Low beam out!!! ...Again

Energy One
zipsman03

zipsman03

Active Member
For the third time in a month, I have to replace my headlight bulb:confused:. I have a service call into Big Dog; hope they will have an answer for me. I ordered the HID kit from Jake; my dog don't like it as it is; it just flickers,Jakes workin it. Another strange thing is happening with the speedo, when the bike was started last night after bulb install, speedo didn't work when I started riding; all the lights came on but no movement, it initiated just fine. Shut it down, started it up again and it was fine. Looking thru the maint. manual to see if I see something on this issue.
 
T

TheDeadOne

Banned
Too many jump straight to the EHC as being the problem. And due to it's past track record, it very well may be.
It could be numerous other problems, 1st could be the charging system causing spikes (which will pop bulbs), 2nd of which is the batt., 3rd would be the headlight plug itself, etc...

Of all the bulbs that you've replaced, which element went bad, high or low?


dead :cheers:
 
T

TheDeadOne

Banned
zipsman03 said:
always the low bulb
Click to expand...
have you checked the headlight plug in the bucket?

Either the plug or another connector in that circuit is corroded, melted or just making a bad connection.

or

Sense the Low Beam is the predominant beam in use, spikes caused from the charging system could have blew the bulbs. Spikes can be caused by: Bad Batt., Bad VR, or Bad Connections coming from the charging system. The EHC can't cause spikes in voltage, but it can be switching the light circuit on and off improperly, causing current spikes due to quick voltage drops!

Hope This helps.

dead :cheers:
 
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bdmridgeback

bdmridgeback

Low Down Chop Shop
As zips and I have been discussing, it sems to show signs that the EHC is not putting out full voltage to the headlight and the HID pics it up. Before the HID was tried he bought it because he had 2 bulbs blow in a 30 day period. I say due to low voltage stress or spikes from his VR possibly. I had him put the stock bulb back in to do some more testing and a third bulb went.

Like stated above, a bad connection in line on the headlight circuit, or EHC output not good.
 
BigDogBro1

BigDogBro1

Made in the USA
Over-voltage and vibration kills lightbulbs. Normally spikes are not harmful due to a very short duration (milliseconds) unless they are extremly high voltage. Check the charging voltage at speed on the battery terminals.
 
DRBarnhart

DRBarnhart

Insert title here...
BigDogBro1 said:
Over-voltage and vibration kills lightbulbs. Normally spikes are not harmful due to a very short duration (milliseconds) unless they are extremly high voltage.
Click to expand...
:iagree:
I've never heard or seen a bulb (AC or DC) blow due to low voltage. But just the same I have questions...

1. What IS the voltage going to the bulb, specifically the low beam, at the connector? If it's less than 12V I'd find out if the EHC is to blame (what's its output?) or if there's a loose connection or a chaffed wire somewhere between the EHC and the headlight. (Considering you have a speedometer issue also I think I'd be looking under the tank.)

2. Where are you getting the bulbs? They're not "cheapies" are they? :confused:

3. When you install the bulbs are you sure the bulb is tight in the reflector and that the reflector is secure in the housing? Like BDB1 said, "...vibration kills lightbulbs." And I'll add that it kills unlit bulbs the fastest! (You use the high beam a lot of the time right?)

My :zz2cents:...

Dennis
 
BikersDream

BikersDream

We build what you Dream!
TheDeadOne said:
:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll: You're just not right Dream! :D

"Resistance" due to any reason, depending on cause, may or may not lower the voltage enough to notice a measurable difference. But resistance and various problematic causes of lower voltages cause a higher current (amperage) condition or "power surge" or "current inrush" to the supplied component. This is what blows the bulbs on 12V circuits, not "higher" voltage. The only way the system can produce high enough voltage to start blowing components, is for the voltage regulator to fail, and allow an increase in uncontrolled voltage to occur. This would cause widespread failures throughout the entire electrical system simotaniously. The purpose of the "main breaker" or "fuse", is to trip if that were to happen, saving the other electrical components!
So it has to be a "Low Voltage", "High Current Inrush" condition causing the bulbs to blow.
Now whether it's being caused by a faulty wire, connector, or the EHC is still undetermined at this point. But this is the cause of the failures, I'm positive. :2thumbs:

Hope this helps everyones understanding of Basic "e-Trisity" 101. :D...:lol::lol::lol:

dead :cheers:
Click to expand...
Really?????????

So your saying over inflation of a tire on the front wouldn’t cause too much vibration there for causing the bulb to prematurely fail?

Maybe you should come to my school for a while:2thumbs:
 
BadBrad

BadBrad

2005 Pitbull
TheDeadOne said:
:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll: You're just not right Dream! :D

"Resistance" due to any reason, depending on cause, may or may not lower the voltage enough to notice a measurable difference. But resistance and various problematic causes of lower voltages cause a higher current (amperage) condition or "power surge" or "current inrush" to the supplied component. This is what blows the bulbs on 12V circuits, not "higher" voltage. The only way the system can produce high enough voltage to start blowing components, is for the voltage regulator to fail, and allow an increase in uncontrolled voltage to occur. This would cause widespread failures throughout the entire electrical system simotaniously. The purpose of the "main breaker" or "fuse", is to trip if that were to happen, saving the other electrical components!
So it has to be a "Low Voltage", "High Current Inrush" condition causing the bulbs to blow.
Now whether it's being caused by a faulty wire, connector, or the EHC is still undetermined at this point. But this is the cause of the failures, I'm positive. :2thumbs:

Hope this helps everyones understanding of Basic "e-Trisity" 101. :D...:lol::lol::lol:

dead :cheers:
Click to expand...
To be "Dead", you know more than most living folks. :cheers:I hope that's not Elec 101. If so, I need to start back with the basics. Red is hot, Black is ground. :roll::roll:
 
BikersDream

BikersDream

We build what you Dream!
TheDeadOne said:
:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Sorry but long ago I learned to "skip" those kinds of schools! They were way too scary for me and put others in danger! :eek:...:D

The headlight bucket has a large rubber o-ring that is not only used as a weather tight seal, but as "shock mounting" for the headlight as well. :2thumbs: Read your BDM manual for installation instructions! :2thumbs:...:D

Ooops! You're a BDM dealer right?....Sorry! :lol:

I don't teach school to the illiterate or mentally challenged, but I guess I could make an exception in your case just this one time. :lol: :2thumbs:

But I might be willing to consider "rear wheel vibrations" on a hard tail.......

Naw! Just Joking!

:lol::lol::lol:

Gotta go for now, but I'll be back to see how many are seated in my classroom! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

dead :cheers:
Click to expand...
Your too much!:roll:
 
C

Chopper117

Chopper Nutt
Dam Dead, I'm in the front row with a sharp pencil and a note pad!! :2thumbs:















TheDeadOne said:
:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Sorry but long ago I learned to "skip" those kinds of schools! They were way too scary for me and put others in danger! :eek:...:D

The headlight bucket has a large rubber o-ring that is not only used as a weather tight seal, but as "shock mounting" for the headlight as well. :2thumbs: Read your BDM manual for installation instructions! :2thumbs:...:D

Ooops! You're a BDM dealer right?....Sorry! :lol:

I don't teach school to the illiterate or mentally challenged, but I guess I could make an exception in your case just this one time. :lol: :2thumbs:

But I might be willing to consider "rear wheel vibrations" on a hard tail.......

Naw! Just Joking!

:lol::lol::lol:

Gotta go for now, but I'll be back to see how many are seated in my classroom! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

dead :cheers:
Click to expand...
 
ChopperJeff

ChopperJeff

Active Member
Lower voltage causing a higher current? What ever happened to ohms law? You know, current equals the voltage divided by the resistance.
 
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