Dirty_Sanchez
11-13-2006, 10:17 AM
Well Gents, Dirty finally installed the other HID rig for the high beam on the 640. And then there were two.
Previously, I installed the low beam HID rig using the stock wiring which from what I gather from other posts on ADVrider is woefully undersized. This hunch was confirmed by the way the low HID flickered and clickered when I turned on the ignition. The ballast wanted more current from the battery to fire the bulb but couldn't with the engine off. So, I had to switch to high beam (stock halogen) start the bike, then switch back to the low beam HID. Doing this once the engine started gave the ballast enough juice to fire the bulb.
Well, now, I installed the Centech AP-1 to handle the High and Low HID, grips, Gerbing jacket, and Garmin. The hot and ground leads feeding the Centech are now a fat 12ga with 14 ga feeding the farkles.
3 30A potted relays were installed. One to power the low HID, the second to power the high HID, and the third wired to allow the low to burn while on high beam with a toggle on the dash to kill the low while the high is on if I have a need as well as kill the low during daytime running once again if I have the need.
The HID's run on 35 watts giving 3 times more lumens or the equivalent of nearly 150 watts of old school halogen lighting.
Now this wiring upgrade is complete, I switch on the key (engine not running) and the low HID fires right up. I can also throw the toggle to kill the low before switching on the ignition if the battery is low.
Coming off of the bike with both lights ablaze compared to driving my hot rod mini-van with the brights burning now feels like I'm driving around at night wearing welding goggles. NO KIDDING.
With both lights burning now, I'm illuminating the stop sign from one end of my street to the other. The street is half a mile long and these things really have turned night into day.
Don't hesitate to do the HID upgrade if you have a notion.
UPDATE: After a back road cold 30 minute ride with the Gerbing cranked up to 11 and both lights ablaze I got back to the house all toasty and cut the engine. Then I tried starting her up again only to hear the starter click. Hmm, guess a 12.3A load taxed the charging system a bit much even though the multi-meter says I had 12.4V. I need to keep the load to the Recommended Daily Allowance of 10A. Doing the math says the jacket and just one light will give a load of 9.5A.
The next functional comfort farkle yet to be installed are the heated grips at 20w/1.7A.
You're not living if you're not learning.
Dirty
Previously, I installed the low beam HID rig using the stock wiring which from what I gather from other posts on ADVrider is woefully undersized. This hunch was confirmed by the way the low HID flickered and clickered when I turned on the ignition. The ballast wanted more current from the battery to fire the bulb but couldn't with the engine off. So, I had to switch to high beam (stock halogen) start the bike, then switch back to the low beam HID. Doing this once the engine started gave the ballast enough juice to fire the bulb.
Well, now, I installed the Centech AP-1 to handle the High and Low HID, grips, Gerbing jacket, and Garmin. The hot and ground leads feeding the Centech are now a fat 12ga with 14 ga feeding the farkles.
3 30A potted relays were installed. One to power the low HID, the second to power the high HID, and the third wired to allow the low to burn while on high beam with a toggle on the dash to kill the low while the high is on if I have a need as well as kill the low during daytime running once again if I have the need.
The HID's run on 35 watts giving 3 times more lumens or the equivalent of nearly 150 watts of old school halogen lighting.
Now this wiring upgrade is complete, I switch on the key (engine not running) and the low HID fires right up. I can also throw the toggle to kill the low before switching on the ignition if the battery is low.
Coming off of the bike with both lights ablaze compared to driving my hot rod mini-van with the brights burning now feels like I'm driving around at night wearing welding goggles. NO KIDDING.
With both lights burning now, I'm illuminating the stop sign from one end of my street to the other. The street is half a mile long and these things really have turned night into day.
Don't hesitate to do the HID upgrade if you have a notion.
UPDATE: After a back road cold 30 minute ride with the Gerbing cranked up to 11 and both lights ablaze I got back to the house all toasty and cut the engine. Then I tried starting her up again only to hear the starter click. Hmm, guess a 12.3A load taxed the charging system a bit much even though the multi-meter says I had 12.4V. I need to keep the load to the Recommended Daily Allowance of 10A. Doing the math says the jacket and just one light will give a load of 9.5A.
The next functional comfort farkle yet to be installed are the heated grips at 20w/1.7A.
You're not living if you're not learning.
Dirty