Modern Buddy

i have tried to search but have found no definative answer on whether or not you could add extra lights such as fog lights to the electrical system without shorting something out. can my buddy take the load? if not is there anything i could do about that and if so is it worth the trouble?

anyone?

Really depends on the lights... You can definitely add LED and LED clusters—those have low power requirements. Something like big-ass halogens or incandescents may be a problem. You know those mod scoots with all the lights on them? Most often they don't work. If they do, they're often run off a second battery (even on scoots with 12v electrical systems).

As one member recently learned while wiring an amplifier, the juice may be variable when the scoot is running.

I you wan some real light start with replacing your current bulb system with an HID system. HID=serious light!

That's not an easy job... HIDs need power too. I found out more than I wanted to know about this with my Rattler.

yes you can add extra lights... depending on their draw, you might drain your battery faster than you can charge it... i have an armored baja-style light mounted right between the punch-outs on the front... tapped a thread into the bracket behind the front sheild that is meant to take the bottom two bolts for the front rack... the mechanic at the local shop has informed me that they have squeezed a slightly larger battery into a buddy, but had to shave the crossbraces on the bottom side of the battery cover plate... you would still be drawing more than you are charging (if that were indeed the case), but you would have a little more storage capacity.... i also forsake the electric start in favor of the kickstart to save on juice...

Hmmmm - I'm thinkin' the dual headlights on the Honda Ruckus could be adapted to fit the front of the Buddy. Those puppies are bright and stock. Of course if they were put on a separate switch and only used when you needed additional light instead of all the time...hmmmm.

Dennis

i was thinking about those little round aftermarket foglights, mounting them either to the fork or where the handlebar turn signals are now. so i'm thinking if i'm only using them when i get caught out in total darkness, it shouldn't be that often. i imagine i'll try to go straight to the battery with a relay and a switch. if anyone has any advice i'd appreciate it.