Head Light Delay

[flash2002]

I was thinking of a way to save the starter switch from power going to the head light. Last year I bought a plug-in adapter to cancel the head lights on start up for my GL1800. So, I started to look how they did this for the GL1800 and figured out what they did. They use the oil pressure switch to activate the relay, so I made one for my GL1000. The oil pressure switch has to be an open switch compared to the Honda switch, which is closed.

 

[mcgovern61]

Great idea Flash that is slick and also keeps the head light off while the key is on but motor not running IE radio keyed no problem leaving the key on and listening to the radio with out draining the battery completly :good: :good: :good: :good: k: :thanks: :thanks: :thanks:

I can turn my key switch to ACC and run the radio without the engine on or the headlight. Am I missing something on that?

When I hit my start button, the headlight goes off.

 

[dan filipi]

Good idea!

A couple questions.
1. Where did you get the normally open pressure switch and how much was it?
2. The brass "T" from hardware stores is American thread, 1/8th inch NPT I think it is.
Does the nipple thread in tight to the block and the stock pressure switch into the fitting? I thought they are metric thread.

 

[AApple]

:hihihi: :mrgreen:

 

[dan filipi]

Wait, couldn't the same thing be done using one normally closed cube relay and the stock oil pressure switch?

In the diagram, 87a is (normally) closed with no power.
Once the key is turned on the coil will get a ground from the oil pressure switch which will open the contact.
As soon as the oil light turns off, ground is broken and 87a contact will again be closed and the headlight will come on.

I'd have to think on how the headlight switch breaking power to the headlight affects this but I think it should work this way.

 

[flash2002]

Good idea!
The pressure switch I got at the auto parts, it is open until there is pressure. The '' T '' and the fitting is 1/8-27 npt which the Honda pressure switch was the same, the fitting did fit in the block perfect. The pressure switch is a Standard PS135
A couple questions.
1. Where did you get the normally open pressure switch and how much was it?
2. The brass "T" from hardware stores is American thread, 1/8th inch NPT I think it is.
Does the nipple thread in tight to the block and the stock pressure switch into the fitting? I thought they are metric thread.

 

[Steve83]

But...but...suppose you lose oil pressure...at night...or the switch or relay fails...

I looked at the schematic for my '83, and the starter switch disconnects the headlight during cranking, and - as McGovern61 points out - in the ACC position, no headlight. I'm just wondering what the real benefit is here?

Anyway, here's a diagram of Dan's idea, using the stock oil pressure switch and a normally closed relay.

 

[flash2002]

I understand what your saying Steve83, the reason I did it this way is, I read about people who had problems with the starter switch and one cause of this problem was, the power going to the lights from the starter switch. Some people would install stonger lights which would put more strain on the starter switch. I guess there are different ways of doing this.

 

[Steve83]

I understand what your saying Steve83, the reason I did it this way is, I read about people who had problems with the starter switch and one cause of this problem was, the power going to the lights from the starter switch. Some people would install stonger lights which would put more strain on the starter switch. I guess there are different ways of doing this.

Then - like a flash - it hit me! Saving the starter switch from all that current! Cool! Thanks, flash, it was right there in the first line of the first post.

 

[DaveO430]

I did that to my 1800 mostly because I have HID headlights and think the on/off/on of the lights during starting would not be good for the ballasts. 1 simple wire is all it takes on that. It does prevent you from being able to flash the headlights with the start button though. Just putting a relay in the circuit so that all the headlight power is not ran through the start switch, only the relay coil would be sufficient in most cases. I wired my 82 so that the only thing running through the ignition switch is the ignition, everything else is on relays.

 

[westgl]

What about using a timer relay,

when it times out then it switches

Some timer relays have an adjustment setting from 15 seconds to 1-1/2 minutes

 

[Ansimp]

The delay timer is definitely the best circuit, even if your bike is slow starting the headlight could be set with the delay not to interrupt the starter circuit( unfortunately with oil pressure the light could come on before the bike starts)

 

[dan filipi]

Dan did that with his and has a thread on it on this site

I made a topic detailing a HID install Here
Time delay relay starts from this post:
viewtopic.php?p=74248#p74248