aftermarket headlight relay?

OEM headlight relays are expensive.

I picked up a 12V 30A relay at autozone for $5.

I know it won't have the "latch" effect the OEM relay had, but as long as battery voltage is fine this shouldn't be too much of a problem, right?

If this is a good idea, then I'm going to need help with the wiring...
If this is a bad idea, what are my other options? (Is ebay the best bet?)

 

Good on you for coming up with an inexpensive solution.

Would really suck to have the headlight go out in the dark if the engine quits or the alternator dies.

The latch is just a diode between the switched output and the trigger from the alternator. Take $1 up to RadioShack and buy a latch for it.

 

Good point. The engine dying at night would not be good. But for now I'm a new rider and not doing too much night riding (more dusk riding) and I really want to be street legal and, above all else, seen by cars.

I did open up the old headlight relay trying to "fix" the problem. I remember the diode and how the little gate switch worked. Unfortunately, modern relays are non-openable (if thats a word). So I'm not sure how I could add in that little diode... but its a cool thought. thanks.

 

add it externally

 

so... solder the diode between the pins (4 and 1) after I connect the wires to the relay? I feel like the diode might be prone to corrosion and wind-breakage because its not in a protective case like the original.

But you've answered my question. This should work. I just need to match up the wires correctly. Thats where I really need your help.

The relay came with a diagram. The pins are labeled: 30, 85, 86, and 87.

From what I've figured out, 30 goes to the battery, 85 goes to the switch, 86 is a ground connection, and 87 goes to the headlight.

I've got a white, a blue/black, a red/yellow, and a blue wire. But I'm not very good with wiring diagrams. Any chance you guys know off the top of your heads?

 

It doesn't need to be inside the box. Just wire it between the connectors and seal it up with something so it doesn't corrode.

**EDIT**
Sorry, I never saw the previous two posts. Guess I shouldn't use forums before that first cup of AM coffee.

 

A good old fashioned switch would also work, wouldn't it?

 

if you mean a switch instead of a relay, then no. That could fry my wiring harness. Thats why there's a relay. They deal with voltage differently.

But an on/off switch would be nice. I wouldn't really need it if I could get this relay to function like the original.