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Post by pete28 on Jan 1, 2015 22:20:06 GMT -5
Hi folks and happy new year. I sould like to add some flood/fog lights to my 49cc taotao. I live way out in the woods and my main headlight doesn't provide enough light for me to see or cor others to see me and I was hoping folks here could provide some insight. I am also planning on adding a cone type filter looking similar to a cold air intake. I would like to order from the same location if possible for both. Thanks for any help.
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Post by 90GTVert on Jan 1, 2015 22:53:26 GMT -5
Have you tried an upgraded headlight like a 45W? Gotta be careful adding on lights because of how much power they take. All lights should total something like 60-70W max. I had good results with a 27W LED spot light on one of my scoots. It's bright and I can't use it around other traffic at night without getting flashed or seeing people in front of me annoyed. HERE'S A LINK TO IT. It would probably take a bit of work to get it mounted. If you do go with something like that, they sell in spot and flood versions and the more focused spot version is the best for our application AFAIK. There are also smaller LED solutions that may be easier to work with, but I haven't tried any of them. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE. The examples given are 18 to 27 watts so you could add one wired with it's own switch to supplement the existing light and come in at 53-62W total if using a 35W bulb in the stock housing. Look around and see what you can find that looks like you can work with on the scoot and read reviews. Most just go with a UNI pod filter if they switch from the stock air box, but with a stock scoot I don't think it's going to be worth the effort. Aside from the filter you will need to get a selection of main jets to tune the carb and maybe a pilot jet. If your carb is sealed and the needle can't be adjusted you may be better off replacing it, but you'll still need jets. It would cost maybe $30-60 depending what you did and I'd be a bit surprised if you got any significant gains. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5j8gHg5kMcwww.youtube.com/watch?v=MLpkf2LINzo |
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Post by FrankenMech on Jan 2, 2015 1:47:00 GMT -5
I have two of those 27W LED 'spot' lights mounted on my scoot but it is a ruckus style R-trike and they were easy to mount. I have only been flashed once at night and it was by a one-eye car and we were coming around a curve with me on the inside. They are bright but they don't have much range. They are better for getting noticed in daylight. LED lights by there very nature are not easily focused, it's just Physics... Someone will figure out how to put a mirror in front of them to focus the light onto a parabolic reflector some day. Until they do that they will spread light like mad.
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Post by 90GTVert on Jan 2, 2015 7:49:04 GMT -5
27W LED above 55W halogen driving lamp.  27W LED illuminated.  55W & 27W on at the same time (1E40QMB scoot, all other lights LED). The mount was breaking at the time and the LED is shining to the left on the road in the pic (intense whiter area).  Comparison.  |
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Post by FrankenMech on Jan 2, 2015 11:36:10 GMT -5
What was both of the lights on doing to the battery charge?
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Post by 90GTVert on Jan 2, 2015 13:16:23 GMT -5
I don't monitor the battery on that scoot and it's only kick start because of the over range CVT, but I haven't had any trouble using both lights for most of last year on that scoot. Mine are still wired to AC just like stock... although I built the entire harness for this scoot from scratch with larger wires. 82W combined is more than I expected the lighting system to support, but it seems to work. I installed it thinking I'd have to use only 1 at a time and lucked out. My turn signals are LED, my tail/brake is and LED truck/trailer light, and otherwise all that's on that scoot is a GPS. I don't advise anyone else to expect 80W worth of lights to work at one time. It may or may not. Also any setup on this scoot runs 7000-9500RPM pretty much any time both are on. Just the LED light will even flicker at idle till after 2000RPM. Daytime I use the 27W alone because it doesn't affect my idle and is really bright to look at. At night I use just the 55W when other traffic is around.
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Post by Elektrey on Jan 2, 2015 20:20:58 GMT -5
I wouldn't get an aftermarket air filter unless u had to, don't think u will see a performance increase.
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Post by pete28 on Jan 4, 2015 7:36:40 GMT -5
Thank you all for the information! I'll stick with the factory air box for now and may do some changes later if I upgrade the carb. I love the lighting ideas! I was debating about straight wiring them do to draining of the battery. However at the present moment my scooter is kick start only. I have a new battery but I do not have access to a charger after I fill it with fluid. I had given some thought to recessed mounting on each side of the front. Possibly mounting a light on each side with a simple on off switch set up. I have got some exploring to do and some tinkering!
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Post by FrankenMech on Jan 5, 2015 0:57:28 GMT -5
Battery charging can be done if you put some resistance into the circuit between a car charger or fully charged car battery like a little 4W night light bulb. I have a bunch of test leads around so I just use the AC night light fixture prongs as terminals. This only works if the night light fixture is a simple ON/OFF switch unit. Charge and test the voltage occasionally.
A fully charged battery should show about 13.8 volts with the wires disconnected.
The battery should show some voltage after you add the electrolyte, about 12.5 volts or so. It is enough to start the scoot without any heavy cranking and use the scoot charging system.
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Post by pete28 on Jan 9, 2015 6:52:23 GMT -5
Thank you Frank! I'll work on that over the weekend along with other routine maintenance items. It's a bit on the chilly side to ride at the moment  |
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