|
07-17-2012, 07:23 PM | #1 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA area
Posts: 785
|
Wiring sealed beam running lights
Sorry for posting here, but it doesn't seem I'm allowed to post under electrical. Question I have is this:
I've had a pair of Chuckster's light bar and setup (relay wiring) for a while now. I am replacing the white light, H3 bulb with a sealed beam, Amber - non fluted colored. Now, the new sealed beam comes with two electrical posts on the back (see picture). I'm not quite sure how to wire this. Obviously I would need to make a new connection from the old hot (1 wire system) to the sealed beam, and with the second connector on the back of the sealed beam, run that directly to ground? Like back in the headlight bucket, or like how I see Netnorske did, run a ground right to the bolt on the running light bucket?
__________________
2005 Kawasaki Nomad VBA #1608 KZR #25622 Login or Register to Remove Ads |
|
07-17-2012, 07:38 PM | #2 | |
Mega-Contributor
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever!
Posts: 21,926
|
Quote:
__________________
Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08|Custer '09|Cortez '10|Crescent City '11|Kanab '12|Antlers '12|Estes Park '13|Antlers '13|Orofino '14|The Dalles '17 |
|
|
07-17-2012, 07:45 PM | #3 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA area
Posts: 785
|
Thanks for the reply, CJ, appreciated. I looked over the sealed beam just now, nothing shows any + or -, so I guess just pic left or right, doesn't matter? One more question, never had these non fluted before. Do people put the actual wire filament horizontal or vertical? Does it make any difference in light output, the way there positioned? Horizontal, more light up and down, Vertical more light left and right?
__________________
2005 Kawasaki Nomad VBA #1608 KZR #25622 |
|
07-18-2012, 09:47 AM | #4 |
Sr. Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cartersville, Georgia
Posts: 4,838
|
Bull, I got a question, Where did you find the non-fluted bulbs you have?
Also, you want your wire filament to be horizontal, but I suppose with the non-fluted lens, it probably doesn't matter.
__________________
Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381 |
|
07-18-2012, 11:16 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Peoples Republic of New York State
Posts: 15,154
|
You are correct it does not matter which post is positive or negative.
I ran one ground wire to a bolt behind the triple tree on the frame in front of the gas tank.
__________________
Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4] Login or Register to Remove Ads |
|
07-19-2012, 08:29 PM | #6 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA area
Posts: 785
|
VulcanE, I ended up buying from J&P Cycle, online. Only one of the auto stores around here even had the amber in stock, and it was the fluted and more expensive. Nothing wrong with the fluted, I just like the old style look of the non-fluted better. The part # is: 381-520 and description is: NONFLUTED AMBER SEALED BEAM. $19.99 apiece and with shipping, was $39.98. It was still better than the auto store, which I think was about $22 bucks apiece.
I've had them on a couple days now, really like them, especially in daytime, think I'm more visible. Rode home from work the last two days in a torrential downpour, and cars gave me my space. I ended up not cutting off the H3 single hot wire plug on the bike side, went and soldiered on a male end - built in protector and then the other end soldiered on a round eye connector for connecting up to the sealed beam, heat shrinked both sides, works out real nice. That way if I ever go back to a H3 bulb, I'm good to go. I thought about running the ground wire to the outside running bolts like Netnorske did, I believe, then said hell with it, soldiered up and heat shrinked a nice lead with eye connectors on each end, ran one from the bulb and out along the hot wire back into the headlight bucket and grounded it under one of the bolts. Did the same for the other running light. Used real small zip strips to put the ground along with the hot, turned out real nice, looks good. And, couple years ago after reading Mac's recommendation, ran a nice thick gauge ground wire from the front to the body, so bypassing the neck bearings.
__________________
2005 Kawasaki Nomad VBA #1608 KZR #25622 |
|