I want to add these 55w driving lights

I take it I've gotta get a new relay? If so, any recommendations?

Also, how do you reliably mount the larger relay?

The one that comes with the kit might work, or you can get something like this:
12v SPDT automotive relay

The link also shows typical applications and a diagram for the relay.

The automotive relays are pretty good about being immune to vibration. Just mount it in a similar fashion as the other relays on the bike.

if you have acess to a clamp on type amp meter thats the easiest way to check.add the wattage of all your bulbs up and divide by 12v that will be your amp draw.i like to figure things at 125% of the load and size wiring accordingly;)

this article is from the july/06 cycle world. just posting it cause of the last paragraph that compares a light bar (short wide beam) to a higher watt headlight (long narrow beam):

img385.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lightsxn2.jpg

I have used lightbars in the past and if you use standard 5" spotlights, if you check the variety of lens types, you will see that there is a WIDE variety, all of which have different characteristics. I have use amber lens, clear lenses, etc. They also come with lines molded into the glass to diffuse the beam (shorten/widen) and clear that allow a tigher beam. I can also say without a doubt that two 35W spots are not nearly as bright as a single 7" headlight 60W high beam or 55W low beam, for that matter. I was riding a Nomad with lightbar a couple years ago and blew the fuse for the headlight going home (with missus on the back) in the middle of the Hill Country with herds of stupid deer just waiting to jump me. I had a lightbar with two 35W bulbs with amber lenses and the amber lenses allowed me to make it home as I could see the road in front for about 30 feet in a dim amber glow but I was scared snotless. I seriously doubt regular lightbar spots would work well as driving lights; best to get driving lights for that purpose.

All this reading is good sh*t Maynard. Electrical is not my best subject. It's all about seeing and being seen.:blink:

www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?Partnumber=330-070
That ignition kill switch posted on that "free relay wiring diagram" link, is something I'd look into for any bike.

Post edited by: CoreyClough, at: 2007/01/05 08:40

Just a suggestion and I may be stating the obvious here… you may want to get the matching socket for the relay. They are cheap, they can help in troubleshooting/checking your installation and they are great when and if you need to replace a failed relay.

I have added three relays to my bike, the fist one was the coil powering modification, the next was a head light powering modification (same idea as coil) and the latest was a high/low beam modification to overcome a switch gear intermittency problem. I used sockets for each one.

By the way, the automotive relays I used (20 Amp.) have a tab at the top with a single hole for screw-down mounting. I used tie-wraps instead of screw-down in order to mount them loosely to the frame tube. I did this because it was cheap, it was fast, I can change or add to the layout at any time and very little vibration should get to the relays.

I hope this is useful. Best of success!

CoreyClough wrote:

... It's all about seeing and being seen.:blink:

Good point Corey. I should mention that while the two 35W driving lights I use are plenty bright to see while driving in the dark (as long as they are aimed right), they are not as good for being seen in bright situations. They shoot out a pretty narrow beam, but do not have much surface area on the lenses, which is all other people see when they look at you. At night, in the city, the two small spots don't stand out against the many other lights around. The big square, stock headlight definitely is more noticable because the surface area is so much bigger.

bill_wilcox100 wrote:

...you may want to get the matching socket for the relay. They are cheap...

Yep, let me pile on this with another tip: Buy them from these guys:
www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=330-075
...amazing prices, nice people, and fast shipping... cheaper than I can find in stores even with shipping.
They have all the relays, pigtails, and inline blade fuses you'll need for this kinda work...

see below.

Post edited by: 81Red750, at: 2007/01/05 19:59

81Red750 wrote:

Well. I only added a single light, under the fork brace. In preliminary fiddlin' during the daytime, but in a closed garage, it seems to "throw" the beam further than the stock bulb.

Here are the pics of the install<br><br>Post edited by: 81Red750, at: 2007/01/05 19:08

.