Headlight resistor mounting location Z1a

[StevieT]

Can any one explain where the head light resistor is located on the Z1a and what is the routing for the wiring from right hand handle bar to the left hand?
Is it normal practice to remove the resistor when fitting halogen bulbs?

[Pigford]

Resistor isn't needed with halogen....

[StevieT]

Thanks

[Garn 1]

Interestingly, I have dismantled quite a few Z1 series and I've seen a few of those resistors, never ever replaced them or tested them. I saw them as a redundant piece of equipment. Perhaps it is, as Pigford says, that it it is not needed, as everyone uses halogen headlight now.

I think the resistor was to keep continuity while the headlight changed from high to low beam and vice versa. It stops the "blackness" in between. That's what I heard. Anyone know why the resistor was installed?
RegardZ.

[Pigford]

I think the resistor was to stop a voltage spike blowing the bulb when it was switched on/off or sumink like that

[Steve S]

Ah well I havent gone over to Halogen yet and i guess that explaines why i am still suffering from the "Blackness" you describe .........tinted visor doesn,t help either

[tlc]

A resistor stops a component drawing too much current, if the voltage were to drop.

EG: A 60w bulb draws 5 amps at 12v.
That same 60w bulb draws 6 amps at 10v.

Since the original lamp was 45 watt that would need a resistor to restrict current flow to 4 amps. Therefore were the voltage to drop to 10v then the bulb would dim rather than overload the wiring / switch components.

I have seen the value of the resistor somewhere but can`t find it. It would be measured in ohms.

Going back to your original question it would need to be in the wiring that goes from battery to switch rather than switch to lamp. There must be a join somewhere as it has a male / female connection so I guess most people have junked it and been amazed at the improvement in candle power.

Incidentally mine didn`t have one but the wires around the switch were visibly overloaded and burnt.

[Garn 1]

Thanks TailiftCris, good description, however, I forgot to get back to the original question. Sorry StevieT.

I have looked at many Z1 series wiring diagrams and couldn't find that resistor, much less the value of the resistance. I finally found a wiring diag in a Z1A handbook (European Model). The the position of the resistor was shows the resistor, in the blue wire from the LHS h'bar control dimmer switch to the blue wire RHS headlight switch.

It has "spade" connectors, male & female and its physical position is above the horn area suspended in air, between the connecting blue wire in the LHS & RHS cables, behind the headstock.

RegardZ.