H
HoughMade
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In my state, there is a pending bill that will require registration of my bike. Equipment wise- no problems....except I will need a good headlight, turn signals, a brake light and tail light. We, therefore, have found the next project for the HoughMade '71'.
The good news is that the new laws do not incorporate U.S. DOT lighting regulations, but set lighting standards by performance. This is important because I do not have to purchase lights that are "DOT Approved" as long as I can make lights that meet the performance requirements.
I have looked into previous topics about using an MR16 halogen light as a basis with an SLA battery. Good idea, but I want a vintage look and although price is always a consideration, ultra-cheap is not necessary. I went looking at the home stores and came across the landscape light pictured below. It is the right size to be a good scale for a vintage look. It is cast aluminum. It uses a 12 volt, MR16 halogen lamp and comes with a 50 watt spot and even in the display with the 50 watt spot going all day, the case gets warm, not scorching hot. I will need to mount it- and I want something that looks like it was really meant to be...not simply functional.
I have a new 12 volt 7.2ah sealed lead-acid (SLA) battery which will provide well over an hour of light (I do not ride at night, I just need lights for legality and emergency, so this will be OK). That battery will run the turn and brake lights forever and a day. Plus, I am looking into options for a bit of charging on the go so that run time can be extended (don't bother mentioning solar unless you can show be a 1910 motorcycle with a solar array). I am haunting the thrift stores for an old leather case of some sort to house the battery (old Polaroid camera cases are good).
I am building the turn'tail/brake assembly from scratch, but I will probably scrounge for lenses or incorporate clearance lights of some sort- I smell a Tractor Supply Co. trip!
Anyhoo- I have gathered some parts and building begins tomorrow- pics in process will be forthcoming.
The good news is that the new laws do not incorporate U.S. DOT lighting regulations, but set lighting standards by performance. This is important because I do not have to purchase lights that are "DOT Approved" as long as I can make lights that meet the performance requirements.
I have looked into previous topics about using an MR16 halogen light as a basis with an SLA battery. Good idea, but I want a vintage look and although price is always a consideration, ultra-cheap is not necessary. I went looking at the home stores and came across the landscape light pictured below. It is the right size to be a good scale for a vintage look. It is cast aluminum. It uses a 12 volt, MR16 halogen lamp and comes with a 50 watt spot and even in the display with the 50 watt spot going all day, the case gets warm, not scorching hot. I will need to mount it- and I want something that looks like it was really meant to be...not simply functional.
I have a new 12 volt 7.2ah sealed lead-acid (SLA) battery which will provide well over an hour of light (I do not ride at night, I just need lights for legality and emergency, so this will be OK). That battery will run the turn and brake lights forever and a day. Plus, I am looking into options for a bit of charging on the go so that run time can be extended (don't bother mentioning solar unless you can show be a 1910 motorcycle with a solar array). I am haunting the thrift stores for an old leather case of some sort to house the battery (old Polaroid camera cases are good).
I am building the turn'tail/brake assembly from scratch, but I will probably scrounge for lenses or incorporate clearance lights of some sort- I smell a Tractor Supply Co. trip!
Anyhoo- I have gathered some parts and building begins tomorrow- pics in process will be forthcoming.
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