Headlights blowing, confused.

[cammyshade98]

i guys, new rider here. I bought a CPI Suv 125 on sunday after passing my cbt. All was well on sunday night and drove it 30 miles to work. When leaving work I noticed my headlight was out so I was driving carefully with a high-vis and staying on lit roads. Stopped at halfords and got a new bulb. It was a 12v 35W which is correct accoring to owners manual. I (stupidly) touched the bulb lots of times with dirty hands and then drove away. The old bulb was not new atall and clearly had been in there for a while. Later that night it blew out again. I have used a multimeter on the headlight pins and its reading 12-13v at idle and engine off. But when engine is reved it goes up to 14-14.5v . So is this normal or do I need to replace the voltage regulator rectifier? I have located the reg rec on the bike and am about to order one. Or should I just try another bulb? Thanks.

[doggone]

Your voltage seems normal when it's charging correctly it will be well above 12V about 14V is fine. However blowing bulbs is sometimes a symptom of an electrical issue while riding, perhaps vibration related.
Make sure the battery negative terminal is very secure to the frame (earth) for a start.
You are right it's unwise to touch the bulb at all if you can avoid it - try kitchen roll or something.

[cammyshade98]

Thanks, when you say attached to the frame do you have any idea where about it will be earthed? near the battery maybe? Im clueless. The bike does vibrate alot when riding especially the handlebars.

[doggone]

The black lead will go more or less direct to the frame from the battery negative, it's often rather tucked out of sight and can be prone to corrosion over time.
Or it might be fine in which case try another bulb - there are such things as faulty bulbs of course (unusual though)

[cammyshade98]

Im an idiot... just been looking over it, the earth leads into the loom and also one goes to the engine so and its under a washer. But I think the reason the bulb went out was because I never attached the healight assembly properly and I touched the bulb with oily hands. Goin to pick a new bulb up tommorow morning and take it from there.

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Good on you for passing your CBT and getting straight out on the roads at this time of year. There will be a voltage drop away from the battery so it might be worth checking the voltage at the battery terminals. Anything above 14.8 there when revved might suggest a faulty reg/rec and so 14.5 volts down the line might be too much for the bulb. Hope not. Could be vibes as doggone says too.
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'93 Yamaha XJR400 grey import (p-ex’d), '99 Kawasaki ZX6R (nicked), another '99 ZX6R (still got it) and '03 Yamaha YZF-R1 (still got that too.)

[cammyshade98]

Well. Thought it was bad luck. Put new bulb in with paper towel never touched it once, made sure was all screwed in properly so wasnt loose and on my way to work first my low beam went then on the way home my high beam went pop. Annoyed stripping bike down saturday going to see how its earthed and also if theres any exposed wires. ordered new reg/rec

[Wonko The Sane]

Have you checked that the fuse is the correct rating?

if nothing else it might save you money on bulbs!

can't remember last time I used my high beam…
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
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[cammyshade98]

.. I never thought lol Ill check it tomorrow I left the bike in the warehouse at work. If the fuse was wrong surely other things would break too not just headlights? all the other electrics work fine. Its a pain to start from cold but what else is expected from a 3 year old Chinese bike

[Wonko The Sane]

I carry fuses on the bike with me as mine (ZZR600) went through a stage of popping the fuse at which point all lights went off (head, tail, brake, dashboard)

it's stopped doing it now, no idea what caused it!

my theory is that, if there is a fuse that's rated too high as it's all someone had to get them home the next 'weak' link in the circuit could be the headlight bulb which is blowing instead of the fuse.

it's more likely to be a short somewhere (check where wiring and frame twist round each other) but best to check while checking.
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[kramdra]

Halfords range of bike specific bulbs are rubbish and will blow very easy. Order a cheap one from ebay it will last a lot longer. It does not help they sit on the shelf a long time. They will be happy giving you a free replacement, I had about 7 before going elsewhere for a good one.

Coating a bulb in sweat and jizz is not recommended but for a normal person, touching the glass wont shorten a bulb life. If it has there will be a black coating on the outside where it has burnt. Depends on the person and how much shit on your hands. Ive never had issue.

14.5v is perfect, and will charge battery, 13v will be draining or barely maintaining charge.

[talkToTheHat]

My 125s ate some halfrauds bulbs. Still on the same phillips motovision i bought 3 and a half years ago. Cheap bulbs are just a waste of time and money.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[uberkron]

Just buy decent bulbs and dont touch the envelope.. Loose wiring doesnt blow bulbs. Vibration and over voltage does.. Source - i am an auto electrician.
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i ride a zip 50 2smoke. It overtakes a hundred times a day.

[cammyshade98]

thanks. I have a multi meter and since you are an auto electrician can you tell me where to check the voltage, at what rpm and? I already measured the voltage to the headlights at idle and it read 13.5 and when revved a bit it went to 14.5. Should i rev it all the way and how many volts is too much? Thanks

[bugeye_bob]

from your other posts it isn't a voltage issue, it looks like a shit bulb issue,
If there was a really bad connection it would flicker way before blowing,
If it was a voltage issue why is it just the one bulb blowing ?

[cammyshade98]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-BA20D-417-35-35w-Super-White-Xenon-Headlight-Bulbs-12v-/391031506215?hash=item5b0b4b4527:g:8DQAAOSwxYxUuqFH What do you think of these

Also the filament just seems to break, no black bulb or smoke.

[bugeye_bob]

[cammyshade98]

ordered 2 of the ones you just sent a link to

[cammyshade98]

FIXED!! Was just sh*t hellfrauds bulbs lol