Yet another headlight question, Gremlin will probably answer

**nzspokes** · 8th April 2012, 20:15

On me wee rocket I can see better when I hold down the pass switch instead of the high beam. The pass switch lights up both filaments. Can I make the high beam switch do this? Our will it overheat the wiring?

Will do the lead from the battery to the headlight to help like I did on my old honda as well.

**Gremlin** · 8th April 2012, 20:24

Wiring wise, well yeah, you could. As you say, the pass switch uses both filaments in dual filament bulbs, but not meant to be used together for long term use.

**nzspokes** · 8th April 2012, 20:41

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Wiring wise, well yeah, you could. As you say, the pass switch uses both filaments in dual filament bulbs, but not meant to be used together for long term use.

Does it overheat?

Were you up Scenic Drive today?

**Gremlin** · 8th April 2012, 20:49

I can't answer specifically to overheating, but it's certainly possible. Also excess heat in the wiring which could affect the wiring loom.

No, wasn't in Scenic Drive today... feet up to speed up the healing of a burn.

**spanner spinner** · 8th April 2012, 21:42

yes this can be done but it involves running relays with a buffer diode to stop the high beam relay latching on full time. the standard wiring and switch will not cope with the current load of both filaments being on all the time. The wiring for the lights will need to be run directly to the battery the light switch then just switches the high beam, the low beam relay. the buffer diode is wired to power up the low beam relay when the high beam is on. BUT!!!!!! before you even start looking at doing this is your headlight lense plastic or the headlight reflector backing plastic, if they are there is a risk of melting them due to heat build up from running both filaments at the same time.

**nzspokes** · 21st June 2012, 23:11

Got another headlight question, on me Bandit could I run these? Just for times when I need some more light? With a relay of course..

http://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/onli...01#Description

**spanner spinner** · 23rd June 2012, 18:29

the bike will make enought power to run these but they have no dip function so will not get a WOF

**nzspokes** · 23rd June 2012, 18:39

Originally Posted by spanner spinner

the bike will make enought power to run these but they have no dip function so will not get a WOF

Not to worried about wofs. Rather be safe than legal.....

**nzspokes** · 23rd June 2012, 18:50

May try making some small ones with these.....

Not sure it would work as I may over volt them.

**FJRider** · 23rd June 2012, 21:35

Originally Posted by spanner spinner

the bike will make enought power to run these but they have no dip function so will not get a WOF

If they are wired up so as they can be only used with high beam ... they should be allowed.

**Gremlin** · 23rd June 2012, 21:37

Originally Posted by FJRider

If they are wired up so as they can be only used with high beam ... they should be allowed.

I think there is a rule about having 2 headlamps, so 3 wouldn't comply. Lights simply have to fit a category, ie, you could call them fog lamps and you have to make sure they angle down low enough to qualify as fog lamps...

**nzspokes** · 23rd June 2012, 21:48

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I think there is a rule about having 2 headlamps, so 3 wouldn't comply. Lights simply have to fit a category, ie, you could call them fog lamps and you have to make sure they angle down low enough to qualify as fog lamps...

Or just take them off at wof time.

**FJRider** · 23rd June 2012, 21:56

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I think there is a rule about having 2 headlamps, so 3 wouldn't comply. Lights simply have to fit a category, ie, you could call them fog lamps and you have to make sure they angle down low enough to qualify as fog lamps...

The new "Headlight on" law recently passed ... allows driving lights fitted either side of the headlight to be used. I had a single spotlight under the headlight on an old 750 honda I once owned. I knew of a few that did have two fitted legally (on the crash bars either side).
The issue recently, has been with Ducati models having two headlights ... but only one the headlight.(the other was dip) So the headlight was then offset to centre .... which was not allowed. Three lights should be allowed .... if mounted and correctly centred.

Unless you can point/link to the legislation that says it can't.

**CookMySock** · 23rd June 2012, 22:09

Having the "dipped" beam running while on fullbeam makes it difficult to see well ahead (where the full beam is targetted) as the dipped beam will paint a bright pool of light right in front of you. At first glance things look "brighter", but out on the open road for any length of time you will see the result is worse, not better, and also eye-strain will be a problem.

And yes, you will overheat the bulb, fitting, and wiring near the headlamp unit, and if you are unlucky you will overhead the headlamp housing as well.

Put a modern bulb in it, and connect it to the battery with a relay. Please be very very careful with headlamp wiring, because if it craps out at night the result will not be pretty.

**nadda** · 23rd June 2012, 23:05

If you are looking for better"legal" bulbs for your headlamp Narva have just released a bulb called Plus 120s .. They use the same power as a standard bulb but due to the gas in the bulb produce 120% more light.

http://www.griffiths.co.nz/downloads...es-May2012.pdf

The wording in the VIRM for headlights is

Mandatory and permitted equipment
1. A motorcycle is not fitted with one dipped-beam
headlamp.
2. A motorcycle is fitted with more than:
a) two dipped-beam headlamps, or
b) two main-beam headlamps.

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/vi...hting-v4a2.pdf