Driving light Gremlins

[Ridefree]

Hello,

I purchased $80 driving lights off Amazon as a trial.  The lights worked great for a couple of months but now one is dead and the other has low output.

I used a posi-tap on the power port behind the side storage box. The positive and negative wires are connected directly to the battery.  I have disconnected and reconnected all plugs, posi-connectors, and battery leads.  My only thought is the posi-tap behind the storage box as the wire is small.

Any thoughts?

I do like the extra protection and don't mind the look but thought these would last longer before purchasing a good set.

[digital]

I suppose a posi-tap refers to what we here call "Dracula" because when tightening with pliers it bites into the wires.

I always buy something and it comes in the bag. I throw them away. That "fails more than a shotgun from a fair." You may be making a bad connection, and it may burn out the bulbs.

The best thing, and so that you do not think that a splice is going to fail, is to solder the cables with tin and protect the splices with a heat-shrinkable sleeve.

[Coconut]

I don't understand your description of the wiring connections.

If "the positive and negative wires are connected directly to the battery",
what is connected with the "Posi-Tap" to the Power Port wiring -
is that for a Switch or perhaps a Relay ?

In any event, "Posi-Taps" are not always the most reliable for making connections,
and can sometimes result in damage to the core of the wire being connected to,
soldered connections are usually much more reliable.

However they have been wired, it may be that light units have failed -
there is a lot of rubbish from China across the Amazon & eBay market(s).



 

[Ridefree]

Hello,

Sorry, I did explain incorrectly.  I connected per the instructions from a Rider Tim video.

https://www.triumph-trophy.com/index.php/topic,8811.0.html

[digital]

From the images that I have seen in the video, I see that it has its waterproof connectors, built-in relay and switch to put those lights into operation. All very well finished from the factory, so you only have to connect positive and negative, for example, direct from battery.

So, I also don't understand what exactly has been done or happened.

[Coconut]

I watched the video and it explains that the wire connnected with the "Posi-Tap"
to the Storage Box Power Socket supply, is used to activate the Relay
for the Spotlamps, which now makes perfect sense.

If you have a Test Meter and are competent to use it, you can check the connections
at the Relay to ensure power from the "Posi-Tap" connection is reaching the Relay,
and the Relay is switching the Power through to the Spotlamps when it is activated.

Check the connections at the Plug-In connectors for the Spot lights,
to ensure that they are receiving Power AND have a good Ground connection,
and if those are both good then it is probably the Lamps themselves that have failed.

Cheers 

[Ridefree]

Thanks, I have enough knowledge to be dangerous.  I pulled it all apart last night and plan to remove it from the bike to bench test.  At least I can ride it while I troubleshoot.  I still find it odd it just quit working.  Looking back, the lights stopped working after the dealer repacked the tension and steering bearings.