Relays in Headlight bucket

[jandreu]

Just thought I'd share a wiring organizing tip I came up with.

After installing all the relays needed to control my driving lights, Sebel horn and emergency flashers in the headlight bucket I ended up with four relays, a flasher relay and a lot of wiring. While the headlight bucket is cavernous it gets a little messy with all this and I was worried about the relays rattling and getting wet when I wash the bike, I always have water drip out the headlight bucket after cleaning.

Soooo..I purchased some 2"wide Velcro in 3' lengths. Cut two about 8" lengths and put it on the inside top of the bucket, toward the rear. Attached a square of the matching Velcro to each relay and stuck them on the inside top back of the bucket. Relays stay in place at the top of the bucket so hopefully they will not get wet and no rattling!

I'm sure someone else has had the same idea but thought I would share it.

I installed this handlebar switch;
http://store.valueaccessories.net/Mo...orySwitch.aspx

The contact rating on this switch is 2amps, it is also a wet switch meaning that the switch is wired with 12VDC and each button supplies 12 volts. [I would have liked two dry contact switches instead] Being this is a wet switch with a low amp rating I needed extra relays to make everything work the way I wanted.

Driving Lights;
Relay one - is connected to the low beam headlight wire as the trigger. Power to the driving lights is connected thru the relay from the AUX connector in the bucket [10 amp] with an additional 7.5 amp in-line fuse. The driving lights are on anytime the low bean is on.
Relay two - is connected to the button button on the handlebar switch as the trigger. This relay interrupts the trigger wire on relay one. Now I can turn the driving lights off if I want to but they still only come on if the low beam is on. The down side of this is the handlebar button is wired from the aux connector so it's hot with the key off [did this so the emergency flashers would work with the key off] so if I leave the button on [has an indicator light] when I turn off the switch there is still power going thru the handlebar button to the relay. If the bike sits for awhile this will drain the battery so I have to remember to turn the handlebar button off when I shut down the bike. [this is where dry relay switches would have been better]

Sebel Horn;
Relay three - stock horn button wiring is the trigger. Hot wire from the battery with an in-line 20 amp fuse, wired thru the relay powers the Sebel Horn.

Emergency Flashers;
Relay four - is connected to the top button of the handlebar switch as trigger. This is a DPDT [dual pole, dual throw] relay meaning it is actually two separate relay switches controlled by one coil input. The power path is as follows; from the aux connector [always hot] thru the flasher relay to the common input on both sides of the DPDT relay. Then each side of the N/O relay contact is tapped onto one side of the front turn signal wire so that each side of the turn signals is connected to just one side of the relay independently. This isolates each side of the turn signal circuit so the regular turn signals work correctly. When I push the handlebar button all turn signals flash with the key off. [Long explanation, look at Gadgets site.]

[Blueraven]

I have used a relay to proved power to my AUX box. I use the running rear light as the trigger for the AUX relay to trip it and turn the AUX power on to the box.

[2x18wheeler]

Good idea Bubba. I am in the process of getting a lightbar for my new Nomad. I checked out the link you provided. There was a lightbar there from Custom World which is new for the 2010 Nomads. It is made by Custom World. Going to see if my local dealer can get this light bar.

Ride safe!!

[Bull Durham]

2x18,

Before I'd buy any light bar, I'd check out Chucksters light bars. He's a member on this forum, makes really nice stuff, which I guarantee is going to be better than what you were thinking of buying.

Plus, it's putting money in his pocket, versus an unknown.

Just my opinion............

[2x18wheeler]

Bull,

Thanks for the tip. How or where on the site can I find a link to these light bars from Chuckster? Still new here and still trying to find my way around.

[Bull Durham]

Hmmm, If I can find he's website, will post. If not, someone will post real quick his link.

[Bull Durham]

Originally Posted by 2x18wheeler

Bull,

Thanks for the tip. How or where on the site can I find a link to these light bars from Chuckster? Still new here and still trying to find my way around.

2x18,

His user id is: chuckster131

You can shoot him a PM if you wish. Also his website is:

http://www.chucksterscustoms.com/

Very nice guy, very helpful too, if you run into any questions.

[2x18wheeler]

Thanks Bull. I will check out his website.

Ride safe!!

[recumbentbob]

Originally Posted by 2x18wheeler

Thanks Bull. I will check out his website.

Ride safe!!

He makes great stuff.
If you have any questions email him thru his web site and he normally gets back to you real quick. If you give him your phone # he will even call you.
Great guy to do business with.

bob