Running lights

[billyp]

If I wanted to wire for running lights, both headlight and tail light on when bike is running, could I just run them thru the ignition switch to the on or run terminal? Do I need a relay in there somewhere? In other words, can I get rid of the headlight "on/off" switch and just power them when the ignition is on? I'd still have the high/lo wired like normal.

 

[Tim]

All you're doing is eliminating the headlight on/off switch, so sure - shouldn't be a problem.

At minimum, you want to have the lighting on its own fuse, and the ignition on its own fuse. This way if you get a short somewhere in the lighting, you're not stranded at the side of the road because they're on the same fuse as your ignition.

Of course, I wired up my XS650 with a single 10A fuse, and have never had a problem. But it's something I plan to remedy as getting a short in a lighting circuit is pretty easy, and I'd rather not be chasing down a short on the side of the road just to keep the bike running.

Why do you want to eliminate the ability to turn the headlight off? You running an electric starter or kick only? Electronic ignition?

Electric starters need a lot of juice, and some bikes even turn the headlight off via relay while the starter is running (my BMW R75/6 as an example). Also, some electronic ignitions need a strong battery to get the bike started (Boyer's need a full battery as an example). So any draw you can avoid on the battery when you're trying to start it is a good thing.

 

[billyp]

I want it that way mainly for safety.

I'm building a CB360 for my wife and she's a little scatter brained so I want to make sure the lights go on when the bike is on and off when it's off. The fewer switches she has to remember the better Mainly I don't want her stuck somewhere because she forgot to turn off the lights and the battery died.

It'll be a stock electric/kick start running the stock ignition and a strong enough battery, at least equivalent to stock.

So having the lights and ignition fused is a good idea. Should I just put them in line or at the fuse box? I would assume the wiring would be as easy as running two wires, one for the lights and one for the ignition, to the on/run terminal on the ignition switch is that right?

 

[billyp]

All you're doing is eliminating the headlight on/off switch, so sure - shouldn't be a problem.

At minimum, you want to have the lighting on its own fuse, and the ignition on its own fuse. This way if you get a short somewhere in the lighting, you're not stranded at the side of the road because they're on the same fuse as your ignition.

Of course, I wired up my XS650 with a single 10A fuse, and have never had a problem. But it's something I plan to remedy as getting a short in a lighting circuit is pretty easy, and I'd rather not be chasing down a short on the side of the road just to keep the bike running.

Why do you want to eliminate the ability to turn the headlight off? You running an electric starter or kick only? Electronic ignition?

Electric starters need a lot of juice, and some bikes even turn the headlight off via relay while the starter is running (my BMW R75/6 as an example). Also, some electronic ignitions need a strong battery to get the bike started (Boyer's need a full battery as an example). So any draw you can avoid on the battery when you're trying to start it is a good thing.

I like the relay Idea too, as far as cutting the light when the starter is running. How would I wire that? What type of relay, meaning how many poles?

 

[Sonreir]

You'll need a five pin relay.

Solenoid wire on pin 85, starter button on pin 86, power on pin 87a, and headlight main wire on pin 30. Pin 87 is unused.

 

[billyp]

You'll need a five pin relay.

Solenoid wire on pin 85, starter button on pin 86, power on pin 87a, and headlight main wire on pin 30. Pin 87 is unused.

You're the tits Sonreir!!

Just sent payment for my harness, thanks again for all the help!

 

[billyp]

Sonreir, would I be able to wire the neutral safety light through a relay to keep the bike from starting if it's not in neutral?

Would I wire it the same as the headlight example?

Solenoid to 85, starter button to 86, power to 87a and Neutral to 30

 

[Sonreir]

Slightly different.

Pins 85 and 86 between the neutral light and the neutral switch. Pin 30 to the starter button and pin 87 to the solenoid. Pin 87a unused.

 

[billyp]

Slightly different.

Pins 85 and 86 between the neutral light and the neutral switch. Pin 30 to the starter button and pin 87 to the solenoid. Pin 87a unused.

Once again, thank you sir.

Is a 20/30A relay good for pretty much everything on the bike? Is there ever a need to use a 40A?

 

[Sonreir]

Nope. 20A will cover everything except the starter motor, which should be using the solenoid anyway.