Is it possible... Driving Lights

I have a set of CREE driving lights I am getting ready to put on the '84. Here is what I am hoping to do:

I am using a relay to power the lights and installing a switch so that I can turn off the lights during daytime riding. Pretty simple right. Here is where I add a twist. The switch is an On-Off-On switch and I want to use the Hi beam AND the Low beam as the trigger. Essentially, I want the lights to work on low beam and then on those occasions when I can ride on high beam, I want to flip the switch and have the lights come on again.

When I did this on the '81, I did not have a relay so the lights weren't very bright on low beam, so I am correcting that with the relay. Can this be done with only one relay/one switch or do I need two relays/two switches?

Why not just one relay and a separate switch? Why tie them to the headlight wiring at all?

If I am correct in unnerstanding what you want to do, you will need two relays. Run the first relay off of the normal headlight(low beam) circuit, with the headlight power being the trigger for the driving light relay. Then, wire the other relay into the high beam circuit, using the high beam signal from the hi/lo switch to trigger the 2nd driving light relay. This way, the driving lights will be on when either the hi or o beam of the headlight is on, but off while cranking, as is the regular headlight.
Does that make sense?

PA has a requirement that "legally" the lights can only be on when the low beam is on, so they need to be controlled by low beam.

I think the manual switch would also light the high beam, maybe 2 separate relays would work. one for the high beam the other for the switch...would need 2 separate power sources as well, high beam and accessory...still thinking on this though, seems plausible.

[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172801#p172801:1pwhxy0v said:

AApple » Tue May 03, 2016 12:44 pm[/url]":1pwhxy0v]
Does that make sense?

Click to expand...

Yup.

If I use two relays, I can still use the on-off-on switch like I planned. The low beam will trigger one relay and the high beam will trigger the other relay. The relay outputs will connect to the on-off-on switch and the output from that switch will power the lights.

[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172805#p172805:xprlyjlh said:

brianinpa » Tue May 03, 2016 10:50 am[/url]":xprlyjlh]
If I use two relays, I can still use the on-off-on switch like I planned. The low beam will trigger one relay and the high beam will trigger the other relay. The relay outputs will connect to the on-off-on switch and the output from that switch will power the lights.

Click to expand...

:yes: :good:

My thinking was backwards on the switch and that was where I was having the problem.

My wife would probably argue and say that more than just my thinking is backwards, but that is different matter...

:smilie_happy:

It is a thinker, I usually draw out a schematic then look for problems...you should do that, doesn't have to be fancy.

Throw in a photo light control and make it all automatic.

[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172811#p172811:1ammgu7p said:

dan filipi » Tue May 03, 2016 3:43 pm[/url]":1ammgu7p]
Throw in a photo light control and make it all automatic.

Click to expand...

Oooo! I hadn't thought about that!

I found one at amazon for under $5. Might get one for my van actually.

https://www.amazon.com/HIGHROCK-Photocel ... B00F04RTPK

Brian you have the right requirement with a three position switch and a relay. You use the outside terminals (pos 1 and 2 ) connected to your high beam positive and your low beam positive and the common now controls your relay. By using a relay you won't get feedback to the light trigger circuits and you also have a center off position on your switch

[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172813#p172813:2u889k2u said:

dan filipi » Tue May 03, 2016 4:39 pm[/url]":2u889k2u]
I found one at amazon for under $5. Might get one for my van actually.

https://www.amazon.com/HIGHROCK-Photocel ... B00F04RTPK

Click to expand...

That may be something for the 81. I can hide it the fairing. Can't do that too well on the 84.

Bring on the night!



There are times I wish I was an original owner of these old bikes! :head bang:

Somewhere in time, the low beam circuit was soldered to the unused taillight wire in the headlight bucket. This caused the low beam to be on all the time. I never worried about it, but when I blew the headlight last fall, it was interesting riding home holding a flashlight so I could see where I was going. :shock:

That solder caused me problems - the riding lights were staying on all the time: low and high beam. That could be a good thing, but it is a sure way to fail a state safety inspection. So I had to fix that. When I pulled the headlight's rubber cover to remove the headlight unit, I found the electrical connector got a little warm at the ground, so I had to fix that.

An quick/easy job wasn't so quick... I think I am going to ride semi-naked for a little while.

I like that look! That's the 81?

No, the 84. The 81 will be getting a set also though.

[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172871#p172871:r6ncv26m said:

brianinpa » Thu May 05, 2016 6:48 am[/url]":r6ncv26m]
... I think I am going to ride semi-naked for a little while.

Click to expand...

There's a visual I dint need....THANKS Brian.... :swoon:

:smilie_happy:

Glad you got the lighting figured out, anyway! :clapping:

[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172881#p172881:1z7zjjdq said:

AApple » Thu May 05, 2016 12:36 pm[/url]":1z7zjjdq]

[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=172871#p172871:1z7zjjdq said:

brianinpa » Thu May 05, 2016 6:48 am[/url]":1z7zjjdq]
... I think I am going to ride semi-naked for a little while.

Click to expand...

There's a visual I dint need....THANKS Brian.... :swoon:

:smilie_happy:

Glad you got the lighting figured out, anyway! :clapping:

Click to expand...

Semi, Joel... SEMI-naked.
:smilie_happy: