Passing lamp wiring

[Galapagos]

Is there a post here that explains in real plain English on how to wire passing lights into the headlamp switch on a 2006 RSTD? I wish to run the lights when the bike starts and turn them off when I hit the high beam.

[djh3]

See if this helps you out.

[XV1100SE]

Did you read the tech article? Its in the 2nd Gen "read only" section.

[Galapagos]

Did you read the tech article? Its in the 2nd Gen "read only" section.

 

First thanks DJ. That is the info for the relay. I have that installed.

I have three wires concerned with the lights. One ground, one power and one relay. I can ground the lights, no problemo. I can hook the power wire into the green wire at the headlamp harness. What do I do with the relay wire?

 

Thanks to XV1100 for the wiring lead.

[dbikers]

First thanks DJ. That is the info for the relay. I have that installed.

I have three wires concerned with the lights. One ground, one power and one relay. I can ground the lights, no problemo. I can hook the power wire into the green wire at the headlamp harness. What do I do with the relay wire?

 

Thanks to XV1100 for the wiring lead.

This is the one i used so that any time the key is on and the brights are off the passing lamps are ON. When the high beams are selected or when the bike is off the passing lamps are OFF.

I took one i found on this side and changed it a bit for what you are looking for. this is how i wired mine and i think the illustration and description below is about as easy to understand as you will find.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p14/dbikers/mywiring_zps7be0e03f.png

 

one side of the relay coil (85) goes to the low-beam headlamp wire. the other side of the relay coil (86) goes to ground. when your low-beams are on there is 12v (low current draw) to trigger the coil of the relay

 

the heavy wire goes from the "+" side of the battery (through a fuse/link) and then to one side of the relay contacts (30). the other side of the relay contacts (87) goes out to the passing lamps which are typically grounded in the light buckets. when the coil (in above paragraph) is triggered the contacts of the relay close allowing the heavy wire (high current draw) to pass the volts/amps to your passing lamps.

 

when the bike is off or when the hi-beam is selected there is no 12v on the "trigger" wire to the coil.

 

i hope this is helpful

[djh3]

Depends if you want the passing lights to work with both hi and low beams. I think I picked up power off the cig plug which is on with key. BTW here is a pic of the crappy Yamaha fuse holder when I tore it apart to install relay. I dont know how it was working.

[dbikers]

Depends if you want the passing lights to work with both hi and low beams. I think I picked up power off the cig plug which is on with key. BTW here is a pic of the crappy Yamaha fuse holder when I tore it apart to install relay. I dont know how it was working.

agreed...but the OP said "I wish to run the lights when the bike starts and turn them off when I hit the high beam."

 

so the oem uses a fuse only? no relay from the factory? what a bunch of hacks!!!

i learned the lesson of using relays 25 years ago with fog lights on my first truck..damn near burnt it to the ground

[djh3]

Yup mine anyways and as far as I know it was a dealer installed pair. I have read about more than just a couple installed by dealers with no relay. Sorry about missing the part about wanting off with high beam. Hmm maybe thats the way they were set up before, but I seem to remember they ran even with high beams when I was checking.

[saddlebum]

In Ontario it is law that road lights can only be operated with the High beams so I wire them so that they come on with the high beams and go off when you switch to low beams.

[dbikers]

Yup mine anyways and as far as I know it was a dealer installed pair. I have read about more than just a couple installed by dealers with no relay. Sorry about missing the part about wanting off with high beam. Hmm maybe thats the way they were set up before, but I seem to remember they ran even with high beams when I was checking.

no problemo...just more than 1 way to skin a cat. the original wiring diagram i used to make the one i attached the power to the coil came from the ignition switch instead of the low beam wire...would do it the way you are talking..and is too a good way to do it

 

 

 

In Ontario it is law that road lights can only be operated with the High beams so I wire them so that they come on with the high beams and go off when you switch to low beams.

or you could get the power to the coil from the HI-beam wire

[Phoneman1981]

Hello: Everyone has their own preference as to how they want their lights wired. I prefered to have my passing lights come on with the High Beam lights. I run with my Highbeams on almost all the time (For safety reasons I try not to run in the dark unless I absolutely have too) If my lights seem too bright for on coming traffic then I have the ability to turn off the High beams and the passing lights. If I feel the oncoming traffic that is turning in front of me or traffic that is intersecting my path does not see me, I often flick my high/low beam switch to WAKE them up!!! It really makes a difference.

[Galapagos]

Thanks for the info guys. This website is worth its weight in gold.