How much wattage the 1100 headlight resists?

[Tsiklonaut]

The stock spec is 55W, but i've got dual headlights - 55W x 2 = 110W already. Planning to put additional 55W fog and 55W high beam. Will the stock wiring resist that much wattage? If not what do i have to replace - the whole wiring and relay, anything else? What wires and relays you'd recommend?

I was thinking to connect the additional fog beam with the parking lights (so the auxiliary fog light is always on if the lights are turned on) and to connect the additional high beam with headlight's high beam wire - so if i swich on the highbeam the auxiliary high beam swiches on as well, thus it's easy on/off swiching option. I don't want to make separate swiches for auxilary lights - it makes pure pain in the ass to swich with 2 or more swiches with every car passing you on other direction etc etc.

Is it good idea to use the same wires as headlight for auxilary lights?

Thanks in advance, Margus

 

[Tarka]

Margus.......nice idea but it`s a recipe for disaster....well a fry up anyway.


The wiring will be close to its current limit just with the two 55w lamps so I wouldn`t add another lamp to the wiring.
Also,in addition to the wiring`s current capacity,is the concern of the switchgear`s ability to cope with the extra load under switching due to any arcing that may occur. This could weld the contacts or melt the housing.

You would likely get away with the added light to the pilot lamp (parking lamp) circuit,although it`s a bit of a lash up really,and it should be in conjunction with the low beam lamps ideally.

The other factor is the legality.....I don`t know your country`s legal requirements and testing,but we have to have separate switching and indication of operation of auxiliary lamps....................

 

[Tsiklonaut]

Thanks Steve!

The MOT isn't issue - for MOT i just disconnect the auxiliary lamps and take them off (we aren't allowed to add any addition lights acctually on motorcycles, but the knowledge of this is very very limited). 99% of our traffic checking policemen doesn't know anything about motorcycle's technical MOT specs, and biker cops are biker friendly unless you aren't speeding or recklessly driving, so it's absolutely no problem - many guys drive around here with MANY additional lights w/o any problems.

Yep, i'm guessing the stock wiring don't resist that much power. So i was thinking replacing the headlight wiring with stronger one and maybe put more heavy duty relay for it.

The swichgear "sparking" on swiching may occur under that lot of load, but if i add ADDITIONAL relay for the auxiliary lights (for wires between the swichgear and axiliary lights) wouldn't it be the solution for it so they take off capacity on swiching?

Also now i think adding fog lamp into conjunction with low beam is better idea - i often park the bike aside the road (for piss taking mostly few metres away ) and leave the parking lights on, so it's not nice if the fog lamp is always on then, consuming the battery.

Any tips from you guys highly appricieted how to get those auxiliary lamps cleverly connected!

Thanks, Margus

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

i would hit the search button... there are a few good threads on wiring lights and auto switches

 

[Gecko]

Margus
I just removed my Touratech twin headlamps and found that the insides were pretty much melted to hell. I had 2 55w60 bulbs and the inside reflector which is plastic was well melted and the wiring was also fused and looking about ready to burst into flames. I run my auxilliary lights from a direct feed from the battery but it is joined to the leadlamp circuit and on a separate switch. I'll take some pictures and show you how badly melted the TT lamps were. From my experience I'd be very careful if I was you because clearly the TT units don't like getting too hot.

 

[Ming]

The best way would be to use the power going through the switchgear to operate a relay and draw the power for the lights direct from the battery

this would take any risk of melting the switgear away . job done