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Deadlights to LEDs? Anyone done it?

Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:51 pm
by swillscooter
So, I'd very much like to hook up the dead lights to act as always on running lights and I'd like them to be on with the headlight and not hook them up to my low/high beam switch, as I've seen suggested in the past.
I have also seen/heard that to use the lights in this way will reduce the strength of the headlight, obviously not what I want since I'm looking for better visibility.

It seems that a way around this would be to replace the deadlights with LEDs which would be less of a draw power-wise. Has anyone done this and, if so, what does it entail? If you haven't done it yourself, could you suggest a resource? Remember, I'm a dummy when it comes to electrical & LEDs, so go easy on me!

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:10 am
by Kurzer
1st, you'd need to be ok with splicing wires... Then you'll need some standard LED 1156 bulbs like these:

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or some stubby ones like these:

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and then you'll need some wire and blue splice connectors (simple) or heat shrink, a soldering wand and solder (hard).

Then you'll want to connect the ground to ground and the hot to the only yellow wire in the scooters harness, this will turn the lights on when the scooter comes on.

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:28 am
by MikieTaps
now THAT is what I call an informative response!

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:44 am
by swillscooter
Thanks, Kerzer! I didn't even know that there were LED bulbs like that - I thought that I would have to replace the 1156 plug/outlet thingy with a different thingy (all technical terms.)

Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:45 am
by ericalm
Don't splice—get Posi-Lock connectors. You can get them at some Pep Boys, Kragen Auto Parts, or online.

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Way easier and cleaner than most other solutions.