Volt drop on headlight.

[allynchie]

Hello all.
My headlight is a bit on the yellowy side and I suspect a volt drop either on the positive side or the return.
Has anybody actually measured this so I have some sort of a yardstick to work against

 

[Its been a long time]

Hello all.
My headlight is a bit on the yellowy side and I suspect a volt drop either on the positive side or the return.
Has anybody actually measured this so I have some sort of a yardstick to work against

If it hasn't already been done, clean all the contacts in the handlebar switches and the ignition switch. There's guides here how to do it. I reduced the voltage drop across the switches notably. At the same time, clean any crusty bullet connectors and earths. That's going to make a significant difference. If it's the original headlight, they're nothing like as effective as modern ones even when working well.

 

[mike in idaho]

Set your voltmeter to "volts", put one lead on the positive battery post and the other lead on the bulb filament connection. With the headlight turned on, there will be a small voltage reading, that is the "voltage drop" in that circuit, hopefully one volt or less. Check high and low beam, then check where the wire plugs in to feed the dimmer switch. Finally probe both sides of the key switch voltage in and voltage out. After that, move your leads to the battery minus side terminal and and the headlight ground connection to test the ground circuit.

 

[dave_a]

When done with the light, for a fun project: Check your voltage on your brown wire ignition coil lug under the tank. Compare to battery voltage.