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92 Sportster 1200. Saw some sort of similar posts on here for this question but thought some additional help might be needed as i'm new to wiring. I'm sure there's going to be a very simple answer but i'm having a brain fart on how to run the wiring for my headlights. I'm trying to wire up two Aris triangular headlights and will use an on/off/on switch for them. Each headlight has a black and white wire coming out of them. There is also a white wire grounded inside of each headlight. Is there a good way to run so that one of my headlights acts as a low beam, and then if i flip the switch over, they'll both light up (high beam)? Need the help of the wiring wizards. I'm most confused about how the wiring harness of the bike will tie into the headlight switch and then how the switch will tie into the lights. Basically the whole deal.
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Ok I'm not going to be a smart ass on this but it's hard not to, this is a very simple question to answer if you think about it for a second.......
Just run two hots off of the main hot and your problem is solved since your wanting to run two switches.....
Do you own a test light???? If so use it if not go buy one.....Last edited by Tattooo; 04-12-2020, 8:16 PM. -
"two hots off of the main hot" meaning the hot from the headlight? How will i connect the switch to the wiring harness? and also would i still need to use the white wire coming out of the headlight as a ground then if the headlights are both grounded inside the housings?Comment
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You need to connect the switch to the harness with a wire..... I don't know how else to answer your question..... This stuff is easy just think about it for a minute...
You should have a ground in your harness from your old light..... That's what a test light is for and a voltmeter is helpful... And a manual with a wiring diagram....
What you really need to do is take the headlight apart and actually see where the wires are going to be sure.....Last edited by Tattooo; 04-12-2020, 8:55 PM.Comment
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I'll dig into my factory wiring harness tomorrow. The issue I'm having is that now that i won't have turn signals or a hi beam, the wiring looks totally different. I'll dig into it further tomorrow and update with pics of the headlight i'm talking about. Thanks Tattooo.Comment
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Yes, you need to ground the headlights to the frame, otherwise they will be trying to ground through the neck bearings.would i still need to use the white wire coming out of the headlight as a ground then if the headlights are both grounded inside the housings?If buildin' old school choppers was easy, anyone could do it... ain't nobody said it's gonna be easy...Comment
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Alright TriNortchopz thank you for the reply. So simply ground each white from the headlights to the frame. Connect one black to one side of the switch, and both black together to the other side of the switch? Sorry this bike is the first wiring i've really gotten into.Comment
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Few ways to do it;
you can use one 6-pole on/off/on switch; hook power to center, jump it to center on other side (later), then connect low beam to upper on one side and both to lower on same side. The other side you jumped power to is for tail and brake...connect tail to bottom, jump power on that side to the top and add your brake lite switch power there, that way, when headlight in high or low, tail and brake light switch have power.
EDIT; YUP, whoops, power feeds back...low on one side at bottom, high and low on other side, on top.If buildin' old school choppers was easy, anyone could do it... ain't nobody said it's gonna be easy...Comment
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I already have a connection in the wiring harness for the tail light and brake light switch, although i haven't gotten there yet. The kit i got came with a 3 pole on off on switch. It has directions but they're for a factory head lamp with the three connectors in the back of the light. Current light has only two wires so it confused me a bit. So i just power the center pole and headlight power either side of the switch. Then just ground from the headlights to the frame. I'll test it out tomorrow and tune back in if it gives me any problems. Thank you.Comment
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1.) I would verify the white wire is actually for the lamp's ground.
2.) With both lights hooked together on the one side of the switch, power would back feed through and have both lights on with the switch in either position.
3.) I would run a separate ground into the head light buckets, or onto the forks frame, to bypass grounding through the neck bearing as mentioned, (that would be creating mini arcs across the bearing surfaces and not good for the bearing in the long run).
4.) Get a dual filament bulb to fit the one head light, then wire it one light on one pole, and both lights to the other.
I am not as knowledgeable as some of the folks here on 33 over various topics, but this seems simple to me.Last edited by 10scDust; 04-13-2020, 6:59 AM.Comment
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To do what you want to do, one lamp for low beam and both on for high:
Run one wire from the lighting breaker (traditionally blue wires in HD harnesses) to the plus side of the low beam lamp, and to one side of an on/off switch. From the on/off switch, run one wire to the plus side of the high beam lamp. Running a dedicated ground from each lamp to the frame is good practice.
The above is simplest, with fewest wires. The low beam will be on when the ignition switch is on, and you select high beam with the on/off switch.
The stock harness has a dedicated lighting breaker, and you should retain it, along with the main and ignition breakers. The accessory breaker can be deleted on a chopper style harness, with no signals or other accessories.
JimComment
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All you need is to add a simple diode to the mix (at least 15amp
Available at any trailer supply
If you have single filament lights...
One wire is ground and the other hot
If you have dual filament lights (high and low in one housing)...
One wire is high, the other low, and you must ground the housing.
Post pics and we can help you figure that part out
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