Headlight switches revisited

I have some ratty old headlight switches. I was always hesitant to replace them because the aren’t cheap. Almost $50 from Old Britts. I just checked Andover and they are $20. That’s more my style.

The stock headlight switch is not up to continuously carrying the current load of the headlight. Also, it’s mechanical construction is poor. Better to use the switch to control the coil of a relay, using the relay contacts to carry the headlight current or install a high (20 amp) current switch.

I know I should have a relay but hardly ever have the light on after dark ( no night rides) I do use headlight though for regular daylight rides .... I have a clean no holes, head light bucket with only the bottom hole for wires .... I use the original left directional switches for head light (halogen) control , middle position is off , Up is high beam down is low beam ..... been like this for more than a decade with no issues , when I run into trouble I will prolly get a couple relays and do a proper re-wire of entire bike .... until then nothing invested in switches other than clean up ..... my entire system is the E.I. , front & rear brake lights and headlight , so back in the day I just made my own very basic loom , still working, marettes in head light bucket and all , haha!

JimC said:

The stock headlight switch is not up to continuously carrying the current load of the headlight. Also, it’s mechanical construction is poor. Better to use the switch to control the coil of a relay, using the relay contacts to carry the headlight current or install a high (20 amp) current switch.

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Yes I have a relay but the switch itself is decrepit. Like me.

I use original switches, cleaned up contacts, but with relays. Now that Ive gone to LED headlamp I wonder if the relays are really necessary.

Onder said:

I use original switches, cleaned up contacts, but with relays. Now that Ive gone to LED headlamp I wonder if the relays are really necessary.

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Yes. No matter how nice you think you have the switches they won’t be as good as a modern relay.

swooshdave said:

I have some ratty old headlight switches. I was always hesitant to replace them because the aren’t cheap. Almost $50 from Old Britts. I just checked Andover and they are $20. That’s more my style.

Click to expand...

Yep,
Old Brits are not always the cheapest way to go.
Still, I try to buy from them when I can because they are really good people and have great customer service.
Also, their page is really set up nicely.

Ironically the biggest service we could do for them is to stop buying stuff. Then Fred would have an excuse to retire!