After installing a Champion Legend onto an HD FLSTFI, I noticed that the headlight dims when the brakes are applied.
The sidecar has the standard conventional tail/stop light.
It also has a standard conventional 35W driving spotlight.
I don't know the cause and am asking for an explanation.
Is there a way to prevent the dimming?
Can I install a secondary device to prevent the dimming?
Many thanks for any comment.
Jay.
Wiring problem. Sometimes a poor ground will cause other lights to react that are connected to the circuit.
Where you tap into the bikes stop/tail and ground circuits can also make a difference. I usually tap in at the rear stop/tail & t/s looms and ground to the bike frame.
Lonnie
When you add any load to the bikes wiring, voltage will drop a bit, when voltage drops, bulbs dim. Chances are when the bike is running and you are off idle the charging system will more then make up for the extra load. If it does not then you have an issue, chances are that it is not so much a wiring problem as an overall load problem.
You might try unpluging the sidecar from the bike and check to see if it is still happening, Chances are that it is and always has and there is nothing wrong with the system you just did not notice it until you added the sidecar.
Where you tap into the system should not make any difference in over all load. We tap into the main wiring plug under the seat as we have a plug in adapter that we use with our trailer hitches this way we do not have to cut any wires.
In the past the fix has been a larger stronger charging system. Now there are better options, Rather then providing more current from the charging system, make changes to the bike such that it requires less current. LED bulbs in both the bike and the sidecar will reduce loads caused by the brake lights to less then it was with out the sidecar, You can also go to an HID light bulb in your head light, Much brighter and less power draw. I would not bother with changing out turn signals as they are seldom on and there are issues with flashers when you go to LED turn signals.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
jay@dmcsidecars.com
As stated above, I had the same problem with my FLHTCU with factory sidecar. In fact when I applied the brake it would cancel the right turn signal which has the extra two lights. I switched the brake/tail lights to LED's. Problem solved.
