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Author Topic: Fog light? wiring-hazard switch  (Read 903 times)

soliecirc

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Fog light? wiring-hazard switch
« on: June 24, 2012, 01:48:07 PM »
The bike came this way and finally just getting around to figuring out what the deal is. It has a 2nd light or fog light on the lower right side. (see photo) It has never worked but was tinkering and noticed it flicker on. It is wired into the hazard switch. Pulled it out and saw that all of the wires are not connected but they must have brushed against the correct spots causing the light to flicker on.
QUESTION: from looking at the pictures can someone tell me how to fix the connection?  Do I need to solder the connections? Get a new switch? Any advice would be appreciated.
thanks
« Last Edit: June 24, 2012, 01:49:08 PM by soliecirc »

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Fog light? wiring-hazard switch
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2012, 01:55:36 PM »
How many wires are there at the terminal of the switch ?

One still soldered to the switch and two disconnected ?
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

soliecirc

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Re: Fog light? wiring-hazard switch
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2012, 02:23:26 PM »
3 wires and one still soldered

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Fog light? wiring-hazard switch
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2012, 02:46:41 PM »
First thing you need to do, is to find out which wire at the switch provides power from the bikes electrical system .

I'm not familiar with your electrical knowledge, do you have and know how to use a multimeter ?

If you have one and know how to use it, with the key in the 'ON' position, take the red wired probe of the meter and place it in contact with the metal conductor of one of the wires, the black wired probe goes to bare metal on the engine .

Do this with each wire at the switch, until you find the one that has 12 VDC, or whatever your battery voltage is .
« Last Edit: June 24, 2012, 02:47:15 PM by Bob_Roller »
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

soliecirc

  • Guest
Re: Fog light? wiring-hazard switch
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2012, 01:01:27 AM »
my electrical knowledge on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being knowing how to turn on a light, 2 being how to change a light bulb, I am probably a 3.
No, I do not have a multimeter.
I have a better photo of the 3 wires. One appears to be soldered and is attached, the other 2 have a spot to be soldered but also have holes. The holes are not deep and I don't see that a wire stuck in there would stay put.
I did try touching the wires to the 2 different spots where it looks like they would go but this time it just sizzled instead of turning the fog light on. I am sure sizzling is not the sound you want when talking about electrical matters. Everything else on the bike still works so I doubt it was anything major.

bruce_launceston

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Re: Fog light? wiring-hazard switch
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2012, 02:26:39 AM »
You need to work out if you have / want a fog light or an auxillary driving light.

If it's a driving light you want to supplement your headlight hi-beam it will need to be wired through a relay with the power feed taken from the battery via a 30 amp fuse. The hazard switch would be the isolation switch for when you don't want the light to operate automatically with your hi-beam.
Another wire needs to be run from the existing high beam circuit to the relay to switch the power through to the light. This is the wire that would have the isolation switch in it.

If it's a fog light (low, flat topped beam) it could be switched on and off from the hazard switch but still needs to be wired through a relay.

In both the above scenarios the switch would only need 2 wires but the third is required to illuminate the red indicator on the switch.

If it was my bike I would start from scratch and wire in a new circuit unless it is more obvious that they have done it correctly..
It's all easy enough if you know what you are doing but if you don't you will need a good wiring diagram just for the extra light circuit.
« Last Edit: June 25, 2012, 02:35:32 AM by bruce_launceston »