wiring question - fog lights

[jaster]

I installed the following lights on the light bar last summer:
http://www.realtimeindustries.com/produ ... 12V-light-

The problem I had is they're flood lights and blind on-coming traffic. Since they're each as bright (or brighter) than the stock headlight, I wanted to keep them and soldered a wire to hi-beam wire in the headlight plug so the lights would go off when switching to low beam.

Today I finally made brackets for my Feniex Titan 100 (16W, 800 lumens, 20 degree beam):
http://www.feniex.com/product.php?prod_id=360

I have replaced the lights on the light bar with these and replaced the relay with a Borg-Warner relay (R3012). This relay has both the normally-open and normally-closed terminals. The reason for using this relay is to simplify wiring by running both sets of lights from one relay. I have one mount made so I can hang the old lights below the mirror. 3000 extra lumens with high beam and 1600 extra lumens with low beam should resolve any lighting issues....

Anyway, to my question. I have the Feniex lights connected so they turn off with hi-beam. Unfortunately, they're always on if the high-beam is off and that includes when the bike is off. Power is ran directly from the battery, to a fuse block, then to the relay which is why the Feniex lights are always on until High beam it turned on. I need to put a relay in series to the fuse block so everything is off (heated gear included) until the bike is turned on.

So, where's the best place to trigger the relay from? Some place that goes on / off with the ignition?

[David (N. Alabama)]

I did mine many years ago. I do recall the wire was in the left lower fairing area. I believe it was to the front marker lights.

[Chris near Kansas City]

Use the accessory leads behind the headlight to trigger the relay. Plus, add a switch so you can turn the lights off if needed. Make sure you watch your voltage level so that you don't overtax the charging system while running around town. I see you are using LEDs so you probably won't have any issue.

[jaster]

The accessories are tied to the ignition? My previous Kawasaki wasn't that way (Vulcan 750) so I assumed....

32W total for the two that will be on all the time. Rear brake & front marker / turn signals are already LED so the Feniex lights probably ate up the power savings. I do have a voltmeter so I'll have warning if there's a charging issue.

[SgtSlag]

I tapped into a front marker light for the relay to power my secondary fuse block. Works beautifully. Best of luck. Cheers!

[chevyman1]

I used the accessory wire behind the headlight to trigger a relay from a Chevy witch I have a fused wire from the battery to the relay and into a voyager fuse block.
everything is wire tied under the faring next to the headlight.
works real well

[jaster]

Thanks for the suggestions. I connected to the accessory lead behind the headlight and everything is working well. The only real problem was the power connector stripped out on the fuse block so I had to hunt for a new one tonight (most local stores don't carry them due to lack of sales). There was still one place carrying them so that's been resolved but I still need to finish mounting 2 lights and aim all 4. I really shouldn't start this stuff 3 days before leaving on a trip...

[SgtSlag]

Been there, done that, got the gray hair to prove it! Best of luck! Cheers!

[jaster]

Go back from the trip tonight and it went mostly well. I ran into severe storms 25 miles from my destination so I camped out at Wendy's and was comforted by a Frosty. When the severe part was passed, I got back on the bike and my speedometer cable broke a few miles down the road but I have a waterproof GPS so it was no big deal (aside from skewing service intervals and MPG calculations). My spare cable was at home and none of the local dealers had one in stock.

My brother shuttled me around Indianapolis to Penrod Art Fair then we hit Conner's Prairie for the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert.

Still no speedometer cable but I had to get home today. Forecast was highs <80 and no chance of rain so I hit the GPS up to avoid highways (only added an hour to the trip). I got to see parts on Indiana and Illinois that I've never seen and it was much better than fighting trucks on I-70, I-57, and I-24. My only complaint is it's apparently been way too long since I checked my brakes because I hit metal today. The last 200 miles was front brake only but there was only a handful of stops so it wasn't bad.

Overall, it was a good trip and I accidentally found out how fast the bike will go in 3rd gear....

[Chris near Kansas City]

was comforted by a Frosty. My spare cable was at home and none of the local dealers had one in stock.

A Frosty is usually a good comfort food for Pam and I. Your spare cable should be in your saddlebag, as it takes up no room and will not do you any good at home. But you know that now.

[jaster]

Your spare cable should be in your saddlebag, as it takes up no room and will not do you any good at home. But you know that now.

I carried the spare in the trunk for 2 years and don't recall why I took it out. It's presence seems to ward off gremlins so I should have kept it there indefinitely.

[Chris near Kansas City]

The speeding ticket I got 15 minutes after the cable broke in 2003 on my way to the AVA rally in '03 cost me more than 4 of those cables in today's dollars. But the worst part was doing without cruise control for the next 3 or 4 days as I traveled to Cody, Wyoming. Carl Leo shipped a cable to the motel in Cody for me and it showed up in time to make the 1200 mile trek home. He wasn't worried about getting paid. Said it was more important to get me home first. I've tried to keep an extra in the bag ever since. Plus you never know when you might run across another Voyager owner that's in a bind.

[Bob in Tucson]

In addition to a spare speedo cable, I also carry a spare shift linkage for the Xll. Carl suggested this in one of his seminars a few years back, and I had him send me a used unit. It lives in my R/H saddlebag, next to the cable. I also usually carry a spare oil filter for the longer road trips.

[gearheadfla]

The speeding ticket I got 15 minutes after the cable broke in 2003 on my way to the AVA rally in '03 cost me more than 4 of those cables in today's dollars. But the worst part was doing without cruise control for the next 3 or 4 days as I traveled to Cody, Wyoming. Carl Leo shipped a cable to the motel in Cody for me and it showed up in time to make the 1200 mile trek home. He wasn't worried about getting paid. Said it was more important to get me home first. I've tried to keep an extra in the bag ever since. Plus you never know when you might run across another Voyager owner that's in a bind.

Carl is a amazing man like that, he puts you before his money and gets you going first, don't find that on E-Bay.