Turning rear turn signals into running lights.

I plan to do turn my rear turn signals into turn signals and running lights on my '82 KZ750 four. Getting the parts and doing the wiring is a no brainer for me, but I'm trying to decide where to pull the power from. I could get it from the red/blue wire that feeds the running lights in the rear brake light. However, though it won't be much more, it will pull a few more amps through the circuit. Should I bump the 10 amp fuse up to...say 15 amps? Or should I pull the power from somewhere else? [I don't want to use the aux circuit as it is not switched, on this bike anyway]

Anyone done this?

I haven't done it but the easiest way to drop your current draw is by switching to LED's. That I did do. Check out Superbrightleds.com they even have the disc's to go from single to duals in your receptacles.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check out the website.

The question remains about the best place to take the power from.

polkat wrote:

I plan to do turn my rear turn signals into turn signals and running lights on my '82 KZ750 four. Getting the parts and doing the wiring is a no brainer for me, but I'm trying to decide where to pull the power from. I could get it from the red/blue wire that feeds the running lights in the rear brake light. ////
Anyone done this?

That's how I did it. Changed the rear turn signals to dual filamnt bulbs and wired the smaller filaments to the tail (running) light +12 line.

Each small filament on an 1157 bulb is about 8W, so adding the two rear lights will take about 1.3A extra current.

AtLarge wrote:

I haven't done it but the easiest way to drop your current draw is by switching to LED's. That I did do. Check out Superbrightleds.com they even have the disc's to go from single to duals in your receptacles.

+1, I also switched to LEDs at all four corners and the tail/brake as well. Get the 3W Luxeon bulb assemblies that screw right into the socket. You will need a solid state flasher to work the turn signals (they also sell them). You will love these bulbs as they are about 50% brighter than standard incandescent bulbs and use much less power.

Cool! And you haven't had any fuse problems?

polkat wrote:

Cool! And you haven't had any fuse problems?

I never popped a fuse running the extra bulbs for a lot of years, but when the 3W Luxeon LEDs came out, I switched over anyway for extra brightness and visibility. The reduced power is a bonus. What a steal at $12.95, they were twice that when they first came out.

www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/co...product=CAR#1157-x12

BA15 3Watt LED bulb
Super Bright 3-Watt High Power LED 12VDC replacement bulb
15mm 1156 Single or 1157 Dual Intensity Bayonet Base
Super Wide 130 Degree Viewing Angle
Select Base type & LED Color
$ 12.95

Just a word of caution. Check your state and local laws. Some do not permit the use of amber as running lights and they must be red. If your handy you could change your lenses to red by either buying or making your own. The luxeons are so bright they actually project through the yellow in red so you could skip that step but I think the lower light level might be a funky color since it's not full power. Another option is a second set of lights either matching your stockers or aftermarket and just use them as dedicated lines. I actually had mine set up this way with stockers for awhile but didn't use the second set as running lights but as additional brake lights instead. It screamed HEY I'M DOING SOMETHING HERE so the cagers got a better wake up call. I took them off the last time I removed my rear rack and just haven't put them back on. Easy to do since it's just plug and play now.

Anyway, I don't know how well it's enforced but I wouldn't go out of my way to give the man a reason to pull me over. So, if that matters to you...

Yea, red lenses are required where I am. I have been told about the 3W Luxeon LEDs several times now. bountyhunter said that a solid state flasher relay is required to use them. Who makes this, or, does anyone have a part number?
Also, is there a dual LED version of this so I can run them as turn/running lights? Thanks!

If you are on the Superbright website just get the 1157 version. That's the dual filament BAY15D and last time I ordered I got the 4 watt. Then your choice in color. They also have the flasher but you can get that at Autozone too. It has a smoked canister and you can see the circuitry inside.

polkat wrote:

Yea, red lenses are required where I am. I have been told about the 3W Luxeon LEDs several times now. bountyhunter said that a solid state flasher relay is required to use them. Who makes this, or, does anyone have a part number?

Superbright LEDs sells the solid state flashers.

polkat wrote:

Also, is there a dual LED version of this so I can run them as turn/running lights? Thanks!

Yes, they sell both the single and dual versions. They use a single LED run at two different brightness levels but they plug directly into your standard socket.

polkat wrote:

Yea, red lenses are required where I am.

Same here. I painted my ambers with Testor's candy apple red spray paint for plastic models (paint code 1605). Wipe the lenses really clean with acetone first.

The front stock signals were running lights on my C2. I got another set of 3 wire front signals and mounted them on the back, running the 3rd wire from the front signals to the back ones.
Had amber lens and never any problems with the Police for many years.

Now I don't have any running lights. I miss them.