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Turn off daytime lights?

C

Cmarino

Forum Apprentice
1982 gs650gl. Is there a way to turn off the daytime lights? Not too big of a deal, it's just annoying, and I don't want it to end up accidentally killing my battery.
 
!980 and after models there is not headlight on/off switch. (79 and prior there was).
Is also the same year that dropped the kick start. So if/when battery was getting a bit marginal, I got good at removing the headlight fuse, could almost do it in the dark. (Since then I have gotten better at noticing signs of marginal battery and replace it sooner.)
 
might i suggest there are better ways of dealing with this than making yourself less visible?
 
Typically, modifying the headlight switch to turn off the headlight, also turns off 1/3 of the alternator.
 
And there?s the little matter of what is legally required in your state.
https://www.napolilaw.com/article/motorcycle-laws-you-must-follow-in-new-york/

USING HEADLIGHTS

Daytime headlight use is required by New York law at all times. The law allows headlight modulators.

I found this interesting too:


[h=3]HELMETS WITH SPEAKERS[/h][FONT=&quot]A motorcycle helmet with speakers may only have one earphone.[/FONT]
 
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Cmarino said:
1982 gs650gl. Is there a way to turn off the daytime lights? Not too big of a deal, it's just annoying, and I don't want it to end up accidentally killing my battery.
Click to expand...
Is it possible? Yes.

Is it smart? Probably not.

How is it "annoying"?

And, as long as your engine is running, it's not going to kill the battery. In fact, as pdqford mentioned, in the stock configuration, one leg of the stator was also disconnected, to prevent an overload on the voltage regulator. Since the headlight actually uses just a bit less than that stator leg could produce, the battery actually charges better when the headlight is ON.

.
 
Cmarino said:
I don't want it to end up accidentally killing my battery.
Click to expand...

Am I missing something? How would the headlight kill your battery when the engine is running? The light turns off as soon as you turn the ignition off, so it's not like it has a chance to drag the battery down then, either.


Mark
 
If you want to insert a switch on the headlamp circuit,there are at least two easy ways.... One easyway is to interrupt the path of the Yellow/white stripe (Y/W) .It supplies + to Hi and low beam using the Hi/Lo switch.

Specifically and hoping your harness is what mine is, Follow it back to where you should find a bullet connector...just where Y/W splits into two wires...
05-Light crop.jpg

Get a male and female bullet connector , crimp them to your switch's wires and use it to "interrupt" just there.

Another way is to interrupt the headlamp's ground.Right at the Headlamp. Winkle the Black/White stripe (B/W) connector out of the three-socket connector and interrupt there, using appropriate crimpon connectors.

I keep saying crimp-on connectors because it's nasty to cut wires. But suit yourself. Just think very hard about it is all I ask. :)

Yet another is to interrupt the Orange/Red stripe (O/R)wire at the fuse panel but keep the switch close to the panel under the seat if you can. I don't like another long electrical path inserted in the already long path.

Another way is to insert a relay on one of the above paths and power it from its own little circuit and smaller switch. This is useful where you don't like big strong toggle switches, which otherwise, you must have to pass the headlamps 5-6 amp current.

They are "illegal", unsafe if forgotten (Yes!) and all that but will help your bike flash up a little better as the battery ages. Or, you may have low-demand daytime LED running lights you would rather use...I don't know. But I have a switch on several of my bikes.
 
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Rich82GS750TZ said:
I found this interesting too:
HELMETS WITH SPEAKERS
A motorcycle helmet with speakers may only have one earphone.
Click to expand...

Baatfam said:
That's why I use ear buds....;)
Click to expand...
Interestingly enough, oHIo says you are NOT allowed to use earbuds (motorcycle or car).

Helmets with speakers are not considered earbuds, and are allowed two speakers.
dunno.gif


.
 
Here's an idea. Tap the solenoid's Y/G wire to OPEN a Normally-Closed (NC) relay controlling headlamp power (Y/W). As long starter button is pushed, headlight will be off.

But use a GOOD "high VA" relay...

(a 3-prong turn signal relay from a recognized manufacturer MIGHT do it but check the VA specs and as NC...I can't offhand remember if they are...)
 
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Because "How" was the question. Not "Why".

anyways, the OP said 'why".

Is there a way to turn off the daytime lights? Not too big of a deal, it's just annoying, and I don't want it to end up accidentally killing my battery.
Click to expand...
 
Back in "80" I put a little black 3/8" square 110V push-on push-off switch in the center of the dash on my GS1100E. Ran the headlight ground thru it to kill the headlight. Worked perfect for yrs. with no charging problems. Actually almost looked like it came that way.
 
But neither of his reasons make sense
Click to expand...
.

What's "Annoying" is a different question that goes to opinion. As to OPs weakening battery, I'm not sure but I have toggle switches on two bikes. My 2003 Kawasaki has an oem circuit that shuts headlamp off when starting.

Back in "80" I put a little black 3/8" square 110V push-on push-off switch in the center of the dash on my GS1100E. Ran the headlight ground thru it to kill the headlight. Worked perfect for yrs. with no charging problems. Actually almost looked like it came that way.
Click to expand...

Good idea. You could probably just use a spring-loaded pushbutton too so you couldn't forget it. Yes, switches per household voltages often have strong specs for the purpose and are tough.
 
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