| Author | Message | ||
     Catabler |
For our safety, is anyone using a headlight modulator? If so, what kind, how much, do you like it, ease of installation and all that kinda stuff? | ||
| Court |
I use one on my KLR. I can look at find the brand if you need. HINT: Always carry, with you on the bike, the letter from the Feds indicating that modulating headlights on a motorcycle are legal. Court | ||
| Hardluckxb |
ya'll mind if i ask what the hell a headlight modulator is? | ||
| Chainsaw |
makes your headlight "blink". High-low, high-low... | ||
| Mikej |
Some modulate the voltage from dim to bright, modulation. | ||
| Johnnyxb9 |
Be careful if you have a XBS because your headlights will flash left and right and i know in NY state you WILL be stopped and ticketed. | ||
| Court |
Please leave Road Thing out of this conversation.... >>>i know in NY state you WILL be stopped and ticketed. That is an accurate statement.  | ||
| Freyke |
how about a modulating tail/brake light... is there a federal get out of jail free card for this? kk//kef | ||
| Freyke |
I answered my own question... here is the law below.... S7.9 Motorcycles. Each motorcycle shall be equipped with a headlighting system designed to conform to the following requirements. S7.9.1 A motorcycle manufactured before September 1, 2000, may be equipped with-- (a) A headlighting system designed to conform to SAE Standard J584 Motorcycle Headlamps April 1964, or to SAE Standard J584 April 1964 with the photometric specifications of Figure 32 and the upper beam aimability specifications of paragraph S7.9.3; or (b) One half of any headlighting system specified in S7.1 through S7.6 which provides both a full upper beam and full lower beam. Where more than one lamp must be used, the lamps shall be mounted vertically, with the lower beam as high as practicable. S7.9.2 A motorcycle manufactured on or after September 1, 2000, shall be equipped with-- (a) A headlighting system designed to conform to SAE Standard J584 Motorcycle Headlamps April 1964 with the photometric specifications of Figure 32 and the upper beam aimability specifications of paragraph S7.9.3; or (b) A headlighting system that conforms to S7.9.1(b). S7.9.3 The upper beam of a multiple beam headlamp designed to conform to the photometric requirements of Figure 32 shall be aimed photoelectrically during the photometric test in the manner prescribed in SAE Standard J584 OCT93 Motorcycle Headlamps. S7.9.4 Motorcycle headlamp modulation system. S7.9.4.1 A headlamp on a motorcycle may be wired to modulate either the upper beam or the lower beam from its maximum intensity to a lesser intensity, provided that: [[Page 264]] (a) The rate of modulation shall be 240 [plusmn]40 cycles per minute. (b) The headlamp shall be operated at maximum power for 50 to 70 percent of each cycle. (c) The lowest intensity at any test point shall be not less than 17 percent of the maximum intensity measured at the same point. (d) The modulator switch shall be wired in the power lead of the beam filament being modulated and not in the ground side of the circuit. (e) Means shall be provided so that both the lower beam and upper beam remain operable in the event of a modulator failure. (f) The system shall include a sensor mounted with the axis of its sensing element perpendicular to a horizontal plane. Headlamp modulation shall cease whenever the level of light emitted by a tungsten filament light operating at 3000[deg] Kelvin is either less than 270 lux (25 foot-candles) of direct light for upward pointing sensors or less than 60 lux (5.6 foot-candles) of reflected light for downward pointing sensors. The light is measured by a silicon cell type light meter that is located at the sensor and pointing in the same direction as the sensor. A Kodak Gray Card (Kodak R-27) is placed at ground level to simulate the road surface in testing downward pointing sensors. (g) When tested in accordance with the test profile shown in Figure 9, the voltage drop across the modulator when the lamp is on at all test conditions for 12 volt systems and 6 volt systems shall not be greater than .45 volt. The modulator shall meet all the provisions of the standard after completion of the test profile shown in Figure 9. (h) Means shall be provided so that both the lower and upper beam function at design voltage when the headlamp control switch is in either the lower or upper beam position when the modulator is off. S7.9.4.2(a) Each motorcycle headlamp modulator not intended as original equipment, or its container, shall be labeled with the maximum wattage, and the minimum wattage appropriate for its use. Additionally, each such modulator shall comply with S7.9.4.1 (a) through (g) when connected to a headlamp of the maximum rated power and a headlamp of the minimum rated power, and shall provide means so that the modulated beam functions at design voltage when the modulator is off. (b) Instructions, with a diagram, shall be provided for mounting the light sensor including location on the motorcycle, distance above the road surface, and orientation with respect to the light. S7.9.5 Each replaceable bulb headlamp that is designed to meet the photometric requirements of paragraph S7.9.1(a) or paragraph S7.9.2(a) and that is equipped with a light source other than a replaceable light source meeting the requirements of paragraph S7.7, shall have the word ``motorcycle'' permanently marked on the lens in characters not less than 0.114 in. (3 mm) in height. S7.9.6 A headlamp system shall be installed on a motorcycle in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph. S7.9.6.1 The headlamp system shall be located on the front of the motorcycle. S7.9.6.2 (a) If the system consists of a single headlamp, it shall be mounted on the vertical centerline of the motorcycle. If the headlamp contains more than one light source, each light source shall be mounted on the vertical centerline with the upper beam no higher than the lower beam, or horizontally disposed about the vertical centerline and mounted at the same height. If the light sources are horizontally disposed about the vertical centerline, the distance between the closest edges of the effective projected luminous lens area in front of the light sources shall not be greater than 200 mm (8 in.). (b) If the system consists of two headlamps, each of which provides both an upper and lower beam, the headlamps shall be mounted either at the same height and symmetrically disposed about the vertical centerline or mounted on the vertical centerline. If the headlamps are horizontally disposed about the vertical centerline, the distance between the closest edges of their effective projected luminous lens areas shall not be greater than 200 mm (8 in.). [[Page 265]] (c) If the system consists of two headlamps, one of which provides an upper beam and one of which provides the lower beam, the headlamps shall be located on the vertical centerline with the upper beam no higher than the lower beam, or horizontally disposed about the vertical centerline and mounted at the same height. If the headlamps are horizontally disposed about the vertical centerline, the distance between the closest edges of their effective projected luminous lens areas shall not be greater than 200 mm (8 in.). kk//kef | ||
| Fahren |
I am now installing a Kriss "Illuminator" model modulator. It is made for bikes w/ lights set up like an xb: one on at a time. It is supposed to run w/ both lamps on "low" w/ the low beam switch, then low on the low and modulating the high when you flip to the high beam; then they both run at night - low on low, high on high (modulators are illegal at night). Apparently, it is supposed to lower the current on the high beam so it works well for low beam day operation. It was pricy, but I wanted to have 2 lights always on, and be able to modulate as well, when desired. I know this is an old thread, but I'll post to let anyone who is interested know how it works. Here is the link to Kriss website, Illuminator model: http://www.kriss.com/h7illuminator_mod.php |
