Day riding lamps

**gammaguy** · 7th December 2009, 23:59

i have a problem with the new rules about having a light on all the time,so i made my own day riding lamps as i dont want the heavy current draw of my Halogen headlamp on all day(The TDR has a switchable headlight).

took the bike in for a WOF to the testing station,and got passed no problems.Seems there are no specifications on day riding lamps anyway,as long as the forward facing lights are white.

basically i bought 4 three LED arrays,wired them in parallel and simply stuck them round the headlamp with double sided tape.So now i have a total of 12 LEDS which as you can see by the photos throw out a good light,so all those blind car drivers will start paying attention and see me.

Wont they?

total cost about $50.worth every cent!

**CookMySock** · 8th December 2009, 05:20

Cool. Looks farken bright.. just what ya need! Grippers won't pull out in front of that.

Steve

**YellowDog** · 8th December 2009, 05:31

This guy's a genius.

I am amazing (and pleased) that it passed a WOF.

Will be looking out for the sun rise everytime this bike comes around the corner.

**crazyhorse** · 8th December 2009, 06:06

Well done

**davereid** · 8th December 2009, 06:51

Great work, just the thing for older bikes.

**BM-GS** · 8th December 2009, 07:06

Nice job. The more lights the better, especially if it looks a bit different from a normal headlight, as it isn't just discounted by the cager thinking it's a normal bit of traffic (car) cos they don't think about bikes.

Any govt plans for making all trucks wear a single headlight, dead centre? Might wake up a few folks driving at night...

Where did you get the LEDs?

**Juzz976** · 8th December 2009, 07:11

Originally Posted by gammaguy

basically i bought 4 three LED arrays,wired them in parallel and simply stuck them round the headlamp with double sided tape.
!

They look great gammaguy!
I past 5 other bikes on my way to work this morning at the crack of dawn.
They were dark coloured bikes with dark riding gear (like me) but with no lights on, I hardly saw 2 of them and I'm looking out for bikes.

I would however would like to ask if there is anything that will hold the LED's on if they shake/rattle loose?

**gammaguy** · 8th December 2009, 09:57

Originally Posted by Juzz976

They look great gammaguy!
I past 5 other bikes on my way to work this morning at the crack of dawn.
They were dark coloured bikes with dark riding gear (like me) but with no lights on, I hardly saw 2 of them and I'm looking out for bikes.

I would however would like to ask if there is anything that will hold the LED's on if they shake/rattle loose?

i plan on a long and arduous ride thru some gnarly backroads i know,to test their"hang on ability"If they shake loose i have a plan to hold them in place with some RTV,as this will provide some vibration absorption and still be easily removeable without damaging the classic and unreplaceable headlight underneath

if that still does not work(but i am sure it will)I have made a clear plastic shield to go over the whole lot which mounts to the fairing by way of velcro,as i cant bear the idea of drilling into the plastic itself.

The LED arrays are available thru an electronics supplier i use,they come in a set of TEN arrays and are modular,i.e you can use one array of three or all of them and anything in between.They are also available in Blue(which would technically be illegal on NZ roads unless used as a decorative side marker or some such,the rules on lighting in this country are notoriously complicated and hard to figure out)

The set of ten arrays has proved to be enough to do two bikes and i still had a couple left over i can stick somewhere on the car.

Retail cost of the full set of ten arrays was $53 incl GST

**Honda93** · 9th December 2009, 08:50

Hey - it sounds like a good idea, but you can't just make your own. The LTSA website lists the following standards which are required for daytime running lamps:

Daytime running lamps
Must meet one of these component standards (or a more recent version):

UN/ECE Regulation No. 87, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of daytime running lamps for power-driven vehicles (E/ECE324-E/ECE/TRANS/505/Rev.1/Add.86)
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, Lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment
Australian Design Rule 45, Lighting and light-signalling devices not covered by ECE Regulations.
Australian Design Rule 76, Daytime running lamps

**gammaguy** · 9th December 2009, 22:07

less you just happen to get a WOF inspector who has enough sense to interpret the rules correctly.

His opinion was that if they are lights,are on during the day,dont dazzle and are white,then they are OK