Driving Lights from Walmart

[MikeInFla]

Walmart has these very nice 50W mini halogen lights that put out a bunch of light. The problem is the in line fuse that came with it was a 10A, it kept blowing within 15 min of riding.

I changed the fuse to a 20A and the lights are direct wired to the battery with a switch. It's lasts a little longer but continues to blow.

Has anyone tried these lights or have any idea why they would continue to blow fuses?

[macmac]

The pig tail wire in the white cloth cover has got to have a flaw.. Unplug one lamp at a time and find out which one is the bad one. I have these little chrome jobs on my 06 Nomad too, I mounted them on the lower bolt of the lowers..

[moenko]

These lights (from "Optronics") are very popular on the Volusiarider side; I used to have them, too but never had a problem with blowing them. I wrote up an article on how to wire them correctly once and it's even posted here somewhere. Best way is to use a relay but if you're wired directly to the battery, you should be okay as well (just never walk away with the lights on or you'll be in trouble very shortly!!). The lights are actually 55W each (so 110W total, or ca. 9 Amperes). That comes too close to a 10 Amp circuit on a continuous "on" position, so we want to make a 20 Amp circuit.

Please note that a fuse is a means to protect the WIRES, not the appliance!! The wire size has to match the fuse and vice versa. My advice is to use 16 or 14 AWG wire with a 20 Amp fuse.

By the way, the lenses fall off very easily - put a very small #6x3/8" stainless steel screw through the bottom to hold them in place.

Here was the article I wrote up on VR.com (note the wire/fuse chart a few posts down):

http://www.volusiariders.com/viewtop...658&highlight=

[macmac]

I have walked away and I did get a dead battery for my folly... Since then I swapped out to an illuminated switch which helps some and a digital volt meter which simply crashes and can't be missed very well, so I haven't walked away since.

With the lamps off and on stock hi beam ny bike charges ater bring on the road a while at rpm near 14.3 to 14.4, and with the lamps on 13.4 to 13.8 which is good enough.

Since mine are wired to be on with no engine on my last bit of ride i usually turn the lamps off and ride a shot way at full charging rates. Then once the bike has cooled some I hook up my auto charger and leave it..

I haven't made a bracket myself yet, partly because I get lazy, and partly because the switch is mounted between the frame and the seat where I know where it is. This will prevent some by stander from messing with it. People at times think of motorbikes as toys and will handle them. Little kids are the worst.

[MikeInFla]

Thanks for all the information guys. I'll try it tonight and see if I can get them working once and for all.

[lomax]

...I wish our local Walmart carried them. Everytime I go there, I have a look but never see them in stock. Would love to have a set! :(

[cheriann]

Is anybody using these in addition to the light bar? Or is that overkill?

[redeye]

Originally Posted by CheriAnn

Is anybody using these in addition to the light bar? Or is that overkill?

VALDEZ has both the light bar & these lights mounted on the bottom of his engine crash bar. From the front, his Nomad looks like a freight locomotive coming at you.........-Rich

[cheriann]

Originally Posted by Redeye

VALDEZ has both the light bar & these lights mounted on the bottom of his engine crash bar. From the front, his Nomad looks like a freight locomotive coming at you.........-Rich

That's what I was wondering!

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by CheriAnn

Is anybody using these in addition to the light bar? Or is that overkill?

I am I have the CWI lights up near the headlight and a pair of Optronics lights on my crash bars.



And for the full effect: (these aren't the CWI lights I have now, but you get the idea)

[scion0]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I am I have the CWI lights up near the headlight and a pair of Optronics lights on my crash bars.



Nice! Where are you hiding the wires? Or did I just not see them in the pics?

And for the full effect: (these aren't the CWI lights I have now, but you get the idea)

[cactusjack]

Nice! Where are you hiding the wires? Or did I just not see them in the pics?

I ran them inside the crash bars. Slick, huh?

[cheriann]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I ran them inside the crash bars. Slick, huh?

HEY! That looks pretty sharp! Thank you for sharing!!!
I don't guess you can ever have too much lighting to be seen on the roads, huh?! ;)

[cactusjack]

It can get pretty dark on some of these highways I ride out here in the desert. I'd rather have too much light than not enough.

[phenrichs]

Got to avoid the snakes and roadrunners right?