Adding lights to my XS

[desert1]

I wanna add a couple of lites up front of the Alphabike.....anyone have a model # or product I can buy that will work without overloading the alternator.....Oh sixty six, by the way,I got somethin I will send this week to you .

Bruce
78XS1100
Alpha

[sixtysix]

Bruce,

I moved this thread for you so it would get some answers!

Here is my answer, I tried the 55W lights and they drained my battery, so I had to switch to 35W bulbs. I would not go over 35W for extra lighting.

[nwilley]

Bruce
Halogen driving lights usually come in pairs, and the pair will consume about 8A (I bench tested them). I bought a cheap set at Cdn Tire, but only mounted one, so only consume 4A. This is OK but probably consumes any remaining amperage budget A pair of 35W lamps should only consume 2.9A but I would bench test them first. Good luck

[Skinny Biker]

Well... I am running the 80/100 watt headlight, and have the Bosch 55watt driving lights on the beast too, but only use on the highway at high rpm's, and have had no charging problems with them. They are not on too long at a time, just when no traffic is around in front of mt to get blinded... They are BRIGHT! The way to go if you ask me, but any xtra lighting is a plus... want pics, I have some Bruce, jsut email me off forum...

[TopCatGr58]

Lights

Hey there Bruce,
I'm running a set of those 35 watt standard style bulb driving/fog lights on my 81SH as well. I used to have a bunch of extra tail lights as well, but I think it overloaded my voltage regulator, had to replace it years ago. Now, just running the floods and 1 extra tail light assembly, and seems to do okay, only run the floods at highway speeds also. Using standard 55/60 headlight, surprising how much more of the road close up you can see with the floods. Mine burned out a short while back, replaced them with 1156 bulbs, same as in the turn signals, which according to the Clymers are rated about 27watts, but being clear in reflective housings with fresnel prism like lenses, they provide a decent amount of light and seem to be alternator friendly! Good Luck.

[oldfart]

extra lighting

I also have a set of driving lights on my 1100g dresser,never had any charging problems(mini lamps from wal-mart)What you might want to try though is what I did.I took an older Yamaha right hand switch assembly,one with the headlight on -off switch and wired the driving lights into it,now I can switch extra lighting on or off with a flick of the thumb without taking hand off bar...Will

[sixtysix]

I also have a bar mounted switch that runs a relay, to turn the lights on and off, it can only be on if the key is on. You will wire it this way too the first time you leave the driving lights on!

[xssiveone]

Didn't I read a long time ago that someone designed/build a small circuit that would shut the lights off when the voltage dropped below a certain level? If not, then perhaps some of the electronic techs/hobbyists among us could put something together. This should help eliminate any battery charge problems by shutting the lights off when the system isn't producing sufficient voltage.

[REFFI]

"Stealing Amps"

A friend of mine just added Hyperlites to his Honda Hurricane. He got yellow LED's up front as side markers and a set of red LED's for the rear as ancillary taillights. They flash for a short period of time before lighting continuously. Since LED's use so little power, couldn't you substitute the reds in the rear gaining some amperage for extra forward headlighting?

They are Hyperlites and are advertised on the AMA website.

[nwilley]

I just bought an LED cluster replacement for the 1157 turn/running and found they were no where near bright enough. Problem is the LED needs to be facing forward, but in the rear they face sideways. In the Vetter signals they are facing forward, but again the cluster just was not bright enough, so I took them back! I gather there are LED clusters that use the ultra bright LED's, and they would probably be fine, but I would still be up against the orientation of the bulb in the rear turn lights.