Does anyone know of or, have they built an "automatic" low beam headlamp switching device to incorporate in standard wiring of an older machine that was built before automatic switching?
The problem is not a simple one for older bikes due to the lack of suitable computer wizardry
For a start, one does not want the lamp turned on with the ignition since this draws voltage away from the starter, if you are lucky enough to have one, so perhaps several seconds timed "post ignition" would be good?
Then the next issue is for those with a dual filament bulb - what happens when you want high beam (at night) and turn on using the light switch on the handlebars? I think a fried lamp would be the outcome without some means to shut down the "automatic" circuit - due to the two filaments overheating.
Add to this, any system would be better served if one could find the appropriate solid state relays to save both the additional permanent "load" on the electrics, and achieve the higher reliability of modern electronics. I see the Chinese build one with an "adjustable timer", but of what quality standard I am unclear? I'm thinking it would need to switch 12 VDC at about 5 amps.
I know we all had manual switches to turn on the headlamp before any of this sophistication was thought of but when one changes from a modern machine to ride one of the older members of one's collection, it would just be one less thing to remember - and that's just nice
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Skipper
Does anyone know of or, have they built an "automatic" low beam headlamp switching device to incorporate in standard wiring of an older machine that was built before automatic switching?
The problem is not a simple one for older bikes due to the lack of suitable computer wizardry
For a start, one does not want the lamp turned on with the ignition since this draws voltage away from the starter, if you are lucky enough to have one, so perhaps several seconds timed "post ignition" would be good?
Then the next issue is for those with a dual filament bulb - what happens when you want high beam (at night) and turn on using the light switch on the handlebars? I think a fried lamp would be the outcome without some means to shut down the "automatic" circuit - due to the two filaments overheating.
Add to this, any system would be better served if one could find the appropriate solid state relays to save both the additional permanent "load" on the electrics, and achieve the higher reliability of modern electronics. I see the Chinese build one with an "adjustable timer", but of what quality standard I am unclear? I'm thinking it would need to switch 12 VDC at about 5 amps.
I know we all had manual switches to turn on the headlamp before any of this sophistication was thought of but when one changes from a modern machine to ride one of the older members of one's collection, it would just be one less thing to remember - and that's just nice
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