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Display Mesage #112288


LED conversion notes
Written by scott.butler51 on 4/17/2012 at 06:28 pm

I too replaced all the incandescent bulbs on my '89 to LED a couple of months
ago. I had done a project like this on another bike, so I knew to use the
inverted colored type for the colored lenses in the instrument panel and for the
backlighting. The inverted lens spreads the light out more like the stock
incandescent bulbs and lights the instrument more evenly.

I chose to use the load resistors on all four of the turn signal bulbs to be
able to keep the proper blink speed and operation of the sef-cancelling turn
signals. The units operate perfectly and will shut off like stock at the
correct distance and time. Since the turnsignal bulbs only operate
intermittently, the current draw is still reduced from stock. This way the
stock wire harness is only slightly modified by adding the resitors in parallel
with each buld. The reistors are rated for 20W and are 6 ohms. They don't heat
up during operation and are pretty small and easy to mount near each turn signal
location.

I also installed a HID bi-xenon bulb in the headlight along with additonal white
LED's on each side. The white LED's are used with two LED running lights under
the chin to act as Daytime running lights. The HID and LED running lights are
controled by two pushbuttons on the right handlebar. The HID light is
controlled through a latching relay so it shuts the HID headlight off when the
key is off and has to be started again after the bike is running. This keeps
the HID from comming on during start-up. I mounted two blue LED's next to the
pushbuttons to let me know when the LED and HID were activated.

I added two additional LED bulbs (red) and sockets to the center rear taillight.
These are energized when the brake is pressed. The result is a complete brake
light all the way across the rear of the bike. The stock rear wing on the bike
was modified to accept a sealed LED red strip light and a clear prism plastic
lens to make a higher "third" brake light. This really draws the attention of
following motorists when I ride in traffic. With the LED strip and lens mounted
flush to the rear edge of the wing, the effect looks very stock and not grafted
on.

When I added the votlmeter and oilpressure gauges to the speaker locations, I
used blue inverted lens LED's to keep the dash lighting the same blue when I
ride at night.

With the exception of the load resistors and the lights added where none
existed, the wiring harness is still in stock conditon. All connections were
treated with dielectric grease for protection and all splices were carefully
soldered where required or tied in with quality connectors to ease later
disassembly.

--- In ipcrc@yahoogroups.com, "douglasvanb" <douglas.vanbossuyt@...> wrote:
>
> Coasters,
>
> I finished up the LED conversion on my bike this weekend. Here are a few
notes on the conversion:
http://www.douglasvanbossuyt.com/2012/04/16/pc800-full-led-conversion/
>
> Even with all the hassle of figuring out the conversion, I would do it again.
I like the results. In the future I would like to upgrade to full LED inlays
like what you see in new cars and some motorcycles. I think it would look very
nice on the PC800 and make it look more updated.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Douglas
>

Message Thread for message #112288