Headlights on all the time

**Dodgyiti** · 21st August 2009, 08:12

Originally Posted by Motu

The late '80's airhead has a 280w alt,sounds good to my 60w brain,but after a battery failure I checked my charging system,and found it is really marginal at low engine speeds...it will maintain status quot,but doesn't go into the positive side of charging until cruising mode.

Yeah, that was my only issue too. Stop start traffic, sitting at set of lights after set of lights does not a battery charge. And that is what it is like commuting in Auckland.
Heaven knows how you cope with the confirmed 2 sets of lights down your way Motu...

Sure I'm an idiot for even thinking of commuting on a 30+ year old bike, but it makes me happy and I don't care about the sensible options, otherwise I would not ride old Guzzis eh?

Paul is right, no issue with a plug in charger once in a while and I have invested in a C-Tek trickle charger and plug in fitment for my bike/s.
I did try a solid state rectifyer/regulator for a while but it let me down after 20,000kms last year in my T-3 so went back to old trusty units. Mainly because what am I to do with the 4 spare ones sitting in the drawer if I don't use them

**Voltaire** · 23rd August 2009, 16:33

20 watt halogen in the parking bulb size, $ 14.00 from Repcos.....special order.
I'll post up a before and after pic.
20 watts divided by 12 volts = 1.6 amps.
Should satisfy "The Masters" and the electricks.

**Bonez** · 23rd August 2009, 19:31

Originally Posted by Beeza

It's only in the nineties that some countries began making new laws requiring permanent lights-on operation and motorbike manufacturers then began uprating their charging systems to cope with this new reality.

Some states in the USA and also Canada introduced a lights on policy early in the 80s. Went so far as having the switch blocks light "on/off" switch removed and the slot blanked for these markets. Of course one of the first mods was to fit an aftermarket light switch.

There are those idiots up norf who insist on riding around with there headlights on full beam during the day. No hope for them I'm afraid.

**Voltaire** · 24th August 2009, 19:11

Bought a 20 watt halogen park light and here are the pics showing the difference.
Way brighter!!!!

**Ixion** · 24th August 2009, 19:37

Impressive. And of course 20 W is not far from the once common 24W low beam headlamp bulb

Do you have a part number or reference for the bulb (you said that repco had to order it specially?)

**Voltaire** · 24th August 2009, 19:54

Originally Posted by Ixion

Impressive. And of course 20 W is not far from the once common 24W low beam headlamp bulb

Do you have a part number or reference for the bulb (you said that repco had to order it specially?)

Main beam is obviously brighter but 20 watts is a good compromise of power Vs light intensity, but as Dodyiti pointed out its the low round town engine speeds that are the problem with engine speed alternators.

" but officer....the healight is on......( just not 50 watts of it)."

Repco P/N 17835
Narva :12 volt 20w BA9s

$ 14.00

**Ixion** · 24th August 2009, 19:58

Excellent. Thank you. I shall call upon Mssrs repco the morrow.

And 20W constant is a LOT more than some thing like a Beeza Bantam direct lighting set puts out at low revs.

**Big Zappa** · 24th August 2009, 20:35

Read in the Dom today that the headlight law does not apply to bikes registered before 1980. Some motorring club association was patting themselves on the back in the letters page for lobbying Joyce to get that in.

Mind you I'll believe it when I see the legislation.. though if they are wrong the Dom will probably get a shitstorm of letters.

**classic zed** · 24th August 2009, 20:54

According to specs my Z1300 puts out 145 watts @ 3,000rpm, I never switch my headlight off and in fact run an HID unit so I can be seen, as well as the headlamp obviously there are 4x5w dash bulbs and a 5w tail light.

Most of my riding would be between 3,000 and 4,000 RPM and despite the battery being close in size to a small car battery Iv never had a problem with it going flat.

**Voltaire** · 24th August 2009, 21:24

Originally Posted by classic zed

According to specs my Z1300 puts out 145 watts @ 3,000rpm, I never switch my headlight off and in fact run an HID unit so I can be seen, as well as the headlamp obviously there are 4x5w dash bulbs and a 5w tail light.

Most of my riding would be between 3,000 and 4,000 RPM and despite the battery being close in size to a small car battery Iv never had a problem with it going flat.

I was looking into HID lights ....and from the what I read elsewhere on this forum they are illegal to fit to a standard headlight...but as you say you added a seperate unit.
Is yours just run on one setting?

**classic zed** · 25th August 2009, 11:21

Originally Posted by Voltaire

I was looking into HID lights ....and from the what I read elsewhere on this forum they are illegal to fit to a standard headlight...but as you say you added a seperate unit.
Is yours just run on one setting?

actually I added it to the existing headlamp, I had to tweak the bulb mounting around a bit to get the beam pattern right but seing as I have a Wof station at my garage I have the correct beam setter to sort the pattern so it doesnt dazzle. I used an H4 replacement HID, it has a shield that slides back and forward to change the unit from dip to main and so works as a normal bulb.

**Motu** · 26th August 2009, 19:34

So I got a 20w halogen park bulb.People wonder why I save all sorts of shit...well it comes in handy in times like this.I obviously took it out of something (a Mercedes I think) and now it's in my bike.

I've spent the last 3 nights fixing my tail light...grrrrr,mutter - a bad connection under the tank.Pull the whole bloody bike apart just because my tail light doesn't go....even my bike doesn't get a WoF with no tail light.

Appears my park light was out too....so got the 20w replacement.It sure is bright (just checked it in the dark shed),and I think it will be a good running light as it spreads a scatter beam...more noticeable than the focused dip beam.My only concern is that when I go to headlamps,it'll be pulling the extra 20w of the park light....