Spotlights on '99 Nomad

mapleleafalumnus · 07-27-2013, 07:25 PM

Gentlemen, I have an issue in need of resolution! Last summer I bought my 1999 1500 Nomad -- great shape, everything still works. Spotlights were already mounted and functioning on it. Turn signals are mounted to the lightbar underneath the spotlights.

HOWEVER, the spotlights DO NOT shut off (like the headlamp does) when attempting to start the engine, and NEVER have done so for the 12 months I've owned the bike. As a result, I'm now on my 2nd new battery. I think this is a cause for my battery woes.

MOM (owner's manual) states that the factory installed auxiliary electrical accessory hookups are rated for 10 Amps maximum. I'm contemplating wiring these spotlights to the front acc. hookup (located under the meter instruments). Nothing is currently connected to these hookups.

Currently, the lightbar is hooked up in a seemingly odd fashion, and here are how the respective wires are connected:

DRIVER'S RIGHT <----> HEADLAMP BUCKET
GREY <--------------->RED/BLUE
BLACK/YELLOW <------>GREY

DRIVER'S LEFT <-------> HEADLAMP BUCKET
BLUE <---------------->RED/BLUE (different wire than connected to driver's right)
BLACK/YELLOW <------>GREEN

These spotlights are sealed beam units, and differ on each side. The data printed on the back of each unit is as follows:
Driver's right: "WAGNER 4449 12.8V SAEC 30W A4 2 1"
Driver's left: "GE 4411 TRACTOR 12V 35W JUN/13/08 10:11 15"

My questions:
1. Can I SAFELY connect these spotlights to the front electrical accessory hookup WITHOUT overloading the electrical system? I plan on installing my cigarette lighter at some point in the future as well.
2. I want to be able to turn the spotlights off via a toggle switch prior to starting the engine in order to maximize my battery life. Is this an attainable goal?
3. If the answers to both of the above is "YES", well, just how do I go about doing so?

PLEASE keep in mind that the front turn signals are mounted DIRECTLY BENEATH the spotlights, and are to be considered one unit.

I apologize for the length of this post, but I think it appropriate to provide all the pertinent info I have available to avoid confusion. THANK YOU ALL!

Old Carp · 07-27-2013, 07:53 PM

Run the spots thru a relay that triggers on with the headlight. You can then put a switch between the relay and the spots for on off control and they will not drain the system until the bike is running.

Yellow Jacket · 07-27-2013, 08:28 PM

From your description of the wire colors I would say that your spotlights are wired directly into the running lights. The running lights are powered by the tail light fuse. It should be number 3 in the junction box. It is supposed to be a 10 amp fuse. Check that fuse and if it's bigger than 10 amps then whoever wired the spots to the running lights put in a bigger fuse. Probably because the 10 amp fuse kept blowing.

Don't wire the spots to the accessory circuit.

It would be better to feed the spots through a relay. If you want the spots to come on with the headlight, just trigger the relay with the wire that feeds the headlight. That sould be a blue/yellow wire coming out of the junction box.

P.S. You're not kidding about it being wired strangely.

The Red/Blue wires feed the running lights.
The Gray wire feeds the Right turn light.
The Green wire feeds the Left turn light.
The Black/Yellow is a ground.

Beats me how it is working at all.

mapleleafalumnus · 07-27-2013, 08:53 PM

Gentlemen, I thank you both! Yellow Jacket, I will definitely NOT connect the spots to the acc. circuit as per your instructions! Old Carp, I like the simplicity of your solution, and I think this is the best way to do this, because simple is best, especially when it comes to combining electrics and myself. I intend to leave as much of the current wiring and connections in place as possible so I don't mess up anything else.
A HEAP BIG "THANKYA!" FELLAS!!!!

mapleleafalumnus · 08-10-2013, 11:53 PM

Just an update bump to this thread. I bought a Kuryakin switch harness complete w/relay and inline fuse, and installed it earlier today. Instead of connecting it to the headlamp wire, I connected it directly to the positive battery terminal, and it works great. I just wanted to keep it as simple as possible.
I also wish to thank Old Carp and Yellow Jacket again for their insight and instruction -- YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

07-27-2013, 07:25 PM	#1
mapleleafalumnus Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Thrae Tenalp Posts: 132	Spotlights on '99 Nomad Gentlemen, I have an issue in need of resolution! Last summer I bought my 1999 1500 Nomad -- great shape, everything still works. Spotlights were already mounted and functioning on it. Turn signals are mounted to the lightbar underneath the spotlights. HOWEVER, the spotlights DO NOT shut off (like the headlamp does) when attempting to start the engine, and NEVER have done so for the 12 months I've owned the bike. As a result, I'm now on my 2nd new battery. I think this is a cause for my battery woes. MOM (owner's manual) states that the factory installed auxiliary electrical accessory hookups are rated for 10 Amps maximum. I'm contemplating wiring these spotlights to the front acc. hookup (located under the meter instruments). Nothing is currently connected to these hookups. Currently, the lightbar is hooked up in a seemingly odd fashion, and here are how the respective wires are connected: DRIVER'S RIGHT <----> HEADLAMP BUCKET GREY <--------------->RED/BLUE BLACK/YELLOW <------>GREY DRIVER'S LEFT <-------> HEADLAMP BUCKET BLUE <---------------->RED/BLUE (different wire than connected to driver's right) BLACK/YELLOW <------>GREEN These spotlights are sealed beam units, and differ on each side. The data printed on the back of each unit is as follows: Driver's right: "WAGNER 4449 12.8V SAEC 30W A4 2 1" Driver's left: "GE 4411 TRACTOR 12V 35W JUN/13/08 10:11 15" My questions: 1. Can I SAFELY connect these spotlights to the front electrical accessory hookup WITHOUT overloading the electrical system? I plan on installing my cigarette lighter at some point in the future as well. 2. I want to be able to turn the spotlights off via a toggle switch prior to starting the engine in order to maximize my battery life. Is this an attainable goal? 3. If the answers to both of the above is "YES", well, just how do I go about doing so? PLEASE keep in mind that the front turn signals are mounted DIRECTLY BENEATH the spotlights, and are to be considered one unit. I apologize for the length of this post, but I think it appropriate to provide all the pertinent info I have available to avoid confusion. THANK YOU ALL! __________________ Wanna go, pretty boy? Illegitimati non carborundum -Gen. Joseph Stilwell 1999 VN 1500 Nomad Login or Register to Remove Ads Last edited by mapleleafalumnus; 07-27-2013 at 07:32 PM.
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07-27-2013, 08:28 PM	#3
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	From your description of the wire colors I would say that your spotlights are wired directly into the running lights. The running lights are powered by the tail light fuse. It should be number 3 in the junction box. It is supposed to be a 10 amp fuse. Check that fuse and if it's bigger than 10 amps then whoever wired the spots to the running lights put in a bigger fuse. Probably because the 10 amp fuse kept blowing. Don't wire the spots to the accessory circuit. It would be better to feed the spots through a relay. If you want the spots to come on with the headlight, just trigger the relay with the wire that feeds the headlight. That sould be a blue/yellow wire coming out of the junction box. P.S. You're not kidding about it being wired strangely. The Red/Blue wires feed the running lights. The Gray wire feeds the Right turn light. The Green wire feeds the Left turn light. The Black/Yellow is a ground. Beats me how it is working at all. __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009 Last edited by Yellow Jacket; 07-27-2013 at 08:41 PM.
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07-27-2013, 08:53 PM	#4
mapleleafalumnus Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Thrae Tenalp Posts: 132	Gentlemen, I thank you both! Yellow Jacket, I will definitely NOT connect the spots to the acc. circuit as per your instructions! Old Carp, I like the simplicity of your solution, and I think this is the best way to do this, because simple is best, especially when it comes to combining electrics and myself. I intend to leave as much of the current wiring and connections in place as possible so I don't mess up anything else. A HEAP BIG "THANKYA!" FELLAS!!!! __________________ Wanna go, pretty boy? Illegitimati non carborundum -Gen. Joseph Stilwell 1999 VN 1500 Nomad
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08-10-2013, 11:53 PM	#5
mapleleafalumnus Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Thrae Tenalp Posts: 132	Just an update bump to this thread. I bought a Kuryakin switch harness complete w/relay and inline fuse, and installed it earlier today. Instead of connecting it to the headlamp wire, I connected it directly to the positive battery terminal, and it works great. I just wanted to keep it as simple as possible. I also wish to thank Old Carp and Yellow Jacket again for their insight and instruction -- YOU GUYS ROCK!!! __________________ Wanna go, pretty boy? Illegitimati non carborundum -Gen. Joseph Stilwell 1999 VN 1500 Nomad Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-27-2013, 07:53 PM	#2
Old Carp Jr. Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: manhattan, KS Posts: 23	Run the spots thru a relay that triggers on with the headlight. You can then put a switch between the relay and the spots for on off control and they will not drain the system until the bike is running.
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