Newbie Question: High Beam/Low Beam

[MeezerMan]

Total and absolute newbie alert!

I'm putting an old motorcycle back on the road and to pass inspection
it must have both high and low beams. The original light that was
there had a ground an two positives. Dual filament, maybe? I think it
was 65 watts if memory serves. Now I have an automotive fog lamp in
there and it works very well but I only have a high beam. Single
filimanet bulb? So, I wonder if there's a way to give both high and
low with this lamp?

 

[DJ Doc]

| Total and absolute newbie alert!
|
| I'm putting an old motorcycle back on the road and to pass inspection
| it must have both high and low beams. The original light that was
| there had a ground an two positives. Dual filament, maybe? I think it
| was 65 watts if memory serves. Now I have an automotive fog lamp in
| there and it works very well but I only have a high beam. Single
| filimanet bulb? So, I wonder if there's a way to give both high and
| low with this lamp?

No !

In addition to the two filaments having different wattage, the focal points
are not the same.

 

[John G]

Total and absolute newbie alert!

I'm putting an old motorcycle back on the road and to pass inspection
it must have both high and low beams. The original light that was
there had a ground an two positives. Dual filament, maybe? I think it
was 65 watts if memory serves. Now I have an automotive fog lamp in
there and it works very well but I only have a high beam. Single
filimanet bulb? So, I wonder if there's a way to give both high and
low with this lamp?

Depends on the structure of the reflector.

Earlier car and M/C lamps were sealed beam and had the 3 connections as
you mention. If you can find one that fits you are in bussiness.
Later lamps take a bulb with the filaments offset as suggested and again
have 3 connections.

Describe your lamp size better and ask in rec.autos.tech or post a
picture somewhere.

 

[Rich Grise]

Total and absolute newbie alert!

I'm putting an old motorcycle back on the road and to pass inspection
it must have both high and low beams. The original light that was
there had a ground an two positives. Dual filament, maybe? I think it
was 65 watts if memory serves. Now I have an automotive fog lamp in
there and it works very well but I only have a high beam. Single
filimanet bulb? So, I wonder if there's a way to give both high and
low with this lamp?

Not that would pass inspection.

Bite the bullet, and get a proper motorcycle headlight.

Sorry,
Rich

 

[DJ Doc]

| MeezerMan wrote:
| > Total and absolute newbie alert!
| >
| > I'm putting an old motorcycle back on the road and to pass inspection
| > it must have both high and low beams. The original light that was
| > there had a ground an two positives. Dual filament, maybe? I think it
| > was 65 watts if memory serves. Now I have an automotive fog lamp in
| > there and it works very well but I only have a high beam. Single
| > filimanet bulb? So, I wonder if there's a way to give both high and
| > low with this lamp?
| since you already have the wire for both levels you can
| simply use a string of diodes rated for the lamp in series
| to reduce the drive from the low beam wire to the lamp and
| have the high been wire simply connect directly to the lamp which
| will by pass the low line.
| each diode will drop your voltage about 0.6 volts.
| etc.
|

That would not pass the inspection.

The High beam is focused higher than the low beam, and very often they are
the same wattage.

 

[Peter Bennett]

since you already have the wire for both levels you can
simply use a string of diodes rated for the lamp in series
to reduce the drive from the low beam wire to the lamp and
have the high been wire simply connect directly to the lamp which
will by pass the low line.
each diode will drop your voltage about 0.6 volts.
etc.

No - this is not an acceptable solution.

Low beam and High beam headlight have different "aims" or beam shape -
not just (or not necessarily) different intensities.



--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

 

[Jamie]

Total and absolute newbie alert!

I'm putting an old motorcycle back on the road and to pass inspection
it must have both high and low beams. The original light that was
there had a ground an two positives. Dual filament, maybe? I think it
was 65 watts if memory serves. Now I have an automotive fog lamp in
there and it works very well but I only have a high beam. Single
filimanet bulb? So, I wonder if there's a way to give both high and
low with this lamp?

since you already have the wire for both levels you can
simply use a string of diodes rated for the lamp in series
to reduce the drive from the low beam wire to the lamp and
have the high been wire simply connect directly to the lamp which
will by pass the low line.
each diode will drop your voltage about 0.6 volts.
etc.

 

[ehsjr]

No - this is not an acceptable solution.

Low beam and High beam headlight have different "aims" or beam shape -
not just (or not necessarily) different intensities.

Plus the light color would change - more yellow at lower
voltage.

Ed

 

[Bill]

Total and absolute newbie alert!

I'm putting an old motorcycle back on the road and to pass inspection
it must have both high and low beams. The original light that was
there had a ground an two positives. Dual filament, maybe? I think it
was 65 watts if memory serves. Now I have an automotive fog lamp in
there and it works very well but I only have a high beam. Single
filimanet bulb? So, I wonder if there's a way to give both high and
low with this lamp?

Why not fix it right so that you aren't a menace to yourself or anyone
else on the road?

-wlb