Driving light relay circuit on GS

[Swegen]

May the wisdom of the list reveal the answer to the following question.
Just installed a pair of Hella lights to augment the Gs' illumination issue.
My on-off switch currently connects to the battery and would rather be tied in with the ignition to avoid those *oh SHIT, I forgot to....* moments.
Where's the best-easiest place to pick up that 12v when the ignition is on?
TIA for all the wisdom I am about to receive.
BTW looking for Jesse bags for the above 97GS

[markgsnw]

Originally Posted by tbdomenz

May the wisdom of the list reveal the answer to the following question.
Just installed a pair of Hella lights to augment the Gs' illumination issue.
My on-off switch currently connects to the battery and would rather be tied in with the ignition to avoid those *oh SHIT, I forgot to....* moments.
Where's the best-easiest place to pick up that 12v when the ignition is on?
TIA for all the wisdom I am about to receive.
BTW looking for Jesse bags for the above 97GS

assuming that your on/off switch is feeding a relay, you could pick up a switched lead just about anywhere. The headlight, for example.

[BiG DoM]

Originally Posted by tbdomenz

May the wisdom of the list reveal the answer to the following question.
Just installed a pair of Hella lights to augment the Gs' illumination issue.
My on-off switch currently connects to the battery and would rather be tied in with the ignition to avoid those *oh SHIT, I forgot to....* moments.
Where's the best-easiest place to pick up that 12v when the ignition is on?
TIA for all the wisdom I am about to receive.
BTW looking for Jesse bags for the above 97GS

I cannot recommend the Autoswitch highly enough - the best $20 you will spend - there will be no "oh SHIT" as you put it and you can wire them seperately from your main beam and it comes with all the wiring, clever LED indicator etc etc. Do not f' around, buy one.

[Fanum]

The rear light feed is quite a good one to use.......close to the fuse box to link to relays in a spare slot and just cutting two cable ties releases the loom to access it...so no tools required.

[Emoto]

I like using the little wire to the day bulb.

[Tictock]

Originally Posted by tbdomenz

May the wisdom of the list reveal the answer to the following question.
Just installed a pair of Hella lights to augment the Gs' illumination issue.
My on-off switch currently connects to the battery and would rather be tied in with the ignition to avoid those *oh SHIT, I forgot to....* moments.
Where's the best-easiest place to pick up that 12v when the ignition is on?
TIA for all the wisdom I am about to receive.
BTW looking for Jesse bags for the above 97GS

just did hellas and autoswitch on mine.
powered switch off fuse #2, left extra wire and autoswitch right in the fuse box.
notch plastic lid for wires out of box.
seems good so far.

[markgsnw]

Originally Posted by BiG DoM

I cannot recommend the Autoswitch highly enough - the best $20 you will spend - there will be no "oh SHIT" as you put it and you can wire them seperately from your main beam and it comes with all the wiring, clever LED indicator etc etc. Do not f' around, buy one.

sorry, he's right, Autoswitch. Works great.

[knary]

Originally Posted by Emoto

I like using the little wire to the day bulb.

Me too. It's easy to access and if you bugger it, you haven't hurt anything of much value.

[pierce]

I would want to find a wire thats downstream from the 'load shed relay' so the aux lamps are off when you hit the starter, this makes a huge difference on the voltage drop during a cold morning start.

on the r1100 bikes, that is any Green w/ Blue stripe, or Green w/ Brown Stripe wire... there are several of these under the facia panels of my R1100RS, you could tap any of them to run your aux lamp relay (with the aux light switch connecting the other side of the relay coil to ground).... I suspect the color codes are the same on the later R1150 bikes but I'm just guessing.

Oh, the green/brown is after load shed *and* a fuse... said fuse is shared with the horn, turn signals, and (optional) RT-P police lights on my diagrams.... The unfused green/blue goes to both handlebars for the light switch power...

[BiG DoM]

Originally Posted by Tictock

just did hellas and autoswitch on mine.
powered switch off fuse #2, left extra wire and autoswitch right in the fuse box.
notch plastic lid for wires out of box.
seems good so far.

Likewise, as I said above - the Autoswitch is a cakewalk. It comes in a model specifically for Beemers with all the wires etc. I also put all the goodies in the fuse box - the Autoswitch and the Hella relay. I fed all the wires in the box under the relays and fuses etc to exit at the main trunk cable out on LHS - loosen the four phillips screws that hold the top part of the fuse box and lift - to give one a bit of room for hooking wires etc.
The main cable out has a rubber grommet that can accomodate a few more wires or can be enlarged or notched at that point (this is the neatest, instead of notching top of box etc although that would also work) - then feed wires along frame to lights, switch etc (remove tank). Voila!

[Tictock]

[QUOTE=pierce]I would want to find a wire thats downstream from the 'load shed relay' so the aux lamps are off when you hit the starter, this makes a huge difference on the voltage drop during a cold morning start.


unless there's different autoswitches (heard something about an old one)
mine turns the lights off when you shut bike down, requires switching them on again but you don't have any load concern at start-up.
kinda cool.

[pierce]

Originally Posted by Tictock

unless there's different autoswitches (heard something about an old one) mine turns the lights off when you shut bike down, requires switching them on again but you don't have any load concern at start-up.
kinda cool.

I was referring to using a conventional relay and switch.

[Colt03]

I tapped into the low beam wire, it is on when the high beam is on also, so I have my aux lights availble anytime. I took the tank off and tapped in near the connector. I don't remember what color the wire was but just check it visually and then test with a VOM.

HTH

[Double Moo]

I also bought a set of Hellas a few weeks ago. I got them all mounted up but haven't done the wiring as yet. I guess I'm a little timid about hacking into the electrical system. Another rider friend bought a set when I did - he's waiting for me to guinea pig mine before he goes for it. Do any of you have pitcures of the connections you are describing? Your wisdon is greatly appreciated... Also where did you pick up the autoswitch?

[Swegen]

Lot's 'o great info as I anticipated. I appreciate it. A couple questions........
Load shed relay? does this interrupt the lighting circuit(s) for starting?
Autoswitch? where can I get this animal? is this a relay that is activated by a momentary button vs a toggle switch?