Are there aux lights that can be wired to both high and low beams?

[sgrider]

Newbie to the group. Thanks for the add. Just got my '13 Tenere and prepping for an Alaska run and want to add some aux lights. I'm not asking about which lights are best, etc. I'm really more interested in the operations and how they work. About ready to pull the trigger on the Rigid SR2 lights. Seem to be getting good reviews on this site and other places. But from what I can tell, they can only be wired with the high beam and so they are either on or off.
What I really want is an aux light system that can be wired directly into the OEM high/low beam switch and would be on full intensity when the high beam is on and then reduce to 50% when the low beam is on. Does something like this exist? I know some of the systems have their own relay switch that allows you to adjust the intensity, but they require a separate switch. I just want to only have to worry about one switch. Not set on Rigid and willing to change if there is another one out there that works the way I want.
I expect this topic has been discussed, but I couldn't find it in the search. If so, maybe someone has a link. If not, any insight on my dilemma?
Thanks in advance for the responses.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Rigid D2 Hi/Lo dual function. Run at 20% on low, switch to 100% on hi. I love 'em. Other brands, not Rigid, can be made to give a high/low function with a gizmo that I can never remember the name of. The D2s are awesome though.

 

[sgrider]

Thanks so much for the reply Don in Lodi. ::012:: ::012:: That's exactly what I was looking for. I just ordered the SR-2 6" light bar version as I like the looks better than the D2s.

 

[Davesax36]

You can also look at bestrestproducts.com for some of that stuff. I think they've got a set of lights that hook up to a Skene controller that runs a certain percent on low and full on high.

 

[EricV]

You can also look at bestrestproducts.com for some of that stuff. I think they've got a set of lights that hook up to a Skene controller that runs a certain percent on low and full on high.

The Skene unit can be used with any lights. But the bears don't respond to conspicuity lights...

Welcome to the forum sgrider. Wife and I did Alaska/Yukon in '14. Not always the best area to ride at night in. We went during June, catching the Dust2Dawson event at the summer solstice which was outstanding fun. Alaska has lots to see. We could easily do another month long trip and not see the same things we saw the first time. Have a great time planning and riding your adventure!

 

[Don in Lodi]

Skene! Thats the name. I'm pretty sure I've read that the Rigid lights don't like being controlled by an outside controller.

 

[Davesax36]

The pwm controller in my neutrino Blackbox will dim my rigid lights. It should be the same, but I heard the same thing about skene and rigid not playing nice.

 

[greenwall]

Yes Skene is what the device is called. It is sold by Cyclops for one. Maybe others. It allows aux lights to be adjusted in 10% increments for low beam, then full 100% on high. I have what are essentially Denali DR1's (Sold under various names and prices) set at 40% for low and get no drivers flashing me. 40% is the default setting. But it could be anywhere from 10% to 90%.

 

[yamabob]

I'm running a 6" Rigid light bar with a Skene controller on my 2013. No issues! When the low beams are on, it's at 20%. High beams on, it's at 100%. Not sure what the compatibility problem is. I've had this set up since I bought the bike in 2013.

 

[AVGeek]

I'm running a 6" Rigid light bar with a Skene controller on my 2013. No issues! When the low beams are on, it's at 20%. High beams on, it's at 100%. Not sure what the compatibility problem is. I've had this set up since I bought the bike in 2013.

There is a note on Skene's website about changes to the Rigid lights that changed their compatibility with his controller. I think it has to do with the dual intensity feature they now have built in.

 

[sgrider]

Thanks again for the all the input. A few more questions. So I did see the Skene controller and thought about that, but it appears to me that it is still a separate switch. Maybe I didn't understand completely how it works and need to do more research. I'll look into that. But in the meantime, here is what I would really like to be able to do. I'm planning on installing a PDM60 as I want to run a few more devices besides aux lights. I know you can run aux lights through the PDM, but still seems like that requires using another switch like the Skene to control them. Can I avoid that? Can I rewire my OEM headlight through the PDM and wire my Rigid lights into the same headlight circuit so that both the headlight and the Rigid bar would operate off the OEM high/low beam switch? Is there a way to wire it up to avoid having to use two switches to control the headlight and the Rigid lights? So when I have the OEM switch on low beam, both and headlight is on low and the Rigid bar is on the low setting. And they they both go to high when I flip it to high beam? It's obvious I'm not an electrical guru so maybe I'm misunderstanding the whole thing. But hoping one of you are and can offer some insight.

 

[sgrider]

Only my first day and I already have some neighbors in EricV and AVGeek. I'm in St George, UT - right next door to both of you. We'll have to get together and ride. Would love to chat with you EricV about your Alaska trip!

 

[Don in Lodi]

So, most likely the Skene will work fine with the single intensity Rigid, good to know, but if you get the dual intensity you don't need the Skene. I used a relay to trigger the high intensity, triggered it off the bike's high beam shutter wire.

 

[EricV]

but if you get the dual intensity you don't need the Skene. I used a relay to trigger the high intensity, triggered it off the bike's high beam shutter wire.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner! This is the same basic idea for doing what the OP wants to do, eliminate the switch and just have the lights come on with the headlights and change intensity when flipping to high beam. I have some 10º spots wired this way, except off on low and on when high beam is on. It's a simple install. Since the OP wants lights in both high and low beam, just different intensity, the easy way is with a factory dual intensity light, like Don suggested, but using a Skene with a single intensity light would work just as well. You simply skip the switch and wire it with so the high beam shutter, (pink wire), does your trigger function. A bit of DMM work should make this a strait forward install.

@sgrider - I'm sure we can find some time to get together for a ride or chat about Alaska. Windy today, but I might talk the wife into going for a short ride this afternoon to get some tags. If you haven't heard about photo tag games yet, do a search on ADV or here for wild card tag. Fun excuse to go for a ride sometimes.

 

[AVGeek]

Only my first day and I already have some neighbors in EricV and AVGeek. I'm in St George, UT - right next door to both of you. We'll have to get together and ride. Would love to chat with you EricV about your Alaska trip!

I'm currently a bike-less bastard, but am more than handy with 12V electrical work, if you need some assistance. I used the Skene controller, and as Eric says, it can do what you want it to do, but the advantage of adding a switch is that it allows to adjust the lower intensity setting. I also went with the Alert feature, which triggers off of the horn, and flashes the lights when you double tap the horn button.

 

[snakebitten]

Bikeless?!!!!

That's just awful. Wouldn't wish it on any of you gents.

Come get one from me if you catch yourself kicking the dog.

 

[WJBertrand]

I have my Great Whites Halo LED lights wired through change over, or SPDT relay. On low beam is on the power to the halos is provided when the relay is not energized. The main driving beams are wired to come on with the high beams when the relay is energized which simultaneously switches off the halo LEDs.

 

[AVGeek]

Bikeless?!!!!

That's just awful. Wouldn't wish it on any of you gents.

Come get one from me if you catch yourself kicking the dog.

Thanks Snake. I still have the quad for now, just need to get it running right!