HID lighting question

motoddrob

motoddrob

Hero member
Location
S/W Australia
Wondering if any of you guys that have installed or use HID lights, have come across a problem where they flash on and off, then one or the other stops working. Turn them off and on again and they both start flashing again. I have just installed them. When I wired them up earlier today they worked fine, both hi and low [bi-zenon]. Sometimes I can hear a faint zzzzzzzzz that sounds like it's coming from the ballast, not consistent though. Checked all the wiring/connections several times and nothing seems amiss. It's got me fucked!!
 
Sounds like it might a voltage problem.  Mine buzz, especially when they are warming up, but I've noticed that if I leave them all on (to cycle the battery during the winter- may be a futile gesture but what the hell) they go off one by one as the voltage drops.

What's wrong with acetelene lights anyway?  :D
 
That's interesting Reggie, the battery is only showing 11.7 volts :o Easy fix if it is :D
It's a new Deka I brought over 2 years ago, charged it a couple of times but basically neglected it.
Charges up to 12.7v but seems to drop quickly, though I've been using it while wiring up the lights etc.
Need to recharge anyway, got the starter motor back yesterday so may have another go at starting it this weekend.

acetelene is damn expensive!!
 
I had a starting problem with a 5 year old Deca,had it load tested 3 or 4 times with a thumbs up.
But it still wouldn't start the bike after a week sitting and full charged earlier.There appears to be no valid test for a sealing  battery failing except replacing it to see if that fixes it.Painful, and expensive if there is another fault.
 
If the battery load tests OK but still won't start the bike, it sounds like there's a problem with your starting system. Starting the bike doesn't put any more demand on the battery than a load test.

Last summer my Jota was behaving as though the battery was flat. Turned out that the battery was fine, starter motor was fucked.

Cam
 
The end result after going through everything except the starter,it was reconned just before the first Barry Rally,changed the battery and its been 90% ok.Had to do a couple of bump starts early in the morning after a couple of weeks resting.Probably have a sqiz at the starter next big service.What I am on about is a marginal sealed battery is hard to identify and poor cold starting seems to be the only indicator,and maybe its Robs problem as well.BTW in my case thats the really big battery,smaller battery's at a guess would be closer the the margin easier?
 
When I attempted to start the bike for the first time a couple  of weeks ago, the starter spun the motor over no problem with the plugs out long enough to have the oil flowing out of the oil cooler outlet. With the plugs back in it went "blup" Took the starter motor off to check it, first time apart in 33 years. Didn't look too pretty inside so off it went for a service. About to reinstall it, have the battery on charge so will have another go at starting it maybe tomorrow. Fingers crossed the battery will be fine as well as the new starter and earth cables that look to me could be slightly light for the job. Fingers also crossed the 11.7 volts was the cause for the lights to be playing up too.
If I do need to buy a new battery I'll look at a lithium jobbie. Can't afford to go any bigger in size as the electrical box was built around that Deka 14 battery.
My really neat wiring has now turned into a cluster fuck with the addition of all the HID boxes and wiring. Why did I buy HID lighting??? The 2 small projector lens lights look cool though!!
 
The sealed AGm batteries are a pain in the proverbial to test. Putting a normal load tester on will only give an indication. It will usually indicate a rooted battery but the problem comes with one that seems to charge up ok and otherwise seems fine (as Vince said). From what I know these can only be tested on a special test machine which they have to be connected to for about 48hrs (apparently). They also seem to be sensitive to being run down and rarely charge back up properly and can lose charge quickly.
I neglected my Deka when bike was off the road recently and it seems to charge up all right, but doesn't feel like it would crank the motor for long if needed so not sure how much longer it will last. 
 
Got a deka in the goose and it has been AOK since it went in, but the bike gets used on a pretty regular basis. Bought a SSB LiPo for the Laverda, and I have to say that from what I have seen of it, it is the ducks guts. Holds a charge forever, cranks over real well, and is tiny and light. Not cheap but they reckon it should still be doing its thing long past the time I will still be riding the Lav.
 
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