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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: pomme123 on April 20, 2014, 05:59:51 AM

Title: LED Highlights
Post by: pomme123 on April 20, 2014, 05:59:51 AM
Hey guys, I'm going to try and wire in some LED strips on the inside of my frame to light up the engine and rear wheel when I'm riding. i was wondering if you could help me with the wiring (I want the LEDS to turn off if i turn the ignition off) and if any of you know where i can find a switch that would fit the blank area on the right had control box that would be great too.

Thanks

Pomme
Title: Re: LED Highlights
Post by: radodrill on April 20, 2014, 06:30:46 AM
Something like this?
(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o34/radodrill/GS500F/GS500F%20Mod%20Project/063-Darklights.jpg) (http://s116.photobucket.com/user/radodrill/media/GS500F/GS500F%20Mod%20Project/063-Darklights.jpg.html)

I pulled the power off of the front marker light and wired in a switch that I taped to the side of the inner upper cowl.
Title: Re: LED Highlights
Post by: pomme123 on April 20, 2014, 01:10:34 PM
Cool. Do you have any photos of where you spliced in.


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Title: Re: LED Highlights
Post by: radodrill on April 20, 2014, 09:06:53 PM
Quote from: pomme123 on April 20, 2014, 01:10:34 PM
Cool. Do you have any photos of where you spliced in.

Unfortunately I do not have any detailed pics of the wiring harness I made for the LEDs etc.  I basically removed the pigtail for the marker light (under the headlight) and spliced into the wires between the rubber boot and the bulb socket.  I did it this way to keep the changes to the original wiring harness as minimal as possible.  If you want to see more pics, check out my mod log (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=66390.0)
Title: Re: LED Highlights
Post by: pomme123 on April 21, 2014, 04:17:23 AM
Thats cool mate, shouldn't be too hard, i just freak out on anything electrical, haha. Ive got myself some positaps coming in to make the splice, I'm wondering when you did yours, where did you splice the output too at the end, was it just to a ground cable? also do you need to put the switch anywhere specific in the circuit (i.e. before the LED strips) or can it go anywhere? thanks for your help

Title: Re: LED Highlights
Post by: radodrill on April 21, 2014, 08:55:46 AM
I pulled both the positive and neutral from the wires to the marker light; I actually used 3 conductor wire so I could have always hot and switched power available where I put LEDs.  As for the switches, it's good practice to wire them into the positive supply, but it'll also work with a switch on the neutral.

BTW, I didn't use any scotch-locks etc to splice; I soldered most everything and used a few crimp on connectors.
Title: Re: LED Highlights
Post by: AnonRider on April 21, 2014, 09:17:26 AM
a lot of times these things are actually illegal to run while riding, check your local laws. it's pretty much illegal to have these on while riding in every US state- which is why i went against putting them in.
Title: Re: LED Highlights
Post by: radodrill on April 21, 2014, 09:39:13 AM
Quote from: AnonRider on April 21, 2014, 09:17:26 AM
a lot of times these things are actually illegal to run while riding, check your local laws. it's pretty much illegal to have these on while riding in every US state- which is why i went against putting them in.

It also depends a lot on the color; some states (e.g. WV) permit underglows as long as they're white or amber.
Title: Re: LED Highlights
Post by: pomme123 on April 22, 2014, 06:22:01 PM
Ok so just to confirm. I run pos from brown wire heading to headlight. The switch straight off that. Then I run negative to a black white wire.


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Title: Re: LED Highlights
Post by: radodrill on April 22, 2014, 06:31:25 PM
Quote from: pomme123 on April 22, 2014, 06:22:01 PM
Ok so just to confirm. I run pos from brown wire heading to headlight. The switch straight off that. Then I run negative to a black white wire.

Yes

The brown wire is the marker light, which gets power when the ignition is on or in the park mode.  Tap into that and connect to one side of your switch; the other side of the switch goes to LED+ and the LED- goes to the B/W wire (black with white stripe).