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Posted:  24 Jan 2010 05:27	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Aug 2008	Posts:  604 Reputation:  41 [?] User Rank: Brigadier General
Now that HID lighting has become VERY reasonable, we all want them, but at the same time, we need to protect our investment from premature wear and possible damage. Also, I have a lightning, where somebody designed the lights to be one at a time. Most of us have modded the circuit to be "both on" or wire the low-beam light to an always on source. This is functional, but not sufficient for HID lighting. I will show you how I re-wired my setup to be HID friendly. Lets start with the stock left hand light controls. The lightning gets a steady +12V source from the blue wire, and returns the voltage to the yellow (low beam) or the white (high beam), but NOT BOTH. The flash switch is just a momentary switch to supply power to the high beam. Now to the fun part. I needed that momentary switch to have a dedicated return path, so I modded my harness to this. Now the Hi/Low switch was high beam or nothing, while the low beam wire was connected to the momentary switch. Just what I needed for the next diagram. I went to radio shack and got myself a DPDT (double pole, double throw) relay. Wiring to this diagram accomplishes a few things. The parking light is the always on circuit, and still functional. The Low beam will be supplied with constant 12V power regardless of high beam state. The relay will stay closed once supplied with 12V power. That means, I turn my key, and only the "parking" lights activate. I can then turn on the fuel pump and start the bike. The low beam headlight will NOT activate until you hit the flash switch in your light control. Once you hit that flash button, the low beam will stay on until you turn off your key. No time delay relay needed, and you choose when to turn on your HID lights. The high beam is still switch only, so it will come on with yoyur key, IF you have the hi/low switch in the high position. I hope this helps.

Posted:  24 Jan 2010 05:35	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Oct 2009	Posts:  190 Reputation:  8 [?] User Rank: Captain
Thats a great idea, BUT, you have now lost the function of your high beam flash!

Posted:  24 Jan 2010 06:06   Last Edited By: kajer	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Aug 2008	Posts:  604 Reputation:  41 [?] User Rank: Brigadier General
LOL, yeah, but I don't know about you, but I don't plan on flashing my HIDs. Sort of the point as why you don't want to turn them on until you start your bike.

Posted:  24 Jan 2010 09:26	[?]
Moderator Join Date: May 2008	Posts:  4038 Reputation:  144 [?] User Rank: Five-Star General
Beamshot! BEAMSHOT!!!!

Posted:  24 Jan 2010 14:30	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Dec 2009	Posts:  380 Reputation:  5 [?] User Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
I can see myself forgetting to turn on my lowbeam during the day... Isn't there a timer available that you can put in line relatively easily that will delay turning on the light, but you still retain all the functions of the high and low beams?

Posted:  24 Jan 2010 15:54	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Aug 2008	Posts:  604 Reputation:  41 [?] User Rank: Brigadier General
yes, I have thought about that too, I am going to try of making a habit of hitting the flash switch before I shift into first. But, I usually always ride with the high beam during the day, so I think I am covered. also, dave_xb12r got a time delay relay for his setup. after 15 seconds, the relay clicks and the low beam light comes on.

Posted:  24 Jan 2010 21:49	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Oct 2009	Posts:  190 Reputation:  8 [?] User Rank: Captain
Yer i have a timer on mine, makes life very easy

Posted:  25 Jan 2010 08:26   Last Edited By: kajer	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Aug 2008	Posts:  604 Reputation:  41 [?] User Rank: Brigadier General
Below are images I took tonight. The camera was a Canon A75 with a 2.8 fstop and 1 second exposure time on all pics. happy dave_xb12r? no beam low beam low and high beam

Posted:  25 Jan 2010 08:30	[?]
Moderator Join Date: May 2008	Posts:  4038 Reputation:  144 [?] User Rank: Five-Star General
I want to see some distance beam shots! Maybe we should just meet in SC one of these days

Posted:  26 Jan 2010 01:11	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Aug 2008	Posts:  604 Reputation:  41 [?] User Rank: Brigadier General
we'll have to get together and compare HID notes... MikeSI is holding your 5000K bulbs ransom for his 12000K

Posted:  29 Jan 2010 16:33   Last Edited By: Stevenc150	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Dec 2009	Posts:  50 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: Second Lieutenant
[Post deleted per request]

Posted:  29 Jan 2010 20:18   Last Edited By: dave_xb12r	[?]
Moderator Join Date: May 2008	Posts:  4038 Reputation:  144 [?] User Rank: Five-Star General
island, I think you're referring to LVsleeper's timer diagram. I noticed that too. Edit: added link to LVsleeper's thread

Posted:  01 Feb 2010 03:24	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Aug 2008	Posts:  604 Reputation:  41 [?] User Rank: Brigadier General
Quoting islandigital Your diagram is inncorect WTF are you talking about? I have my relay wired this way and it works exactly the way I said it does. Also, I am NOT using a timer. Where are you getting your information????? Certainly not this thread.

Posted:  01 Feb 2010 15:53	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Dec 2009	Posts:  50 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: Second Lieutenant
Your right dave- Sorry about that- i hit the wrong link when i replied- This is correct- MOD! please delete my prior reply so nobody gets confused- This is good info.... T

Posted:  02 Feb 2010 01:00	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Dec 2009	Posts:  200 Reputation:  6 [?] User Rank: Captain
so can you change the lights so you have them both on low beam and then switch both to high beam. or can you still only have one on low and the other high at the same time?? i would have thought it would have just been a simple change from a single filament to a double filament light bulb...

Posted:  02 Feb 2010 01:16   Last Edited By: Pockets	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Nov 2009	Posts:  1059 Reputation:  16 [?] User Rank: Four-Star General
You can have both on when switched to high beam but only one on under low beam. The high beam is high only, not a dual filament bulb (With HID though it's one brightness regardless of low/high). The reflectors themselves determine if it's high or low pattern. The low beam reflector behind the bulb has a different refraction than the high beam reflector.

Posted:  02 Feb 2010 01:25	[?]
Moderator Join Date: May 2008	Posts:  4038 Reputation:  144 [?] User Rank: Five-Star General
Simply put, what this mod does is it does not power up the low beam light when the bike key is turned on. The flash button is pressed to turn on the low beam. Once the low beam is on, the flash button does nothing.

Posted:  03 Feb 2010 00:00	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Dec 2009	Posts:  200 Reputation:  6 [?] User Rank: Captain
whats the point in that? there must be a way to put two double filament bulbs in and adjust the angle of each lamp reflector to get the legal angle right. that way when you turn bike on your lights turn on to low straight away and then high beam turns on both to high beam and the flash would still work to flash low to high. will doo some more Googling to see if anyone has done this.

Posted:  03 Feb 2010 01:05	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Nov 2009	Posts:  1059 Reputation:  16 [?] User Rank: Four-Star General
That's only possible with H4 bulbs (bi-xenon for HID kits).

Posted:  03 Feb 2010 01:16	[?]
Moderator Join Date: May 2008	Posts:  4038 Reputation:  144 [?] User Rank: Five-Star General
The point is that when you turn your key, the headlights don't turn on, then turn back off when you start the bike, then turn back on. It will let you turn the key, start the bike and your headlights are off until you turn them on. HIDs don't like to be turned off without letting them warm all the way. It severely reduces the lifespan of the unit.

Posted:  11 Feb 2010 01:20	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Dec 2009	Posts:  200 Reputation:  6 [?] User Rank: Captain
I have a friend (Peter) at www.srwmoto.com.au who currently has someone working on a twinlight driver for his Buell.  This will give both bulbs on high and both bulbs on low during the day.  It also runs through a solid state relay and gets 20% higher brightness from a standard bulb. hope it wont be to expensive so i can get one also...

Posted:  14 Feb 2010 00:17	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jul 2009	Posts:  709 Reputation:  58 [?] User Rank: Major General
Thanks for the killer post.  +1 from me for sure. I'm a complete and utter wiring idiot, but I think I have this mod on lock.  Waiting for the dual 55w DDM kit to show up.  We'll see then. My question is this.  I know a lot of people wire relays/fuses into their HID installation to deal with the fact that HID lights pull a lot of amps from the battery to start up.  How would that fit into this?  Any info on how to wire said fuses would be great, if they're even necessary.

Posted:  14 Feb 2010 10:04	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Dec 2009	Posts:  200 Reputation:  6 [?] User Rank: Captain
does anyone know the total power (Watts, Amps, etc..) a 2007 Buell XB12SS has and how much i have to play with?

Posted:  21 Feb 2010 07:57	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jul 2009	Posts:  709 Reputation:  58 [?] User Rank: Major General
Figured it all out.  Works great.  I wired 2 30A auto relays into the circuit so that I didn't have to rely on the stock harness to supply power to the HID lights.  Works like a charm. The only wonky thing is that now I hear a high-pitched whining noise when the lights are on.  I have a feeling it's just one of the 30A relays or the DPDT relay, though.

Posted:  21 Feb 2010 12:44	[?]
Moderator Join Date: May 2008	Posts:  4038 Reputation:  144 [?] User Rank: Five-Star General
I think that's the ballasts. My DDMs do that too.

Posted:  21 Feb 2010 17:14	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jul 2009	Posts:  709 Reputation:  58 [?] User Rank: Major General
Well then the installation was a smashing success. I'm still not sure how I managed to tuck two ballasts, two igniters, two relays, and a dpdt relay under the windscreen. It was suuuuper tight.

Posted:  22 Feb 2010 04:31	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Aug 2008	Posts:  604 Reputation:  41 [?] User Rank: Brigadier General
Nice!

Posted:  23 Feb 2010 06:01	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Dec 2009	Posts:  200 Reputation:  6 [?] User Rank: Captain
i have finally finished my light mod. here is the thread http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Do-It-Y ...

Posted:  07 Apr 2010 05:22	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Feb 2010	Posts:  210 Reputation: Unranked [?] User Rank: Major
quick question, did anyone figure out if the relays were a definate must? i have a 35watt HID kit and am having enough trouble finding a place for these damn phone book ballasts. i got myself a dpdt relay and hope to have this crap done tomorrow evening.

Posted:  07 Apr 2010 05:41	[?]
Registered User Currently Offline Join Date: Jul 2009	Posts:  709 Reputation:  58 [?] User Rank: Major General
The relays may not be a requirement, but they are cheap insurance.  It's easy enough to wire them in, and they're really not that big. I managed to fit a DPDT relay, 2 15A auto relays, 2 ballasts, and 2 igniters all under my windscreen, so you shouldn't have an issue fitting just one HID kit there.

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