Auxiliary Lights

[SpudRider]

If you have time, please post photos of your installation.

[Danimal]

Originally Posted by NoVa Rider

I mounted the $35 aux lights that are sold by the following ebay seller.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x125W-3000L...BUYwi9&vxp=mtr

I used the through bolt mount that joins the upper and lower engine guards, just like Huck did with his Tractor Supply lights in the first post in this thread. Ditched the clamps that came with the lights, got a longer (60mm) 8mm bolt and a half inch spacer, and ran the bolt through the sheet metal exterior frame of the lights. Super easy. They are exposed but I like the wider triangle for visibility for oncoming drivers. And in a spill, they are only $35.

My idea of rewiring the red hazard switch to work the lights did not work out. The wires go directly from the hazard switch to the turn signal switch. It could be done but I think too difficult to run new wires through the switch. So I wired the lights into the A2 circuit. Easy to toggle through high, low and strobe settings.

One of the lamps stopped working after about an hour. But the ebay seller has sent me a new one with apologies and no questions asked. I will give him a positive rating, and hope the failed lamp was a fluke.

I like the looks though on close inspection they are cheap. I am OK with the spot projection. I don't ride at night, and I mainly want the lights to increase visibility to oncoming drivers. And I admit it, the "cool" factor of aux lights without spending much money.

Same lights I have. It was easy to drill a new hole in the cage for the clamps so they were angled right, and have them protected and high.
Aimed properly they actually throw usable light. Not a flood

[SpudRider]

I installed the Tractor Supply Traveller auxiliary lights discovered by Huck369. I posted the details of my installation at the following thread.

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=15437

[NoVa Rider]

Here are photos of my aux lights purchased from an ebay seller. Simple installation and good wide stance. I kind of like the military "ray gun" look, though the surrounding guards are just painted sheet metal. They are vulnerable to tip overs in this position but they are only $35.

Again, I ditched the clamps, and used the bolt that secures the upper and lower guards. I needed a longer 8mm bolt a 1/2 spacer, and ran the bolt through the inner sheet metal "guard" for the lamp. The lights can be swiveled up or down, and the lamps can be adjusted left or right. They produce a focused spot pattern. One failed but the ebay seller sent me a replacement and I have my fingers crossed that they will last.

[rtking]

Looks great, NoVA Rider! Between you, Spud and everyone else... I'm having Auxiliary Light Envy!

I saw a fellow RX3 rider's 30W lights over the weekend. It was daylight, and they were indeed bright. But I'm tempted to give those a try... they're more spendy, but I'm thinking those lights would be useful for both the Urban Jungle, and for remote trails if I ride in the early AM hours or get caught in the dusk hours. I need to save up a few shekels though... been spending on a another project on the RX3.

[MattyBoy1976]

I found these lights on Amazon, and installed them yesterday:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o01_s01

For 50 bucks with free Prime shipping, not a bad deal. I like the fact that they came equipped with weatherproof (resistant!) plugs.

I also purchased this wiring harness from an eBay seller in England:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191533392034...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I know my limitations, and creating neat wiring is an area in which I am limited . I liked this one because it came with the same weather resistant plugs that the lights came with-pretty handy.

I purchased the 1" bar mounts from CSC, and mounted the lights inside the lower crash bars.

http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/1-BAR-...p/csc-1011.htm

I wanted a large triangle of lights for daytime visibility, so I was a little concerned about mounting them inside the crash bars. But after hooking these things up and turning them on, I'll probably be summoning aliens-they're plenty bright! Plus, I can always move them if I want.

I also stole a tutorial from a website called Canyon Chasers on how to build a power distribution block for a motorcycle:

http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/generic/relay.php

I couldn't find the sort of block the author used, but I did find this device that's apparently used for car stereo amplifiers:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o02_s00

Once I had the power distribution block wired together (it stows nicely under the passenger seat), I hooked up my previously-installed heated grips to make sure it worked. It did. So I hooked up my new wiring harness, mounted the lights, and they fired right up, too. By the way, I have the power distribution block powered with a relay that's attached to the Auxiliary 1 switch. So I can turn the switch to the Aux 1 position, and then have power for my heated grips or lights or both, and each is switched on and off separately.

Here's what they look like mounted to the crash bar:

Here's "on:"

Now I just have to wait for my new O2 sensor to arrive from CSC, and the current round of snow to melt, and I can go try them out!

[keithmaine]

Nice job

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by NoVa Rider

Here are photos of my aux lights purchased from an ebay seller. Simple installation and good wide stance. I kind of like the military "ray gun" look, though the surrounding guards are just painted sheet metal. They are vulnerable to tip overs in this position but they are only $35.

Again, I ditched the clamps, and used the bolt that secures the upper and lower guards. I needed a longer 8mm bolt a 1/2 spacer, and ran the bolt through the inner sheet metal "guard" for the lamp. The lights can be swiveled up or down, and the lamps can be adjusted left or right. They produce a focused spot pattern. One failed but the ebay seller sent me a replacement and I have my fingers crossed that they will last.

Thanks for posting the photos of your installation. You did a nice job.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by MattyBoy1976

I found these lights on Amazon, and installed them yesterday...

That is a clean installation. Thanks for posting all the great links and excellent photographs.

[MattyBoy1976]

[QUOTE=SpudRider;197416]That is a clean installation. Thanks for posting all the great links and excellent photographs.


Thanks for the kind words...you notice I didn't post any pics of the underside of the install! I think I'll reroute cables when I have the gas tank off when I do the valve adjustment, and then I might reveal what it looks like behind closed doors!

[SpudRider]

We will await further photos after you pull the fuel tank.

Please tell me more about the power distribution block.



One block connects to 12V+, and the other block connects to ground. You have four outputs for each input. Where do you attach the wires?

[MattyBoy1976]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

We will await further photos after you pull the fuel tank.

Please tell me more about the power distribution block.



One block connects to 12V+, and the other block connects to ground. You have four outputs for each input. Where do you attach the wires?

So each of the holes in the block has a set screw that tightens down on the wire that is inserted into the respective hole. The block is intended for rather large wire (4 gauge input and 8 gauge output), and I used 14 gauge wire for my install. I had trouble getting the set screws to go down far enough to hold the smaller wire securely, so I ended up crimping a ring terminal onto my wire, pinching the sides to make the ring just small enough to slip into the hole in the block, and then had no problem tightening the set screws to get a secure grab. I'll see how this works, and may modify later if needed. I'll probably also put a piece of Velcro on the bottom to secure it a little better to the area under the passenger pillion, too.

The other nice feature of this block is that the two terminal portions (the metal parts) are covered with removable acrylic covers, which keeps any inadvertent short-circuits from happening. All in all, once I figured out how to keep the smaller wires secure, it's a nice, simple piece of equipment.

By the way, this particular one measures about 2 3/8 inches square, if anyone was wondering.

[SpudRider]

Thanks for posting the detailed explanation. Now I understand how it works.

[Adjuster]

If you live anywhere near any kind of boating/marine supply store they are the best place to purchase any kind of electrical connection type components. Boats have tons of electrical accessories needing all types of components and everything is marine rated at a minimum water resistant all the way up to salt waterproof. The connections above are called busbars and come in every imaginable shape and size. Marine supply stores sell every shape and size.



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[keithmaine]

Amazon and ebay have many many varieties of bus bars with or without fuses. If you prefer online sources.