Wiring up headlights and brake/tail lights

[butters149]

Hi everyone,

I am very new to this and currently have a Super 73. It has one big retro headlight and a tail/brake light in the rear that whenever the brake handles are pressed it'll light up. The display also has a button to turn on and off the headlight and tail lights. The tail lights when on, get brighter when the brakes are pressed.

Now I am switching my whole system on this bike and was just wondering what is the best way to wire up these lights? I bought a leafbike motor system with controller as well as upgraded the battery to a 52volt. I also bought one of these switches (https://www.leafbike.com/products/electric-bike-parts/control-switch/sw-002-1102.html). Peter from leafbike mentioned that I should wire the lights straight to the battery and not controller, will 52volts fry my lights? Are there any videos or instructions for wiring?

 

[amberwolf]

I don't know what stuff you already have, or what it's capable of, so I coudln't tell you how to hook it up or if it's ok to use it differently than it already is wired.

But here's some info on how to setup a whole lighting system:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=75171
and how to wire them.


There is also his main build thread with a post on them:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=36959&p=536905#p536879
This is the main post for the thread, with an index to the various bits.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=36959

 

[butters149]

I don't know what stuff you already have, or what it's capable of, so I coudln't tell you how to hook it up or if it's ok to use it differently than it already is wired.

But here's some info on how to setup a whole lighting system:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=75171
and how to wire them.


There is also his main build thread with a post on them:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=36959&p=536905#p536879
This is the main post for the thread, with an index to the various bits.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=36959

Thanks! Is there an easy way to find out if they are 12v lights or not? I heard most lights these days can take higher voltage fine.

 

[speedyebikenoob]

I don't know what stuff you already have, or what it's capable of, so I coudln't tell you how to hook it up or if it's ok to use it differently than it already is wired.

But here's some info on how to setup a whole lighting system:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=75171
and how to wire them.


There is also his main build thread with a post on them:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=36959&p=536905#p536879
This is the main post for the thread, with an index to the various bits.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=36959

Thanks! Is there an easy way to find out if they are 12v lights or not? I heard most lights these days can take higher voltage fine.

Hey, I had the same issue with my e bike, except it's a little different because I didn't modify an e bike, I built one from a kit, but it'll work the same way so this should work for you as well. I think you're right about lights these days being able to take higher voltage, but I think 52 volts is pushing it. Especially because I'm ninety percent sure your lights connect to the controller and not straight to the battery of your bike, and controllers output like 5v for the lights? What I did with my 60 volt battery though is use a step down circuit (not sure exactly what you call it) to step down the voltage to 12 volts (which is what my lights are rated for). This is exactly what I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSJQAKY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I hooked it up straight to my battery through the terminals and ran a switch inline with the headlight wires. It works pretty well, it also allows for a bit of flexibility too because you can add things like a motorcycle horn or a stereo or other gadgets that run at the same voltage if you REALLY wanted to lol. Maybe you'll get lucky though and your lights are capable of connecting straight to the battery, someone else with more knowledge about the Super 73 could probably tell you if that's the case, I'm not that familiar with the bike.

 

[amberwolf]

Is there an easy way to find out if they are 12v lights or not?

You can use your voltmeter to measure the voltage at their input terminals while they are on.


As for the other part; there are a lot of kinds of "vehicle" lights and most of them do not run at higher voltages, most are still low voltage only.

While many bicycle-specific lights may have a wider votlage range, not all bikes use them, and may use anything from low-voltage 1 or 2 cell types, to automotive-12v types, or something else entirely.

 

[amberwolf]

Especially because I'm ninety percent sure your lights connect to the controller and not straight to the battery of your bike, and controllers output like 5v for the lights?

Controllers don't normally output *anything* for lights. Systems that connect lights directly to controllers are not common (they do exist, but are mostly OEM complete bikes).

Some may do it thru a secondary unit like a DC-DC that is turned on by some output on the controller.

 

[speedyebikenoob]

Especially because I'm ninety percent sure your lights connect to the controller and not straight to the battery of your bike, and controllers output like 5v for the lights?

Controllers don't normally output *anything* for lights. Systems that connect lights directly to controllers are not common (they do exist, but are mostly OEM complete bikes).

Some may do it thru a secondary unit like a DC-DC that is turned on by some output on the controller.

Oh okay, yeah maybe I'm wrong then, but I still highly doubt the headlights on OP's bike can handle 52 volts

 

[butters149]

So I heard back from the manufacturer and they said the headlights and brake lights are regulated at 48 volts.

 

[butters149]

what switch is recommended for headlight/tail lights?

 

[E-HP]

what switch is recommended for headlight/tail lights?

My KT controller has two outputs at battery voltage level to run lights. One is always hot and the other is switched by the LCD unit, but I don’t have all of the brake/turn signals like you have. Anyway, my twist throttle has a push button that supposed to be used to power on the controller, but I use it for my lights, instead of using the LCD switches output. The push button is easier to use, and I can use it to flash my lights on and off if I need to get someone’s attention. With the ultra low current draw at that voltage, any switch will do. The light itself has three XML-T6 LEDs so it’s super bright.


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