Adding relays to rear light?

[eran_k]

Hi all,
I know it's common and recommended to add relays for the headlight and ignition coils, is also needed for the tail light, brake light and horn?

thanks
Eran

 

[Rich Ard]

Nope. The benefit of a relayed circuit for the headlight and coils is that you get a direct line to those high-draw items; it's not necessary for the others.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

Correction: Relay for the horn is a very good idea. Horns draw a lot of power, and any horn will be noticeably louder if powered through a relay with heavier gauge wire.

 

[Rich Ard]

Wasn't aware - thanks, ADC, for the correction.

 

[dualitymike]

Correction: Relay for the horn is a very good idea. Horns draw a lot of power, and any horn will be noticeably louder if powered through a relay with heavier gauge wire.

Very cool. I'm always looking for a louder horn! Thanks for the tip. I'm definitely gonna use this one on my daily driver.

 

[XSeth]

Can someone explain relays to me? I'm new at electrical, with the exception of a physics class I took in college. I'm rewording y bike and need to know where I should use relays, how to buy them and how to wire them

 

[hillsy]

A relay is simply a switch which allows a high current device (like a starter motor) to be switched on with a low current circuit.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relay


And unless you are putting a big set of air horns on your bike, generic 12v motorcycle horns don't draw a lot of current for the (little) time they are designed to operate.