Hella FF50 Wiring Options?

[pebmr]

Just ordered a set of Hella FF50 driving lights, and plan to install them on the wunderlich crash bars just under the oil coolers. I've seen some wire to the low beam, some to the high beam, and different switching options. My first thought is to wire them to the low beam so that they are always on and not switch them. I think I will always want them on, and don't want to have to manually switch them on (or forget to during daylight). Or, if I use the switch supplied, can the switch be left on so that they are on all the time with the low beam, or does that thing reset when the bike shuts down. Any thoughts on this? Also where is the best point and which wire will I be tapping into on the low beam?

[TicTac50]

I started with FF50 installed on the Wunderlich crash bars.
After few months I changed them to FF200 chrome.
You will need to run those lights Via Relay.
I used wire for small bulb (parking light) inside the headlight to activate the Relay.
If you wish to use Low Beam to activate the Relay, on the High beam you will loose the running lights (I think).
Unless you use special Relay to be activated from 2 sources.
Also you will need the switch. I installed the switch on the inner side (left) of the oil cooler.
Right above the horn, in the frame, there is plenty of room to hide the relay.
Good Luck.

[chitownrbike]

You do not need to wire it to the headlight.
Any circuit that is live when the key is on will work.
I used the rear brake light hot side as it was very convenient.
I mounted the switch on the right side removable panel just below the oil cooler.

[AirForceDirt]

Mine are wired to my high beam. I probably should have wired them to be always on, and just make everyone else suffer, but I'm still debating. So far, I like them on the high beam so I can have them on during the day and only need to flick them off with the high beam.

[rdsmith3]

I have yellow Motolights that are always on for conspicuity. They are wired to a switched power source that does not load the engine when cranking. For example, you could tap into the heated grip circuit at the fuse box. I put the switch under the seat in case I should need to turn them off some time.

I also have Hella Optilux driving lights that I wired to the high beam circuit.

you can see the set-up here

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13723

[pebmr]

Thanks all for the options. Many choices, some I didn't think of (wiring and switching is not my strong point). May have some questions once I start to connect wires

[Sunbeemer]

You can tap off the 2nd fuse from the left that supplies the Parking and Tail lights to trigger your Hella light relay.
There are various ways to tap it, even using a small-gauge, stranded wire inserted into the fused side of that fuse's connector (so the strands flatten out when the fuse blade is inserted with it) should work ok. Since there is only a small current going to the coil of the relay (~200ma), a 24-gauge wire will do. On the other hand, your lights will draw several amps (about 3 amps/each X 2 lights = ~ 6 amps) so you'll need heavier wire (14 gauge) to run to the relay from a fused source, and then from the relay to the lights, and then from the lights to a good ground.

If you use the existing headlight wiring, it may overload the circuit, which can heat up the wire (maybe even melting it), fuse the contacts in the headlight switch, and will make all connected lights burn dimmer. Maybe others have done this without any problems, but I wouldn't. I'd add a dedicated fused and relay-switched circuit.

My $0.02

[devauxb]

I wanted control over when to switch the FF50s on and off. I have these aimed kind of high and to the side as I wanted them primarily for seaking out critters on the side of the road.

I went with an 'AutoSwitch Driving Light Control' available from cycle gadgets:
http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/pr ... sp?Item=AS

I got the kind that toggles the FF50s on and off by holding down the turn signal cancel switch. Works great, and you don't have to add any additional switches.

[pebmr]

Well, I finally got the Hellas wired up today and they actually work (thanks to TicTac50's help with wiring 101). I took power from the battery to the relay, hooked relay into parking light, and then switched it. The lights are on with both the high and low beam unless switched off. Haven't had a chance to try them in the dark yet, and it'll probably be a couple weeks here in MN until it warms up enough to ride at dawn or dusk.

Thanks for all of your replies with assistance and ideas.