Wiring Piaas!

[AirForceDirt]

Okay, so I have a set of piaa lights on the way (ought to be here tomorrow) and I'm wondering: How do most people wire them. Like, to the low beam, high beam, so they've got their own switch, so they only come on with high/low beam. Such not.

[Twempie]

Scroll down to "PIAA 1100X installation info and question". I'm installing a set right now and the answer to your question should be in that post.

[riceburner]

I've wired mine via the relay to the high-beam instrument bulb circuit.

I don't want them on with regular dipped beam, I'm not into causing glare for other road users and don't "go for" the triangle of light thing.

BUT - they are very good for filling in the gaps in the high beam pattern on the Rockster.

[FloridaBeakster]

I have mine wired to be on all the time. My main goal was to supplement the low beam and provide more light on the road during normal night riding. Most of the time I am riding at night there is some sort of oncoming traffic, so wiring them to the high beams didn't make sense to me. They are up high and aimed so as not to annoy other drivers but really illuminate the road at night. They also make me more visible during the daytime. I ran mine through a relay and used the feed to the handlebar light switch to trigger the relay. The handlebar light switch is after the load relief relay so that the aux lights will be off (like the main lights) when the engine is cranking.

[SLEDGE]

I have mine wired to a switch through a relay. I have them on all the time for the triangle day and night and cornering lights at night.Aimed low to the side for no glair.

[riceburner]

They also make me more visible during the daytime.

Only if "they" are looking.

(it doesn't matter how many bright headlights, flashing blue lights and blaring sirens you have - SOMEONE will still not see you coming.)

[Boxer]

Unless I'm mistaken, I think some states have a law against "running/fog lights" being on with the high beam. That's why I wired mine to switch off when the high beam comes on.

[FloridaBeakster]

Unless I'm mistaken, I think some states have a law against "running/fog lights" being on with the high beam. That's why I wired mine to switch off when the high beam comes on.

I'm not sure about that, but I'm pretty sure that every state allows at least three headlights on a motorcycle, and that's what I have, even though two of them are not stock.

[CycleRob]

My 55 Watt driving lites hang from the oil cooler covers. They go on with the hi beam AND can be turned on by an AutoSwitch when on low beam. The signal cancel switch actuates the AutoSwitch that triggers the current controlling relay that powers the lites.

I used the same relay with 2 blocking diodes. One to the high beam power and one to the AutoSwitch's relay coil lead. They are needed to isolate each system from the other while allowing either one to ONLY turn "on" the relay. It required removing the electrical junction box cover, finding the cancel and hi beam wires and making the soldered connections. That was accomplished when I had the bike apart for the cylinderhead/piston decarbonization in August of 2004 so please don't ask me the 2 wire colors. That is available from the wiring diagrams.

.

[riceburner]

My 55 Watt driving lites hang from the oil cooler covers. They go on with the hi beam AND can be turned on by an AutoSwitch when on low beam. The signal cancel switch actuates the AutoSwitch that triggers the current controlling relay that powers the lites.

I used the same relay with 2 blocking diodes. One to the high beam power and one to the AutoSwitch's relay coil lead. They are needed to isolate each system from the other while allowing either one to ONLY turn "on" the relay. It required removing the electrical junction box cover, finding the cancel and hi beam wires and making the soldered connections. That was accomplished when I had the bike apart for the cylinderhead/piston decarbonization in August of 2004 so please don't ask me the 2 wire colors. That is available from the wiring diagrams.

.

What happens when you want to cancel the indicators??

[CycleRob]

riceburner,

The AutoSwitch requires a push and hold of the cancel switch longer than 1.6 seconds to toggle the lites on/off. The newer model has a shorter interval, but either one will not switch the lites on or off when you tap the cancel switch to cancel the signal lite. The AutoSwitch does require a relay to handle the power switching duties because it's meant to actuate only low current relay coils.

It's a pretty cool farkle and it gives you control of your driving lites w/o adding another switch.

[riceburner]

riceburner,

The AutoSwitch requires a push and hold of the cancel switch longer than 1.6 seconds to toggle the lites on/off. The newer model has a shorter interval, but either one will not switch the lites on or off when you tap the cancel switch to cancel the signal lite. The AutoSwitch does require a relay to handle the power switching duties because it's meant to actuate only low current relay coils.

It's a pretty cool farkle and it gives you control of your driving lites w/o adding another switch.

Ah right, cheers.