Post by Bluefront on Nov 15, 2009 10:36:47 GMT -5
This would be easier if I had the correct wiring diagram for this Eagle Sporty...but I don't. But no matter.
This scooter has dim headlights when the engine is idling, and at an idle they also pulse. Apparently other scooters have this problem. The headlights come on only when the engine is running......that's the clue. The problem.....the headlights are never powered through the battery. Instead they are powered by the un-rectified output of the stator (I think that's the correct term). The proof....the headlights are running off an AC voltage, not a DC voltage from the battery. Check out this photo...
In the photo, the scooter is idling with the low beams on. The volt meter on the right shows battery voltage. The VOM on the left is showing the voltage to the low beams......note the selector on the VOM is on AC voltage. It will not register if it's set to DC. If you rev up the engine, the AC voltage goes up to about 12V, and the headlights are bright.
Here's my proposed fix.....run the headlights off the battery circuit. I'll find the input wire to the hi/lo beam switch, and using an automotive relay, power it when the ignition is on, by DC battery voltage. That will solve the dim/pulsing problem.
The down-side.....the lights will turn on when the ignition is on (I could add an on/off switch I suppose). And I'm not sure if the charging system can handle the slightly extra load. I'll have to think about this for a while....I'd appreciate any ideas on this matter. I wasn't able to find anything using the "search". That dim headlight thing bothers me. The tail light is running on DC from the battery.....it never dims. I'd like the headlights to perform the same.
This scooter has dim headlights when the engine is idling, and at an idle they also pulse. Apparently other scooters have this problem. The headlights come on only when the engine is running......that's the clue. The problem.....the headlights are never powered through the battery. Instead they are powered by the un-rectified output of the stator (I think that's the correct term). The proof....the headlights are running off an AC voltage, not a DC voltage from the battery. Check out this photo...
In the photo, the scooter is idling with the low beams on. The volt meter on the right shows battery voltage. The VOM on the left is showing the voltage to the low beams......note the selector on the VOM is on AC voltage. It will not register if it's set to DC. If you rev up the engine, the AC voltage goes up to about 12V, and the headlights are bright.
Here's my proposed fix.....run the headlights off the battery circuit. I'll find the input wire to the hi/lo beam switch, and using an automotive relay, power it when the ignition is on, by DC battery voltage. That will solve the dim/pulsing problem.
The down-side.....the lights will turn on when the ignition is on (I could add an on/off switch I suppose). And I'm not sure if the charging system can handle the slightly extra load. I'll have to think about this for a while....I'd appreciate any ideas on this matter. I wasn't able to find anything using the "search". That dim headlight thing bothers me. The tail light is running on DC from the battery.....it never dims. I'd like the headlights to perform the same.