installing Denali D4. Help finding switched 12 volt wire. Search didn't help

[gustojunk]

Hi All,

I'm trying to install Denali D4 lights to my S10 model 2012. I want to use their own included on/off switch (not controlled by my bike’s light switch or high beams). As part of this setup I need to connect with a Posi-tap to a ‘running light wire’, ‘or any switched 12 volt power source’.

I searched this forum and I saw a lot of talk about electrical stuff like fuzebox, relay , jumpers… and a bunch of tems that I have no idea what they mean. Also heard descriptions of a blue, green, red, striped wire… But no pictures showing where I can find one of these switched 12V power source wires on my bike.

Here are pictures of my light setup, the install instructions, and where I see wires on my bike (model 2012, with heated grips installed). Any help to point me where to find this 12v switched wire would be highly appreciated!

 

[gustojunk]

BTW, the only thing I've found that shows where the powered wire could be is this pots:
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=14869.msg232179#msg232179

So if I look at my bike I can see a bunch of red wires here:

 

[dietDrThunder]

I give you my word that I am 100% trying to be helpful here. If you're not understanding how to go about doing this, you would be well served to find someone to help you do this install with you. There are lots of people with a wealth of electrical/wiring experience who would help out and give you a nice primer on how to do such stuff in the future, on your own. If I hadn't moved South that person would be me, as I'm from MA too. But there are many folks here on the forum from New England, so I feel pretty confident you could team up with someone on this one.

I will tell you this: if you're looking for a switched lead to trip the relay for the lights, and are wiring the main power directly to the battery, the turn signals have a blue wire that is the +12VDC for the running lights, and that would work fine. Also, you can use the low beam so that they don't light up until the bike is running. Better than that is the hi beam, so that you can have them light automagically when you hit the high beam and turn off when you turn off the hi beam, or you can manually leave them off by turning the driving light switch off. This works well because you pretty much don't ever need the driving light in a situation where you don't want the hi beam on.

Good luck.

 

[gustojunk]

Hi Dave, all, thanks for the advice. I asked a local friend and gave me a good tip of how to find my cable: "get a multimeter and see what cable gets 12v when teh ignition is one and no voltage when ignition is off.

So I bout a $25 multimeter from Sears and did just this and it all worked.

 

[gustojunk]

Better than that is the hi beam, so that you can have them light automagically when you hit the high beam and turn off when you turn off the hi beam, or you can manually leave them off by turning the driving light switch off. This works well because you pretty much don't ever need the driving light in a situation where you don't want the hi beam on.

Originally I was thinking the same but then I realized that length of vision (what high bean gives me) does not seem to be my main problem, but rather:
1. width around me, and use that wider bean to also illuminate when I'm on curves or twisties, since the regular lights keep pointing straight off the road.
2. detail of the road surface (cracks, bumps, change of texture, the kind of stuff I can see well on daylight but with the stock lights of the S10 I barely see, mostly guess)
3. Be visible by others day or night.

because of these 3 reasons I want these lights to be on a separate switch that I mostly keep on, but I can turn off when/if I want, but never tied to high bean situations. Since high bean really blinds and annoys others in front of you or incoming traffic.

I connected the new Denali lights on their own switch that I temporarily secured with a sip-tie until I create a permanent mounting surface in the same place that hugs the circular section of the handlebar (I'll 3D model and 3D print something out of black ABS plastic).

I placed the light pointing slightly down so I don't blind others, but I get plenty of visibility where it matters
I also pointed them outwards a bit to get extra width of vision.

Here's how they are placed and the difference in road surface and peripheral vision...

 

[gustojunk]

here you can see the difference of the road surface detail right n front of you. Of course this is not very accurate because my iPhone's camera is self-adjusting to the variance of lights, but you get the idea.

In summary: these lights kick serious ass. I think I'll do a lot more night riding with them. Also during the day you are very visible. But based on the angle of placement I have not seen any case of people being bothered by their intensity.

They are expensive, so I thought long and hard if I should get them, or get something cheaper. But after riding with them for a couple of days I could not be happier. I highly recommend them.

 

[EVLED]

Hi, considering these for my '13. What mount are you using?

 

[Checkswrecks]

I was rather busy with work when this was first posted and missed it. The easiest and fastest source of switched power to trigger a relay in an installation like this is the wire to your cigarette lighter plug.

 

[Kabish]

Nice looking install, and grass on figuring it out on your own. Always a big success feeling lol And holy jebus that switch is huge.

 

[gustojunk]

Hi, considering these for my '13. What mount are you using?

Denali Auxiliary Light Mount Yamaha XT1200Z Super Tenere 2011-2016
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/denali-auxiliary-light-mount-yamaha-xt1200z-super-tenere-2011-2016

a bit expensive but really well built and fits teh lights securely in a good location that stay protected if you drop her.

 

[EVLED]

Crappy video of my D4's in action. I still haven't fiddled around with their angle etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRpRpE7iIxE

 

[Venture]

While I love the idea of the D4s, how can they not be completely blinding to other motorists at night?

Has anybody used the Denai D2s? Any opinion either way? The D2s are dual intensity, so at least they're not completely blinding to traffic at night.

 

[tomatocity]

While I love the idea of the D4s, how can they not be completely blinding to other motorists at night?

Has anybody used the Denai D2s? Any opinion either way? The D2s are dual intensity, so at least they're not completely blinding to traffic at night.

Rigid Industries have Dual Function light that leaves the Low Intensity (20%) on all the time and the High Intensity on when the High Beam is activated. 'Don in Lodi' has this on his Tenere. I have a pair that I haven't installed.

 

[EVLED]

While I love the idea of the D4s, how can they not be completely blinding to other motorists at night?

Has anybody used the Denai D2s? Any opinion either way? The D2s are dual intensity, so at least they're not completely blinding to traffic at night.

Over here we have to dip our lights to oncoming traffic - so no issue with blinding the traffic if you're doing the right things. They definitely would burn the eyeballs outta oncoming car drivers...