6 volt lighting

[DWN]

I recently aquired a '27 Henderson, and intend to ride it, sometimes at night. Is there a way to put decent lights on a 6v machine? I don't want to alter the bike, so anything I install has to be easily removed, and not draw more than the generator will provide.
To further complicate things, I'd like to put on a brake light and maybe even turn signals. Are there 6v led lights available?
Or, am I nuts to consider this?

[Perry Ruiter]

Personally I think 6Volt is adequate as long as you solder all connections (crimping alone isn't good enough). Since your bike has a Splitdorf generator on it, you should convert to two brush and add one of Gene Harper's Splitdorf regulators:
http://www.splitdorfreg.com/
Thus converted I think the generator would keep up even with a brake light or blinkers ... Perry

[darrylri]

JC Whitney sells a very simple, very cheap, very ugly brake light switch that is also very easy to remove. It clamps to a frame member and has a spring that clamps to a rod in the brake linkage.

Wiring up LEDs is not too difficult. You need to find high output, wide angle LEDs to use. They can be wired a few in series with a resistor.

To figure out the circuit, you need to have a voltage drop across your serial LEDs of 4V or less. Multiply the voltage drop by 50 to get the ohm rating of an appropriate resistor. Typically this will let you run 3 LEDs in series, and then you create as many parallel circuits as you want lights (or have the generating capacity to support).

The LEDs I used had a 1.2V drop and needed 200ma. In this condition, I had 3 LEDs after a 180 ohm resistor.

Calculating the resistor:
3 LEDs * 1.2 voltage drop = 3.6V =>
3.6 * 50 = 180 ohm resistor

Wattage required:
200ma/LED * 3 LEDs = 0.6amp draw =>
0.6 amp * 6V system = 3.6 watts

I'm a BMW guy, so I don't know what your Splitdorf generator makes. The Bosch magneto/generator on my R52 puts out 45 watts and the headlight takes 30 of them. For a taillight, I created 5 parallel circuits like this and was just able to cram the whole thing into the tiny taillight shell that barely accomodates a single filament bulb.

If you really want to get fancy, you can wire the brake switch lead to a different resistor than the taillight lead, to get different levels of brightness from the same LEDs.

[DWN]

My desire, if possible, is to have a simple wiring harness separate from the original. This would mean having the led taillight outside the original light. Of course this whole new light would be eaily removed. leaving no evidence.
I wear riding gear with reflective panels, so my main concern is the forward lighting. Bright lights and 6v don't usually come in the same package, especially when the charging system is 80 years old.
Next item: What battery should I install? I run AGM batts in most of my bikes, but they are all 12v.

[darrylri]

On another bike I took a black, plastic license plate frame and drilled it for a dozen LEDs, 6 on each side. I bought a plastic mounting collar for each one. The collars went into the frame, and the LEDs into the collars. I wired everything in the shallow recess of the frame, gooped it up with silicone so it wouldn't short out, and covered the recess with some thin sheet polystyrene from a hobby store. I made a short harness of two wires inside heat shrink tubing, which ran from the top center of the frame to the taillight body, and wired it to the existing lights inside there. It didn't take much to remove it.

In this case, it was a bike with a brake light circuit, and I connected the frame to the brake lights. I thought it was pretty bright, even in the bright daylight.

However, I was subsequently hit from behind by another rider, when our party had to slow for 2 dogs in the road. I guess the LEDs didn't save me. (What're you gonna do??)

[mmoore]

just remember if you wire in series if one goes out they all go out! a parelell system would prevent that and most leds need only 1.5 volts to work so building a parelell systen to work on a 6 volt system should be easy. check out electronic websites for the bulbs. a standard flasher probaly wont work as the current draw on leds is not enough to make it work so make sure the flasher relay will work with low current (amps).

[RichO]

6v lighting

My Super X and 101 Scout both had 6v lighting as does my early Knuckle. Try this also. Re- silver your reflector and then polish it. You can get brighter bulbs for your head light and tail light then they use to have. Antique car parts suppliers have these. Also paint the interior of your tailight housing white for more refective light.

[Steve Slocombe]

Usually 6 volts is OK if you use the thicker 6 volt wiring. Problems come when the bike has been rewired with thinner wire and the power doesn't all get to the lamps. There should be 6 volt halogen bulbs around which can maintain the look of the bike while using less power/giving more light. Best regards.

[Coolbreeze]

Usually 6 volts is OK if you use the thicker 6 volt wiring. Problems come when the bike has been rewired with thinner wire and the power doesn't all get to the lamps. There should be 6 volt halogen bulbs around which can maintain the look of the bike while using less power/giving more light. Best regards.

JC Whitney sells a 6 volt halogen bulb. I haven't tried it. If anyone has, please tell us how it works.

[darrylri]

I have a 6V Halogen bulb in my 1961 BMW R60/2. I did not buy it from JC Whitney, but from BMW specialist Bench Mark Works, along with a modern lens. It's much brighter than the original incandescent bulb and much whiter as well. But I think the lens has much to do with it as well.

[D.Mac]

Led bulbs

Here's a link to a guy that has pretty good selection of leds in both 6v and 12v.
www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/goffyleds.htm I haven't purchased any from him yet, but I was thinkin' on it.
Doug.

[23JDCA 808]

I love LED's because they make sense. Having said that, mine appear dimmer than a filament bulb because the bulb's reflector expects a very localized light source; one filament. Most of these 'bulbs' have a number of light sources spread across a flat surface which is positioned different 'focal point' than the filament would be. ...bill

[partshunt]

6 volt Halogen headlamp bayonet bulbs.

I would like to revive this ole post on bulbs if no one minds and can help. I am in search of some 6 volt Halogen bulbs. Preferably bayonet base. I did aquire some from Marc Michon but his shop is now closed. My 29 four has this type in it from Marc. I would like a spare. I also want to fit and convert the ole panheat Cycle Beam with one. Any ideas where I can find a few of these babies in 6 volt Halogen?....Thanks...Joe

[darrylri]

As I posted above, Craig "Vech" Vechorick carries 6V Halogen bulbs. He's a vintage BMW specialist in Mississippi. Here's his website:

http://members.aol.com/VechBMW/index.html

[partshunt]

6 volt Halogen head Light Bulb

Darylri: Do you have the part number and address for the Hi Lo BMW headlight Halogen Bulb you are reffering to?...thanks..Joe