making a headlight switch?

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orangesuburban

Member - Posts: 47

Joined: July 15, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: December 25, 2012 at 7:55 AM / IP Logged

I'm redoing the controls on my bike and have to make the headlight hi/lo switch, my only option is to use an on/off switch to control hi/lo on h4 bulbs. Is there a way I can put a relay inline with the switch so when I turn the switch "on" it will cut off power to the low beams and send power to the high beams? Powering both beams at the same time is not an option.

Thanks.

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i am an idiot

Platinum - Posts: 13,709

This member consistently provides reliable information

Joined: September 21, 2006

Location: Louisiana, United States

Posted: December 25, 2012 at 9:49 AM / IP Logged

Using a relay, connect switch controlled power to terminal 86, ground terminal 85. Fused switched power to terminal 30, low beam to terminal 87A. High beam to terminal 87.

The first mentioned switched power is from the switch to switch low to high. The second mentioned is ignition switch controlled.

kreg357

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Joined: January 30, 2009

Location: Pennsylvania, United States

Posted: December 25, 2012 at 10:09 AM / IP Logged

Here is one way to do it.

Assuming the Low Beam Headlights will be ON while the bike is running...

Wire 30/40 Amp ( weather sealed ) SPDT relay as follows :

Pin 85 to ON/OFF switch to chassis ground

Pin 86 and 30 to +12V Ignition switched power

Pin 87A to Low Beam

Pin 87 to High Beam

Switch OFF will be Low Beams. Switch ON will be High Beams.

Diagram below :

making a headlight switch? -- posted image.

Soldering is fun!

kreg357

Platinum - Posts: 7,826

Joined: January 30, 2009

Location: Pennsylvania, United States

Posted: December 25, 2012 at 10:10 AM / IP Logged

Slow making picture but Mr. I, we think the same....

Soldering is fun!

orangesuburban

Member - Posts: 47

Joined: July 15, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: December 25, 2012 at 1:34 PM / IP Logged

Awesome, thanks guys!!!

orangesuburban

Member - Posts: 47

Joined: July 15, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: December 25, 2012 at 9:45 PM / IP Logged

kreg357 wrote:

Didn't work.

Blows a fuse every time I throw the switch. Double checked and I have it wired as shown.

i am an idiot

Platinum - Posts: 13,709

Joined: September 21, 2006

Location: Louisiana, United States

Posted: December 25, 2012 at 10:08 PM / IP Logged

If that blows the fuse when you hit the switch, the high beam wire is shorted to ground.

orangesuburban

Member - Posts: 47

Joined: July 15, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: December 26, 2012 at 7:07 AM / IP Logged

The way I wired it for clarification

86 jumped to 30 then to bike headlight power wire

87 to high beam

87a to low beam

85 to one leg of switch, other leg of switch to ground.

----

The OEM switch which I am trying to remove in lieu of this new switch is

single power wire

switch toggles power from going to low beam wire or high beam wire.

i am an idiot

Platinum - Posts: 13,709

Joined: September 21, 2006

Location: Louisiana, United States

Posted: December 26, 2012 at 1:52 PM / IP Logged

If the low beam works, and it blows the fuse when switched to high beam, there has to be a short from the high beam wire to ground.

orangesuburban

Member - Posts: 47

Joined: July 15, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: December 26, 2012 at 2:07 PM / IP Logged

i am an idiot wrote:

If the low beam works, and it blows the fuse when switched to high beam, there has to be a short from the high beam wire to ground.

I can power the high beam without the relay and it works fine. I can even power both low and high at the same time without relay and no blown fuse.

bad relay?

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