, sorry I can understand the language and what your trying to say.  ,kindof,  put it this way, give me a spanner and I can strip a bike engine down to it's individual parts and most likeky it will run when I put it back together.    Nuts and bolts I can see how they fit together. Mechanicly I can "see" whats what and how it works with the next bit.  But when It comes to this Electrikery ? I'm as dumb as a stump.    Maybe if i read it all over and over it would stick  . Interesting read tho' At least I now know who to ask to draw me a "how to do it" when I get my driving lights. 

[Diesel]

... at least I now know who to ask to draw me a "how to do it" when I get my driving lights. 

No worries Smokeguy - I have a great, simple schematic being OK'd by my GURU (read Brock), and if he reckons it's OK - I'll post it up.       

The brains trust and experience around here reaches far and wide.         

Cheers, Diesel

[alans1100]

Yes Diesel, sorry I can understand the language and what your trying to say.  ,kindof,  put it this way, give me a spanner and I can strip a bike engine down to it's individual parts and most likeky it will run when I put it back together.    Nuts and bolts I can see how they fit together. Mechanicly I can "see" whats what and how it works with the next bit.  But when It comes to this Electrikery ? I'm as dumb as a stump.    Maybe if i read it all over and over it would stick  . Interesting read tho' At least I now know who to ask to draw me a "how to do it" when I get my driving lights. 

My driving light set had all the wiring etc included so all I had to do was connect the wires to the correct locations. The only item I need to buy was the on/off switch.
The wiring diagram pictured is similar to the one I had in the kit except that rather than the power coming from the high beam switch I connected into the LH high beam (12 volt positive) wire near the head light. There's also a fuse installed in my set up as well and I think it's on the battery to relay wire.




I placed the on/off switch in the removable tab located below the ABS/TCS switched on the LH filler panel as pictured and I figured that was what those removable they were for.

[STeveo]

Well thats what their for, I've been removing them to get  some heat onto my knees!

 

[Brock]

Nope, those panels are so you can see where your cams are when you do a valve clearance check with out stripping the bike.

[STeveo]

Thanks Brock, but they do let a bit of engine heated air through on cold mornings to help my knees.

 

[Diesel]

Here is my wiring diag for the Spot Lights and cigarette lighter power outlet....

[saaz]

My wiring is somewhat similar, except the main power wire (the 25A red in Diesel's diagram) goes to a fuse box where I have separate fuses for the HID hi/lo, spots and heated grips. I used a 50A red wire so that the individual fuses should go first up the front, rather than everything on the red wire going if the fuse goes. That's the theory anyways...

I also have a 40A relay up front that allows me to turn off the lights up front even if the ignition is on, or just leave everything ignition powered.  It may be an unnecessy item, so if I don't use the feature much I will get rid of that relay.

[Diesel]

Also - as Brock stated - "make sure your switch only powers the relay - and let the relay handle the bigger current to the spotties"

Meaning - in a typical spotlight setup - take note of where the switch lies in this circuit that Alan posted....

Here is another example that Keith posted....

Hope this helps.

Cheers., Diesel