Old Rider
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« Reply #15 on: September 03, 2020, 12:19:08 PM » |
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That wire looks small to me.....possibly a 14 gauge? For a headlight relay circuit I would use *no less* than a 12 gauge (AWG) or the equivalent 2.0mm wire. To give me some headroom in case I wanted to use a high wattage halogen bulb, I used a 10 gauge (2.6mm) wire on my dedicated circuit. The 2 relays I used were rated for 30 amps.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Pat you are definitely right that the cables is to small ,because i went out to buy the stuff i needed but then i found a premade light enhancement cable set and the cables is much thicker. The price was only 20 usd .But not sure if i can use it because it is made for cars sitting here scratching my head .It is intended for bulbs up to 160w the relays is 40A and had 30w fuses.
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FJowners.com
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« Reply #15 on: September 03, 2020, 12:19:08 PM » |
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FJ_Hooligan
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« Reply #16 on: September 03, 2020, 01:00:33 PM » |
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A stock 55/60W bulb pulls approximately 4.6 amps on low beam and 5 amps on high beam. If you move the FJ headlight switch slowly, it's possible to light up both filaments which would be about 10 amps total.
If you use higher wattage bulbs then the current draw goes up proportionally.
A 14 gauge wire will safely carry 15 amps, which is why I used 12 gauge wire for my relay setup. :-)
Your main concern is the size of the wire from the battery that supplies power to the 2 relays. This is the wire that needs to be protected with an appropriate size fuse,
The wires from the relays to the headlight connector can safely be 14 or 16 gauge, assuming you're using bulbs of less than 100w. Keep in mind if you use a higher wattage bulb it will produce more heat (watts is heat) and typically have a shorter bulb life. I used to run 100/80w bulbs but after blowing several I went back to 55/60w after installing the relays.
I would avoid using those blue "vampire" connectors. They can compromise the wire and make the connection unreliable.
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DavidR.
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Old Rider
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« Reply #17 on: September 03, 2020, 11:35:06 PM » |
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A stock 55/60W bulb pulls approximately 4.6 amps on low beam and 5 amps on high beam. If you move the FJ headlight switch slowly, it's possible to light up both filaments which would be about 10 amps total.
If you use higher wattage bulbs then the current draw goes up proportionally.
A 14 gauge wire will safely carry 15 amps, which is why I used 12 gauge wire for my relay setup. :-)
Your main concern is the size of the wire from the battery that supplies power to the 2 relays. This is the wire that needs to be protected with an appropriate size fuse,
Thanks David for informing me about that i checked the cable set and there is a 30A fuse on the wire from the battery to the relays By the way did you notice any increase in the brightness of the headlight ? The wires from the relays to the headlight connector can safely be 14 or 16 gauge, assuming you're using bulbs of less than 100w. Keep in mind if you use a higher wattage bulb it will produce more heat (watts is heat) and typically have a shorter bulb life. I used to run 100/80w bulbs but after blowing several I went back to 55/60w after installing the relays.
I would avoid using those blue "vampire" connectors. They can compromise the wire and make the connection unreliable.
I will not be using those since i bought the cable set . Now after some head scratching about if i can use the cable set that is made for cars i think it just so simple that i can connect one part of the set going to one headlight and just leave the other part unconnected .
Rolf
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ribbert
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« Reply #18 on: September 04, 2020, 04:03:21 AM » |
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I like the extra lights you have fitted i think i will do the same if they dont cost a million. are they foglights or high beam lights? I also have to check if they are legal here in Norway so i dont have to take them off again .
Rolf
It would be strange if they weren't but a fairly standard requirement is that they are switched separately and through high beam. That is, they turn on an off with high beam or can turned off entirely with a separate switch. Having a relay up front is a great idea, the lights, horn and coils all benefit from full voltage but don't expect miracles from the headlight, the improvement is only relative and still inadequate. Depending on your riding, it might be enough but if you ride beyond street lighting or highways, even at modest speeds, the standard light is woeful. Noel
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“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.”
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Waiex191
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« Reply #19 on: September 04, 2020, 06:57:13 AM » |
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Ride a 1981 Suzuki GN400 with a 6 volt system for a while. Then the stock FJ headlight will seem awesome.
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Bryan 1989 FJ1200 1981 Suzuki GN400 Poplar Grove, IL 
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Old Rider
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« Reply #20 on: September 04, 2020, 12:15:01 PM » |
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Rolf
It would be strange if they weren't but a fairly standard requirement is that they are switched separately and through high beam. That is, they turn on an off with high beam or can turned off entirely with a separate switch. Having a relay up front is a great idea, the lights, horn and coils all benefit from full voltage but don't expect miracles from the headlight, the improvement is only relative and still inadequate. Depending on your riding, it might be enough but if you ride beyond street lighting or highways, even at modest speeds, the standard light is woeful. Noel I checked and in March 2020 it became legal to add 2 extra highbeam lights placed like you have done on your bike so maybe i will get some. Did the relay mod today and it was a noticeable improvement see my next post. Rolf
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FJowners.com
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« Reply #20 on: September 04, 2020, 12:15:01 PM » |
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Old Rider
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« Reply #21 on: September 04, 2020, 12:16:36 PM » |
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Ride a 1981 Suzuki GN400 with a 6 volt system for a while. Then the stock FJ headlight will seem awesome.
I believe you ! 
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Old Rider
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« Reply #22 on: September 04, 2020, 12:21:11 PM » |
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Today i installed the cablekit first i thought it will be a fast 20 minutes job but ending up using 2 hours because i had to modify the wires because the relays ended up right at the cylinders and they don't like heat written in the instructions. The kit is made for cars so i cut off one of the wires going to the unused headlight that was stupid and had to splice cables also cut one of the wires from battery and that was also stupid because then only low beam worked. Everything works now, but one thing i think is wrong and need to be confirmed is that i earthed the black wire to the bracket for the horn.The lower triple clamp is made of aluminium so don't know if that is good enough ??. I measured the voltage at the bulbconnector before and after i started the work and before it was 11.5V and after it was 12.6v . it is still daylight but i could see the light was better and did a before and after test in a parking house see pics .Will take more compare pics and try the 100w /90w bulb later
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Pat Conlon
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« Reply #23 on: September 04, 2020, 03:22:12 PM » |
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.....Will take more compare pics and try the 100w /90w bulb later
Be sure to use a ceramic plug with that hot bulb....
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Please get your pneumonia vaccination and Flu shot. Do it now. There is no need for your body to battle a pneumococcal bacterial lung infection or the flu virus when there could be other very serious battles to fight. Hang tight, Stay safe, Covid Vaccine’s close.
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X-Ray
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Location: Munruben, Just south of Brisbane, Australia
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« Reply #24 on: September 04, 2020, 05:56:41 PM » |
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That is actually a nice difference with standard bulb and relay. I still have to do this, although I rarely do any night riding, (too many things that want to jump out in front of you where I live). 
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'94 FJ1200 Wet Pale Brown '93 FJ1200 Dark Violet/Silver '84 FJ1100 Red/White '91 FJ1200 Dark Violet/Silver ( Now Sold) '92 FJ1200 Project/Resto Dark Violet/Silver (Now Sold) For photos of my rear wheel swap, heres the link https://www.flickr.com/gp/[email protected]/62k3KZ
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Old Rider
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« Reply #25 on: September 05, 2020, 02:15:05 AM » |
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.....Will take more compare pics and try the 100w /90w bulb later
Be sure to use a ceramic plug with that hot bulb.... I replaced the bulbholder to ceramic when i got the bike and find the plastic bulbconnector had melted because of the 100w bulb that was in there.Now that connector was used to connect the cablekit .The plastic bulb connectors in the kit looks low quality but they claim they can be used with up to 160w bulbs  . I will replace with a ceramic anyway Rolf
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Old Rider
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« Reply #26 on: September 05, 2020, 02:30:34 AM » |
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That is actually a nice difference with standard bulb and relay. I still have to do this, although I rarely do any night riding, (too many things that want to jump out in front of you where I live).  Yes it was a good upgrade i think but have not done a night test yet.It also was a good upgrade when i cleaned the inside of the lamp first. Here in Norway there is also some animals to watch out for. My neighbor riding a BMW f800gs hit a moose in the middle of the highway doing 90 mph lucky to survive, but hospitalised for 8 weeks.He is about 65yrs and said he newer will ride again.All he remember is a shadow came from side and he looked right into the eyeball of the moose.I had some almost moments my self with deer's. Rolf
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Old Rider
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« Reply #27 on: September 05, 2020, 02:37:31 AM » |
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So now i wonder if i did ground the earthcable good enough ?? the cable was only a few inches long so i grounded it in the bracket for braklinesplitter and horn because i was in a hurry and had not time to splice it and attach it another place in the frame.
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Old Rider
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« Reply #28 on: September 07, 2020, 06:01:08 AM » |
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After Noel told me that it is not a good place to ground/earth into the lower triple clamp because current will go thru the stearinghead bearings and can make a premature wear out of the bearings. I decided to move it Thank Noel! So i spliced the groundwire to make it longer and found a better place for it to be attached to the frame see pick I have now done a compare test of the old 100/90w bulb named world light that i kept since it was replaced because of a melted bulb connector some years ago. and the Phillips racing vision 60/55w i recently put in. I think i just keep the Phillips bulb in since the light did not get any better with the old 100w. the test is 10 meters from the wall. last test was 5 meters from wall. The low beam on the old 100w was also very diffuse see pick so it is maybe broken.
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Old Rider
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« Reply #29 on: September 07, 2020, 06:07:57 AM » |
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Later when it got dark outside i took a ride to test and i could instantly see that the light now is much better .Took a test in the parkinghouse again and now it was total darkness in there also took some picks in the dark at a deserted parkingplace .Did not test the 100/90w bulb in the dark only Philips racing vision 60/55w bulb is used in these picks
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FJowners.com
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« Reply #29 on: September 07, 2020, 06:07:57 AM » |
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