Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: SPAZ on November 21, 2015, 06:34:25 PM

Title: turning off headlight
Post by: SPAZ on November 21, 2015, 06:34:25 PM
Hey, I have a '94 m900 and I'm curious if there is a way to turn my headlight off during the day?
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: koko64 on November 21, 2015, 08:57:42 PM
Order the Euro M900 switch block or that off some Honda VFR400/NC30 from Honda parts vendors. The Ducati version is plug n play. Iirc forum sponsors recently had some Euro switches available.
The Honda is the same part and you can mix parts to get lights on off function if you keep the same wiring. The connectors are the only difference to change if you dont want to mess with the block parts.

My buddy has a separate on/off toggle switch in line to the headlight wires on his Supersport, but it depends on where you can locate it.
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: Howie on November 21, 2015, 09:06:00 PM
You can buy a European switch or one of these   https://ca-cycleworks.com/products/electrical/k-s-offroad-hand-switch-w-light-shut-off  or add a toggle switch capable of handling 10 amps in line series with the wire to the bulb.  More elaborate would be to use a relay.

Other than more available power for staring (not much) why would you want to do this?  Headlight on during the day increases safety.
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: insydney on January 03, 2016, 06:24:56 PM
i have had a cpl of times during winter when my battery wasn't a it's best when i would have loved the option of killing the headlights on cold starts. so this mod would be useful.  one day i was left very embarassed after having wriggled to the front of a qeue at a set of lights only to have the engine die on me and not enough batter left to turn it over, i felt such a wanker having to push it to the side of the road :(
sadly the slipper clutch doesnt make a bump start at all easy

so would this honda part part be compatible with an s2r as well ?
i did think of sticking an on/off switch in series to achieve this but didn't get around to it, finding a suitable place was not easy iirc
i ended up buying a trickle charger which seems to help
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: koko64 on January 03, 2016, 08:02:17 PM
You need the Euro version of the switch.
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: tbyte on January 04, 2016, 12:51:12 PM
You could just pull the fuses to headlight and signals.
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: koko64 on January 04, 2016, 01:10:43 PM
Gday Sydney. [beer]
The Honda block I mentioned is identical to the carbed M900 switch block. I dont know if the wiring matches. If you're handy you could rearrange the wiring to suit. That is an option with the older switch block style too ir the CCW switch block.
An easy but expensive option is the S2R Euro switch block. Plug and play. The cheapest option besides pulling a fuse is an in line toggle switch.
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: insydney on January 04, 2016, 08:06:13 PM
sadly although i can understand and manage most spanner stuff i'm no sparkie... :(
so i need a good step by step instructional    lol   this may have to go on the 'to do' list until i can get my head around it

my faithful TL1000s has the same annoying characteristic, ie continuously on headlamps even during starting, which often leaves me looking for a suitable incline :(

Title: Re:
Post by: Raux on January 05, 2016, 04:34:28 AM
Theres a uk switch for sale on ebay $95
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: DarkMonster620 on January 07, 2016, 03:45:04 AM
maybe this, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-7-8-Handlebar-Horn-Turn-Signal-Electric-Start-Switch-For-Suzuki-12V/281796035129?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D333008%26algo%3DRIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131231133846%26meid%3D169c1ae2c79c4a7e89fb986f7990f376%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D17%26sd%3D251374121997 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-7-8-Handlebar-Horn-Turn-Signal-Electric-Start-Switch-For-Suzuki-12V/281796035129?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D333008%26algo%3DRIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131231133846%26meid%3D169c1ae2c79c4a7e89fb986f7990f376%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D17%26sd%3D251374121997)
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: battlecry on January 07, 2016, 05:44:04 AM
There used to be a product called Headlight Gizmo by a company called RPR Systems.  It was a latching relay that connected to the headlamp circuit and the neutral (gear) wire.   When you turn the bike on with the transmission in neutral, the power to the headlamp is cut off, you only have the parking light on (if you wired it like that).  You can then start the engine and once you shift out of neutral, the relay latches on and the headlamp is on until the bike is powered down.  Clever. 

For the Monster, you need some minor surgery on the harness to tap into the neutral light wire and solder in a diode to cut some current leakage so the neutral light works normally.

I have one and it works well (11 years and running).  Tried to look for a link for the OP but either my google-fu is weak or RPR is not selling these anymore. 
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: insydney on January 07, 2016, 07:43:52 PM
Quote from: battlecry on January 07, 2016, 05:44:04 AM
There used to be a product called Headlight Gizmo by a company called RPR Systems.  It was a latching relay that connected to the headlamp circuit and the neutral (gear) wire.   When you turn the bike on with the transmission in neutral, the power to the headlamp is cut off, you only have the parking light on (if you wired it like that).  You can then start the engine and once you shift out of neutral, the relay latches on and the headlamp is on until the bike is powered down.  Clever. 



this sounds ideal...   any luck in finding this gadjet ?
Title: Re: turning off headlight
Post by: battlecry on January 08, 2016, 08:51:44 AM
Unfortunately no.  However, if my unit fails, I will probably replace it with a normally closed relay triggered to open with the starter solenoid signal.  That way, the headlamp will cut off when you hit the starter button, and hopefully, if the relay fails, it will fail with the headlamp on.