Taking a trigger from the dipped headlight wire?

jimbo

jimbo

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I've got 'fog' lights fitted as running lights - ebay specials, I'm not paying the BMW prices!

Despite being pointed well down, they are bright and unfair to other road users at night. I've found a nice little ebay widget that will dim extra lights based on a +ve feed, which I'd like to connect up to the dipped beam, so the running ligts dim every the bike decides to light the dipped headlight.

Does any know if I can do this with the clever modern wiring? I am only powering the "trigger" so I assume the load will be too low for CANBUS to get upset, is there an wire I can tap into?

s-l1600.jpg


Personally I think the computer controlled lights are a pain. I would often drop to sidelights if stationary in traffic to stop my head light blinding a low car in front. Alas they now just have to put up with it.
 
I'm not sure there is a separate dip feed on the outside wiring James,along with the ambient lamp sensor wiring it all happens inside the lamp,wiring on the outside prob just a feed earth and canbus pair.
 
I might be missing the point. Why not Hexezcam route? I run my fleabay aux lights via HexExcam 20% @ night and then if still issue via Wheel controller. Nicked idea from Flamming T. Less hassle long run
Mike
 
Fat Biker 66 said:
I might be missing the point. Why not Hexezcam route? I run my fleabay aux lights via HexExcam 20% @ night and then if still issue via Wheel controller. Nicked idea from Flamming T. Less hassle long run
Mike
Click to expand...

I think the point is that we don't all have unlimited amounts of spare cash to pay for farkles. By the time you have bought and fitted the HexEZCan to control the aftermarket lights you will be spending nearly as much as buying the BMW lights and getting the dealer to fit and activate them. Of course you can then also use the HexEZCan for other stuff, but the OP may not have that requirement. The OP is exploring creative ways to minimise cost which I think is to be applauded.

Fred

PS: I suspect it will be impossible to get at a dipped beam signal except inside the light unit as already mentioned, but worst case a manual switch could be fitted, though admittedly not very convenient.
 
Cheers for the replies


autogs said:
I'm not sure there is a separate dip feed on the outside wiring James,along with the ambient lamp sensor wiring it all happens inside the lamp,wiring on the outside prob just a feed earth and canbus pair.
Click to expand...

Hmm - I feared it wouldn't be as easy as I hoped.

Fat Biker 66 said:
I might be missing the point. Why not Hexezcam route? I run my fleabay aux lights via HexExcam 20% @ night and then if still issue via Wheel controller. Nicked idea from Flamming T. Less hassle long run
Mike
Click to expand...

Why not ezCAN? because:

1) I'm cheap. a 12v volt relay is about £2 and i've got spares in my box of "useful" things. Heated jacket, additional power socket, phone charger, speed cam warning - all wired in for under £10.
2) I didn't know that it had that functionality. Clever. So does it use the BMW headlight to determine when to activate the "day" and "night" aux light % brightness setting?
 
autogs said:
I'm not sure there is a separate dip feed on the outside wiring James,along with the ambient lamp sensor wiring it all happens inside the lamp,wiring on the outside prob just a feed earth and canbus pair.
Click to expand...

That sounds quite likely, in which case the only way I can think of doing it would need considerable electronics ability, and involve sensing the current passing through the supply wire to the headlamp unit. Assuming it takes more current on full beam it may be possible detect when main beam is on and put the Aux lights up to maximum brightness.
 
Understand if you have the bits and bobs. Fair enough.
I have Ezecam setting for DRL with night time set at 20%. Done via computer. Bike does rest.
Apologies no offence meant – just sharing my experience
Mike
 
Jim, what about simply covering the lights with Quality Street wrappers? That works with my alarm clock, the display lights the room with a glow, otherwise.
 
I always trigger a relay with 12v power from the back of the accessory socket.
Run it through a micro switch from Maplin.
The main power for the lights come direct from the battery via a fuse and through the relay.
Its cool when you switch off the ignition the spots stay on for a few minutes.
Google for relay wiring diagram.
 
Jimbo this is how I did mine on the cheap as I couldn’t afford ezcan which in case I get flogged for mentioning this site it worked fine. Just remember to fuse feed to aux units
http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/generic/relay.php
I used it for fog lights and air horn now been using it for over a year with no probs yea ezcan is mucho better but I didn’t need that kind of tech and I certainly could use the money saved to run my bike. Good luck
 
thanks for the posts, but to be clear, I am looking for a "trigger" from the automatically controlled headlight.
I already have got an addition fuse under the seat all powered up off the battery.
 
Jim, are you planning to drive the fogs dreckly from the DRL+/- feeds on the widget, or go via a relay? If the latter, you may have a problem with the relay. LEDs are dimmed by pulse modulation of the power - switching them on and off rapidly.
 
ChazzyB said:
Jim, are you planning to drive the fogs dreckly from the DRL+/- feeds on the widget, or go via a relay? If the latter, you may have a problem with the relay. LEDs are dimmed by pulse modulation of the power - switching them on and off rapidly.
Click to expand...

Are yes, "planning". Not my strong point. more make it up as I go along.

Currently the lights are through a relay that goes live with the bike ignition - power direct from the battery (and fuse) and the relay triggered from a take off under the riders seat. (as recommended on this very forum).

All works well, except currently there is no switch, and I can see now the dark evenings are here, I am pissing off the cars I'm following. I was going to just put a switch in and manually turn them off when in traffic in the dark, when I saw the ebay widget, it looks like it can live 'downstream' of the relay, which should be OK but can't be sure.
If I can't trigger the 'dimming' from the head light - which is looking likely - then I might put that to the switch, so I can manually dim it as required.

I've looked again at the HexEZCan, and ability to dim the light on the jog wheel is definitely appealing to my inner child.
 
The EZcan would make this far easier. Although legend has it there are a couple £12 twats in here that can make something even better!
 
If you cant get a feed because of the canbus system you could just install a handlebar switch to supply a 12v feed to the lights thus dimming them during day time.Which light units did you go for?
 
jimbo said:
Are yes, "planning". Not my strong point. more make it up as I go along.

Currently the lights are through a relay that goes live with the bike ignition - power direct from the battery (and fuse) and the relay triggered from a take off under the riders seat. (as recommended on this very forum).

All works well, except currently there is no switch, and I can see now the dark evenings are here, I am pissing off the cars I'm following. I was going to just put a switch in and manually turn them off when in traffic in the dark, when I saw the ebay widget, it looks like it can live 'downstream' of the relay, which should be OK but can't be sure.
If I can't trigger the 'dimming' from the head light - which is looking likely - then I might put that to the switch, so I can manually dim it as required.

I've looked again at the HexEZCan, and ability to dim the light on the jog wheel is definitely appealing to my inner child.
Click to expand...

The widget downstream of the switched output from the relay should be OK. If it were on the energising side, well, eek!
 
Andi_archer said:
If you cant get a feed because of the canbus system you could just install a handlebar switch to supply a 12v feed to the lights thus dimming them during day time.Which light units did you go for?
Click to expand...

Jim wants to dim them at night, not day. Does he need an off/on switch for the handlebars, rather than on/off? :D
 
What about using your own "darkness" sensor, such as "12V Mini Remote Photocell Dusk To Till Dawn Automatic Light Switching Sensor" eBay £2.95 ?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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