TOPIC:

my '77KZ1000B has the on/off headlight switch on the RH control. What I want to do is eliminate that switch and get power to the headlight once the motor starts. I am no electrical guru, but I manage. I was thinking of a relay set up, but am not sure where to get the signal from. Stator? Regulator? Rectifier? help and suggestions, please?

Is it possible to get the newer switch like my '80 F1 which has the lights on all the time. Would plugging this in do what you want? May seem like a lame answer but no electric guru here! Just a thought...

How about a light that comes on the first time the bike is taken out of neutral, then stays on until the bike is turned off? That should be easy to do with a relay holding circuit.

Oil pressure switch could be another possibility. The problem is that the oil pressure switch will react even if the bike doesn't start.

I think I also once designed a headlight circuit for when the battery voltage goes above 13.5v or so.

I prefer the neutral switch idea because it offers you more control. Let's say you want the light on without starting it, you only need to kick it into gear with the power switch on. Then it will stay on and you put the bike back into neutral. The light would go off when you turn off the key.

I looked at some wiring schematics from some newer bikes and it looks like most use a relay that gets its headlight trigger from the regulator. Would that work out on my KZ? If so, which wire off the reg.

The KZ does not have a dedicated output on the regulator for a headlight relay trigger. Nor is there a way to adapt a regulator output to use for such a trigger unless you are willing to build some electronics... like a voltage detector as I mentioned above. It's not very difficult if you can solder. I could design the circuit if you want. The neutral sensor would be easier, but would still require a little bit of electronics.

id just come off acc side of ignition switch so it comes on when key is on;)

Thanks, loud. I too like the neutral idea and would very much appreciate the help. While I don't know too, much, I can solder, and am fairly intelligent. In fact when I was in the military, I used to make a little scratch on the side soldering/wiring in mod chips into the early Playstations. I may have to pick your brain a little, but electronics is something I want to know a little more about and doing is the best way to learn. Like I always say, 'see one, do one, teach one.'

Alright, I'll try to draw up something in the next day or so.

any brown wire is switched hot

power from coils
power from taillight circuit
accessory in the headlight bucket

all are the easiest way to activate the relay

getting the lights to be controlled when engine itself starts to run is where you are going to need an ac signal relay switch hooked to the current feed from the stator. don't forget the diodes to prevent reverse feedback

parts off of a zx600A are cheap.

this is in the realm of electrical engineering and design.

I say just put a relay on the power feed to the ignition coils

and then the key switch is only a secondary controlling switch.
the kill on or off will control the lights also like a series + parallel complex circuit.


key on ign kill off = lights off
key on ign on lights on.

I don't think an AC relay would work. The AC side of the regulator is very unstable. The RMS voltage fluctuates a lot and the AC drops a lot of cycles during regulation. The AC is also at a much higher frequency compared to 60hz, which is what most AC relays are designed to work at.

I presume the point is to make headlight come on AFTER the bike is started so as to not draw on the battery during starting, so ignition-switched voltage is not what we're looking for.

I think I can do the neutral light trigger with one transistor and one diode in addition to a standard 12v relay, but I just have to verify a few things.

I know how to do it.I know what parts to use

zx series all use these as do yamaha YZF vulcan bikes too

honda has a 2 position starter button to shut off light while electric starting.

thanks buddy just trying to help a guy that cannot just turn the light switch "on" and leave it on

this is an example of how complicated it is

relay, diodes, reserve lighting unit etc...