DRL LED

[Speedy1959]

Hi All,

I have bought some LED DRL's.
They are rated at only 3 watts each..
I plan to use 2 small Stainless Steel "L" Brackets on the top fixing of the oil cooler cover..
My plan is to wire into the Positive spade connector of the horn wires.. Its very convenient that there are 2 horns and that they are about 6" from where I plan to mount the DRL's.

I thought the horn wire would be fine because:
A: The horns are hardly ever active (in my case)..
B: The positive is ignition controlled and so they wont be on till the bike is running.
C: As mentioned they only draw 3 watts each.

Is there any errors to my way of thinking?

You may ask why I want to do this...
I saw another GSX with this set up.. In fact I spotted it coming towards me from about 500yards !
The novelty of dizzy GITS pulling out on me is starting to wear off, so I thought its a relatively cheap way to be noticed..
The LED's I have bought can be seen on the link below..( I modified the link because I realized the new link is to the DRL's I actually bought!).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Projector-DRL-Daytime-Running-LED-Projector-Fog-Lights-Motorcycle-Motorbike-Quad/162607571095?hash=item25dc2aa097:g:Jr4AAOSwp1dZelMA


S.

[Kiwifruit]

No idea about the wiring side but l think thats a great idea. Anything to be more visible 

[Notty]

looks great idea to me Simon ! go for it and let us have a review and some pics - oh you won't need the horns anyway with those on !! 

[gsxbarmy]

Good idea on the DRL's - I had a pair of spots mounted there roughly but off my horn brackets (as I moved the horn).

A couple of builds / suggestions

- before making any brackets off the top mounting of the oil cooler check whether the forks would "hit"on full lock. They get surprisingly close........
- maybe consider a single bar going across bent at the ends rather than 2 L brackets?
- before making anything check that you have an Earth off the bracketing you intend to use and placing of same. Stainless is not the best in my experience for a decent earth. In fact check connectivity before making any brackets (read I've made assumptions in the past!)

That aside - this could be useful for others. If you could document the fitting with appropriate pictures when it's all done Simon, that would be appreciated!

[grog]

Great idea. Got me thinking now.

[Speedy1959]

Thanks everyone for your input..

Dave thats a thought about checking the clearance of the forks..
I could reverse the "L" bracket if it comes to it..
The "L" brackets I have ordered are classed as 30mm ones.
The brackets I have ordered are below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HSeaMall-Stainless-Bracket-Corner-Fastener/dp/B075M8G5QT/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1508987263&sr=8-4&keywords=30mm+stainless+steel+corner+bracket

The bike I saw coming the other way was heading towards a local Bike meetup that I was leaving..
The brightness of his DRL's prompted me to turn around and go for a closer look.
He said they were on his GSX when he bought it and that other bikers regularly comment on how bright they are even in sunlight !!
Dave, as a matter of interest where did you relocate your horns to?

I will take some before and after photos (Hopefully this weekend) when I fit the added DRL's.
There are many different designs on eBay but I particularly like the ones I gave to link to because they have a threaded (M6) fitment which lends itself to "L" bracket fitment perfectly (or indeed a flat bar).
I opted for stainless "L" brackets (also known as Corner Brackets) because its not unknown for rain in the UK

If you want even smaller DRL's (but these would need gluing then have a look at these...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bright-Micro-Small-LED-Fog-Daytime-Running-Lights-DRL-for-Motorbike-Motorcycle/122755172308?epid=1381233867&hash=item1c94c747d4:g:TcMAAOSwg89Z4uHE

For my Ozzy / New Zealand friends..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Super-Bright-Micro-12v-Motorcycle-Motorbike-LED-Mini-DRL-Marker-Lights/172583978479?hash=item282ece85ef:g:IuEAAOSwSlBYw3Lp

But as I say you would need to glue these..

One thing to point out is that the wires to the DRL's are incredibly thin !!
I "tinned" mine last night ready for the fitment at the weekend. I suggest you do the same.

[Kiwifruit]

I have something very similar to the tiny ones. Just havnt fitted them yet. Now i know i can use the horn wiring I shall get on with it.

[gsxbarmy]

Simon, I actually took both my horns off and replaced it with a single PIAA horn up under the headstock. To do this though you have to take off the oil cooler, make up a small bracket and fit it together with the horn up under the headstock (mainly by feel I may add). Works perfectly there and the tank gives extra resonance. Unfortunately though I don't have the specification for the bracket anymore.

Others though have moved their standard horns up behind the Headlight bowl, by making a bracket that fits across between the two front indicators and then attaching both horns there. Hides them away quite nicely actually.

[grog]

very easy i reckon. just a straight flat plate mounted behind horn. power from horn and earth at horn bracket to bike. should look good. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4X-23MM-3W-LED-Eagle-Eye-White-Daytime-Running-DRL-Light-Car-Motor-Black-Shell/191590324841?hash=item2c9bac5a69:g:dacAAOSweW5VZ-BZ

[gsxbarmy]

very easy i reckon. just a straight flat plate mounted behind horn. power from horn and earth at horn bracket to bike. should look good. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4X-23MM-3W-LED-Eagle-Eye-White-Daytime-Running-DRL-Light-Car-Motor-Black-Shell/191590324841?hash=item2c9bac5a69:g:dacAAOSweW5VZ-BZ

Only thing with taking both power and earth from horn is - I'm really not sure what would happen when you press the horn button. You'd need to check. In fact I think if you do that the light will only work when the horn button is pressed. Might be wrong, but better to check first. I vaguely remember doing similar for when trying to wire running lights on mine previously.

My preference would be to run a power cable down from the sidelight bulb, either the front or rear, take your choice for which is easier. You could also put an in-line 1 amp fuse then to protect the circuit.

[taximan]

I had a similar idea but my plan was to replace the horn brackets for longer ones. Not done exact measurements and I don't want them sticking out too far, so my thinking was:

Approx 30mm longer horn bracket.
The horn can then be moved towards the inside approx 25mm.
Led light can then be mounted on the outer of the bracket with couple of mm space from the horn.
Finished, the outside of light wont be much further out than where original outside of horn was.

IMO should be a nice location for the led light and not interfering with anything. BTW I have hel oil cooler but think it would be the same for standard cooler.

[grog]

had a measure up just before, a look from front, put a bit of reflective tape just outside horn, shone torch. well wide enough to see. will measure strap req. tomorrow. power from horn positive, earth at horn strap to bike, will work perfectly. already fused. only drawing 6 watt/1/2 amp. total. hardly any wire needed, thin wire on lights they say, some solder will fix that to an eye for earth, and spade to power. piggy back needed onto horn, i have some of those. job done. those little led have a 120 degree light shine, should light up front of bike. great idea Speedy. impressed. 

[Speedy1959]

Only thing with taking both power and earth from horn is - I'm really not sure what would happen when you press the horn button. You'd need to check. In fact I think if you do that the light will only work when the horn button is pressed. Might be wrong, but better to check first. I vaguely remember doing similar for when trying to wire running lights on mine previously.

My preference would be to run a power cable down from the sidelight bulb, either the front or rear, take your choice for which is easier. You could also put an in-line 1 amp fuse then to protect the circuit.

Dave,
I tested the power to the horn and it is live all the time the ignition is on.
Looks like they use the earth to switch the horn on.

S.

[grog]

bought 4 eagle eyes, same as yours speedy. have sourced some brackets, old mud flap brackets actually. just wait for delivery now. 4 lights cost 12 bucks oz, from oz which amazed me.