HID startup delay relay

[ScottyUK]

http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php

I'm planning on buying one so that when I turn the ignition on the HID doesn't fire up until the engine's running. This will obviously help the battery and also protect the HID from "hot restrike". If you have a bike with the headlight switch then there's no need ... unless you leave it in the on position.

There's no group buy discount (unless 10 or more are ordered) so the cost is $25 plus shipping at about $3 each.

Installation seems straight forward using the normaly headlight wiring and installing it in-line with the circuit.

Can anyone see a downside to this or have you found something better?

 

[petewalker]

I like the idea Paul, I had a light switch on my 2002 Bird and the lack on switch on my new one is a pain. Let me know how you get on.

 

[Jaws]

righhhttttttttttttttttttttt..
Why not spend about ?20 and just fit a proper switch off of an earlier Bird ? Straight plug in jobby and no fiddling about at all

 

[ScottyUK]

I did ponder that and thought it may come up as a suggestion in this thread. I'm surprised that they're that cheap to be honest. I was expecting at least double that. Is that a new price?

I guess the only down side is you have to remember to flick the switch.

 

[Jaws]

Dunno what a new price is ! About a hundred quid at a guess !!!!

 

[noobie]

Something similar to this on a certian auction site ? 200617257458

 

[Jaws]

Spot on @tu*

 

[petewalker]

I did look for a second hand set of switch geat on Fleabay and didnt find anything at the time for a priced I wanted to pay. Will keep my eyes open but like Paul I am used to the idea of the lights always being on as my car is the same now and I am bound to forget to turn them on.


The guy who bought my 02 Bird had only owned one bike before and it was a new one with no light switch. He phoned me about an hour after he'd bought it on his way back home telling me the lights had failed. When I asked him if he'd turned them on, he didn't seem to know what I was talking about. After I guided him to put his right thumb on the switch he said ' Ah thats it' and rang over very quickly. When I bought my XX6 Bird I noticed the lack of light switch and suddenly realised why he was so confused.

 

[Jaws]

Me, I always have used a light switch.. Even when I briefly had an 05 one I fitted a switch from my stock..

 

[ScottyUK]

I'm surprised it's plug and play. I didn't expect the lighting cables to still go via the bars on that side. Do you have to run them from somewhere or is the loom there?

....still not decided which way to go ....

 

[Duck n Dive]

I'm surprised it's plug and play. .

I'm guessing .. but I bet Honda took the cheap 'n easy route to eliminate the switch by simply bridging the contacts in either the plug into the wriing harness or the switch itself.

That way replacing the the switch from the plug back to bars puts everything back to how it was designed.

:dunno:

 

[Jaws]

They really are plug and play.. Simply unplug the existing unit and plug in the new..
The sceptics found the solution first donkeys years ago !

 

[noobie]

I did look for a second hand set of switch geat on Fleabay and didnt find anything at the time for a priced I wanted to pay. .

?14.99 200617257458 hello

 

[ScottyUK]

They really are plug and play.. Simply unplug the existing unit and plug in the new..
The sceptics found the solution first donkeys years ago !

Is that sceptic as in "septic tank" ? :-0)

 

[Jaws]

yes mate ... @tu*

 

[ScottyUK]

I was in contact with an experienced "septic" last week and he reckons replacing the switches is doable without removing the tank/airbox etc as you can get enough slack on the throttle cables from the adjusters.

Based on that I've just bought an old carb RH switch off ebay.

Once installed, if I find that that I forget the light or I'm just not happy with it then I'll go back to the time delay relay.

Cheers for the comments above. @tu*

 

[The_Ormston]

That's not fair.
I've been trying to find a time delay relay for just this. I've even got a qualification some where that says I should know how to make one.

I like the idea of the bike sorting itself out, so the relay is the best solution for me. I had looked at retro-fitting a light switch, but that was to give me a switch for something else.

I'll keep looking.

Chris

 

[ScottyUK]

I'm confused : why do you need to keep looking?

If you want the delay then the one I linked to seems to be the smallest and seems great for the job?

 

[Saffie]

I've even got a qualification some where that says I should know how to make one.

Just racked my brains and remembered I got that qualification as well.

List of parts needed:

Relay
4011 Nand gate Ic
1 cap 1 resistor (values depending on type of timing delay you want or go for variables)
1n914 diode and a piece of breakboard

so cost is really cheap!

 

[The_Ormston]

Very neat.

Reason for looking is as Saffie has done. I should know how to do this for peanuts. Yes the link is a good supplier and is designed to do the job, but there is a bit of me that thinks I should be making this, not buying one.

The best solution I had found to date used two transistors, with the same RC set up to fire the relay. I like the idea of using logic gates, my only question is, can they sink the current continuously?

Chris

Now wondering if he has any bread board left in the garage.