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road Lights

2.2K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  auzzieguy_de  
#1 ·
I have a 2005 Vulcan Nomad that I want to add road Lights to. I have purchased the lights and received a wiring harnes with them but I don't want to add an additional switch that the wiring harnes has. How can I wire the lights into either the headlight or the ignition switch? Where can I find a wiring diagram for this bike?

Thanks for the help
 
#2 ·
A lot of folks use a relay from the low beams. you must still bring a new hot and ground due to the amps.....but you can use the fact that your low beams are 'on' to pull in a relay to power your lights. this way your HI/LO beam switch also activates the lights. pretty slick actually. The relay usually fits in the headlight bucket.

Haynes or clymer sell the manual and it is a good investment. someone here may offer you the schematic from their manual...but the manuals are a real help on many things.

you can do lights without this manual if you have a voltmeter... just open the headlight bucket and see which lead goes hot when you activate the low beams. You share that wire to pull in your new relay ....and use the relay to switch the new independent fused hot you bring from the battery.... and voila ! driving lights !

PS dont just ground the new lights to the frame ahead of the triple tee.... that might cause galvanic corrosion of your head bearings.

dont just steal a hot or ground from the bucket...you will blow fuses or over load a wire.

I recommend only 35 watt bulbs...they look fine and wont overload your alternator....


does it sound like I have been here...done this? LOL
 
#4 ·
Correct wiring procedure

I agree that a new supply would be best.. I have bought a 1600 Nomad that the driving lights were already fitted... What I don’t get is that many driving light are wired to be on all the time through the supplied switch on the light bar (as was mine)
I found that to be a pain as you had to turn the lights off at night and remember to turn them on again at night.

Here's my fix... easy for me cause I have a volt meter and wiring knowledge... but it not rocked science either ..
I purchased a 12votl relay and an "In line fuse" from autozone ... I ran a positive and ground wire direct from the battery to the headlight bucket... (didn’t have to remove the tank)
Run the driving lights positive to the relay negative to the new ground wire take the relay coil negative to the ground also. Take a wire from the relay coil positive to wire feeding the high beam filament in the headlight bucket..
The relay draws miniscule current so there is no extra load on your exiting wiring, and the driving lights have a good power source.
Best part is now you run high beam all day with all lights shining. at night you drop to low beam the driving lights switch off also as they should. This is the right thing for considerate and courteous driving.
Woody