I've noticed on occasion, sidecars with what appears to be, Rally Lights on the front end of the sidecar. I've also noticed what appears to be regular head lamps used to replace add on side lamps on the motorcycles forks. Wouldn't this many large lamps lit up at the same time, be to much of a draw on the charging system and/or drain on the battery, for say a 81 Goldwing GL1100 I?
Is their any legal requirements on how many and what type of head lamps, Aux. Lamps and/or Rally Lights, one can hang on a motorcycle and sidecar or lit up at the same time?
Your auxiliary lighting capability is limited to your charging system's output. Most systems can be upgraded if desired (enough).
You might check with tne Nevada MVD for any lighting limitations. Different states have different rules. Not all local regulations are compatible with the USDOT guidelines.
Lonnie
I am looking at installing an Automobile Alternator discussed at length, on another Web site. It would be used to charge an Aux battery, that I plan to add, not only to run such things as Aux lights, but also to run specialized equiptment, for health and safety reasons.
Having seen these Aux lights on other rigs, I was curious as to how they powered them, when the total draw from them may be to much for an exsisting charging system and they don't appear to have modified their system to do it?
Can an LED aray put out enough light to act as an Aux. and/or Rally light?
Jim
I have a GL1100 with an EML conversion. I also did the 750 watt alternator upgrade. For lights, I use a pair of 100 watt 12v airplane landing lights, mounted to the top shock bolt of the leading link fork.
I augment my low beams with a pair of Hella FF550 fog pattern lights. One is mounted to the LH crash bar, and the second to the RH side of the hack.
I use relays and toggle switches, and when I toggle on the Hella's they are on all the time. When I toggle on the second switch for the landing lights, the landing lights come on and the Hella's turn off when I switch the handlebar dimmer to high. Switch the handlebar dimmer switch to low, and the landing lights turn off and the Hella's go on.
I don't have a second battery. The alternator keeps the bike battery charged, and when using the high wattage lights, it still has plenty of wattage to run the lights plus my electric jacket and pants. I've had this set up for two years now, and it works very nicely.
I want to add, my 100 watt lights are illegal throughout the US and Canada. I use them with this fact in mind, and I dim them right away for oncoming and following traffic. Being able to operate them with the handlebar dimmer switch is important to this strategy. They're great for seeing critters on the side of the road.
