Fog/Driving/Aux Lights...

[xs650mike]

Mikes XS LED bulbs

Just a reminder, Mikes XS has LED signal and tailight bulbs in both single and dual filament style for $5 each. Both side angle and straight on types are available on this page: http://www.mikesxs.com/mikesxs-elect...ategory_id=2.5

Here's another idea. You don't have to operate two auxilliary lamps at the same time. I had two lamps mounted low down on the case guards of my XJ750 Seca. On the left I had a long range driving lamp and on the right I had a wide pattern yellow fog lamp. Only one operated at a time. The fog lamp was wired so that it only operated in conjunction with the headlight low beam and the driving lamp only operated with the high beam. A single switch controlled the ground from both lamps so they could be turned off. Since I didn't operate both aux lights at the same time I never had a problem overwhelming the alternator. Another advantage was that whenever some half-asleep oncoming cager would forget to dim his lights I could just flash my high beam and they'd get the full effect of the "flamethrower" in addition to my high beam. That got their attention!

[xs650mike]

Here's a link that was just posted on the XS650 email list for LED bulbs. A variety of types, 1157s for $5 to $15. Supposed to be really bright. http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html

[TopCatGr58]

Let there be LIGHT!

Hey folks,
Just having fun with the new digital camera, and that I got to get out on Godzilla today. Got the NEW battery in, set the choke, and tapped the starter button, 2 revs and "he" fired right up, gotta love SeaFoam for keeping the carbs clean!!

Anyways, wanted to show some shots of my rig with LEDs and such. This first is my Clear Lens headlight conversion, it's the same as what's being sold on MikesXS, but mine have an extra feature, a colored accent ring. It doesn't show up much when the headlight is on, but it matches the Cyberwhite clear lens driving/aux 55w halogen lights I have!





I've got my flashers on so I could capture both turn signals at the same time, to show you how good they show up against the brightness of the headlight.


Also wanted to show the LED marker lights I put on in place of the YELLOW side frame reflectors! I also have the turn signals flashing, again to show how surprisingly visible the tail lights and turn signals are from the side! I mounted the large 56led array brake lights very deep, closest to the front of the bike inside the light bracket, which allowed for the diffusors to spread the light out better!



The LED's I used are a bit larger/wider than the bulbs you can get, but I was going for visibility, even though it was a bit more work to install them, than plug and play!
T.C.

[xs650mike]

Blinded by the light!

Now even cagers can see you, I hope!

[Pain]

Nice lights

That is a lot of light. I really need to switch over to LEDs one of these days.

On another note, I have 2 driving light on the front of my H, nad have not had charging problems, and I use them a lot - even around town.

I would have said they were 55watt, though some of the stuff in this thread has made me wonder. They came with the bike, and don't say on the casing anywhere - so

[TopCatGr58]

Watts up, Pain?

Hey Pain,

What type of bulbs are in your aux lights? Are they Halogen H3's? Or are they Standard round base bulbs? I had a set of the round base ones, they were rated around 35watts each. The new Halogens I've got are now 55!
T.C.

[prometheus578]

"Being left in the dark"

Wow... I didn't believe that this post would turn into "Quip City".
You can L.E.D. a Horse to Water?
Let there be LIGHT!
Blinded by the light!
Watts up, Pain?
L.E.D.s are such a "bright" idea, it's hard to believe that so many riders offer up so much "resistance" to change. And reading about the experiences of other's has proven most "Illuminating".
And for me, Prometheus, the Bringer of "Light", to allow myself to be pushed back into the "shadows' is just "Dim-witted"
I must meditate on this and search for "enlightenment".
"Ohm.....Ohm.....Ohm...."

[prometheus578]

"Almost forgot!"

Hey T.C.
Man... that's a really nice job!!
I'd buy some of those things... if I could just stop sending my paychecks to Andreas!

[Yamaniac]

This thread is absolutely reVOLTing

not really, but I had to try my hand at the whole puntasticness

That is one nice setup T.C. I find myself re-energized to strive for such a well lit bike.

Prometheus: I thought Prometheus was the God of Fire, but I have been wrong in the past, once or a thousand times. I guess I see the light/fire correlation.

[mro]

I thought Prometheus was the God of Fire

maybe the "Quip City" god, and lord of mc teck's

google
Prometheus was the son of Iapetus who was one of the Titans. He tricked the gods into eating bare bones instead of good meat. He stole the sacred fire from Zeus and the gods. Prometheus did not tell Zeus the prophecy that one of Zeus's sons will overthrow him. In punishment, Zeus commanded that Prometheus be chained for eternity in the Caucasus. There, an eagle (or, according to other sources, a vulture) would eat his liver, and each day the liver would be renewed. So the punishment was endless, until Heracles finally killed the bird. Prometheus is known to be one of the most interesting characters in Greek Mythology and of the XS community.


mro

[TopCatGr58]

Naw, just a little "SHOCK" and Ahhhhhh!

Hey Yamaniac and Prom,

Thanks for the "light" handed remarks!

I, too, thought Prometheus was the one that brought fire to man, according to the mythology!? But how appropro for Prom to have started this thread, since FIRE was the first light MAN harnessed!

Don't know if I can "AMP" up the ante, not sure if I'm e'quip'ped well enough to get things any more 'juiced'? It can be difficult to 'fuse' the thoughts when you're 'wired', but I'll try!

Or perhaps it's time to pull the plug? Sorry to be short!
T.C.

[GNEPIG]

.. or perhaps you should all be tied to the 'quip'ing post

[prometheus578]

That was good, MRO, as I was just re-researching the tale of Prometheus about an hour ago. So here I sit, reading your post all serious-like and interested (great...more info, etc)... and I get to the last sentance and dump my soda on the keyboard! It wasn't intentional, or maybe it was, but it was a great joke on me! Man that was funny.
No quips from me today, as I seem to have been bested by you all!
Well, actually I'm a little tired from repairing the damage from last night's windstorm. WIRES were blown down. I couldn't see to read anymore, as I no longer had ELECTROLYTES. But I did ok using CANDLEPOWER.

Like the Brits say,"A cottage without wattage isn't really a 'ohm."

[rickmcdougald]

'don't want my XJ to get run over, sooo ...

...I've added things that don't take much juice, like:
1. forward and rear LED running lights (to the Vetter fairing and trunk),
2. a headlight oscillator,
3. a brake flasher (to the trunk's LEDs only),
4. LED turn-signal arrows on my mirrors, and
5. LED turn-signal lights on the trunk.

I almost got run over by somebody at an intersection. It was a cool and dewy school morning. This mom hadn't cleared her side windows of dew before starting out. I SAW her head move to look left and right, but I KNEW she hadn't seen me when she tried to run me over! I yelled over my shoulder, "HEY!" That's when I saw the surprise on her face: she hadn't even SEEN ME!
I only had OEM + Vetter lighting. I figured that I needed to add some lighting. I did some research on LEDs and legal lighting for the U.S. and Oregon.

Details if you wish ...
RLMcD

[mro]

to power, or not to power

(watts) divided by (volts) = (amps)
(amps) times (volts) = (watts)
(watts) divided by (amps) = (volts)

once you know two values you can find the third

55 watt bulb, divided by 12V gives you ( 4.583 amp draw)
35 watt, (2.916 amp draw)


mro