[Fred H.]

As much as I have resisted the urge to add any lights or chrome to my bike, I am getting tired of digging through the dark trunk and saddlebags at night.

So I think I may have to bite the bullet and buy/build some lights for the bags and trunk. I know many of you have already gone down this road and would like to hear what works and what doesn't.

I seem to recall a Radio Shack portable lights some folks used. Anyone remeber what it was or how well it works?

I also see now Lewis has a portable battery powered LED light ($14.95) on his site that looks interesting.

http://www.electricalconnection.com/oth ... -light.htm

Has anyone made their own LED lighting setup? If so, did you use a mercury switch or did you tie into the existing trunk/saddlebag circuit? It seems like I should be able to buy some super bright LED's and a couple mercury switches at Radio Shack for under $10. Anyone gone this route?

Whatever I do, I don't want it to take up much (if any) space in the trunk, as I need all I have when I travel two-up.

Any ideas/comments appreciated.

 

[Guest]

when I had my Aspencade I bought one of these rv lights http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs...es/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=388&catalogId=10107&langId=-1&storeId=10101 and a mercury switch from Radio Shack, mounted the switch inside the light housing.

 

[klbj1961]

Trunk lights

Folks,

I went to pepboys and bought some white LEDs for $14.95 that stick on to the lid and in the trunk. wired in an on/off toggle switch to the wiring in the trunk lid and have great light for the trunk. Did the same for the saddle bags. Works great and have plent of light. I also don't have to worry about draining the battery if I leave them on. LEDs use hardly any juice.

Rule of thumb ... KISS (Keep it simple stupid)

Barry

 

[Sunkist]

Fred, I have to recommend EC's trunk & saddlebag led lights powered by the bike:
http://www.electricalconnection.com/oth ... _light.htm
The battery powered ones may be just as good, but I bought my bike-powered ones before the battery powered ones were available. My trunk & saddlebag lights were not cheap, but they certainly work well. All three lights are powered by the always-on circuit in the hump behind the passenger that houses the remote receiver. The trunk light is activated with a mercury switch; each saddlebag light is switched via the bike's circuitry. A master switch is located in the trunk. I park my bike in a dark area of my apartment building's parking garage and find the lights invaluable. The amount of light from the led's is comparable to the lighting you'd get from a car's trunk light.

I have some pics of my installation...I'll try posting them this evening or weekend.

Cheers,
Arthur

 

[SC Steve]

Fred, I have to recommend EC's trunk & saddlebag led lights powered by the bike:
http://www.electricalconnection.com/oth ... _light.htm
The battery powered ones may be just as good, but I bought my bike-powered ones before the battery powered ones were available. My trunk & saddlebag lights were not cheap, but they certainly work well. All three lights are powered by the always-on circuit in the hump behind the passenger that houses the remote receiver. The trunk light is activated with a mercury switch; each saddlebag light is switched via the bike's circuitry. A master switch is located in the trunk. I park my bike in a dark area of my apartment building's parking garage and find the lights invaluable. The amount of light from the led's is comparable to the lighting you'd get from a car's trunk light.

I have just the trunk light. It works wonders. I have had alot of compliments out of it. Yes it is pricely, but I dont have to worry about batteries, or it taking up too much space. I might add the saddlebags, but to have them, you have to have the trunk.

 

[Jeff in Ferndale WA]

I use one of those small battery powered flourescent lights that you can get at Home Depot for under 10.00.Uses two AA batteries.It had an input for a power supply if you want.
On the 02,I velcroed it to the inside of the trunk lid.On the 04,I am velcroeing it to the side

 

[fasteb]

I have the one by EC that is powered by the bike battery and it works great. Takes a little time to install in the saddlebags but once it is done it is great. http://www.electricalconnection.com/oth ... ight.htmat.



Eddie

 

[uneasyrider]

Fred I have been thinking the same thing for some time so I am glad that you posted it. My first thought is to go with white LED's, I bought an LED flashlight at Walmart for 5.88 that puts out a ton of light on a AAA battery. Keep us posted.

 

[cycledude]

I am way cheap and just use a LED flashlite, it's mounted in a holster hanging on one of the factory screws in the rear of rhe trunk so it's always easy to find in the dark. A good low cost trunk lite sure would be handy though.

 

[Purple Haze]

Works ok enough for me

12v flash light in aux plug.

 

[Tourn2Up]

Re: Works ok enough for me

12v flash light in aux plug.

I saw this posting a couple of weeks ago, and I like your idea. The problem is I can not find one of these types of lights. Where did you get it?

 

[Guest]

Little flashlight in the trunk. It will last a couple years and cost you less than 5 bucks. No wiring, no switches, nothing to make the bike more complicated than it already is, hence more potential for trouble.

Also the flashlight can be used as a trouble light. Dual role...works for me.

I am a great believer in the KISS principle.

 

[Stormbringer]

If you're looking to roll your own solution, you might check out the LED clusters here:

http://www.alltronics.com/leds.htm

It looks like the 6 or 9 LED cluster would be plenty and such a partial fabrication just might save some time.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Trunk light

I installed an inexpensive "reading light". It is designed to clip over the pages of a book. "AA" batteries, installs easily in trunk lid. Just removed an exising screw, drilled a hole in the center plastic of book light and installed. When you want light you just flip it open. Worked for me.

God Bless Ronald Reagan!!!

 

[Wingman26]

I had thought about making my own using LEDs and a mercury switch, it is extremely difficult to find a mercury switch anymore, I guess the mercury/heavy metal thing is making them hard to find. When Lewis at Electrical Connection came out with his I went for it, very well thought out and easy to install. I highly recommend the EC trunk and saddlebag lights.

 

[Tater]

I had thought about making my own using LEDs and a mercury switch, it is extremely difficult to find a mercury switch anymore, I guess the mercury/heavy metal thing is making them hard to find.

Wingman,
EC makes a fine product but you can make your own. Any heating & air man will usually have old thermostats on the truck. I asked for one and now I have a supply for life. I think they are required to recycle them. Where is not specified.

 

[IR Harry]

Just a quickie about mercury switches. Recycle of the switches is not a problem, but disposal is. Just like many of the regulated wastes, if you dispose of them, you have to find landfills, fill out paperwork, ransom your first born. But if you reuse them, not a problem.