Pannier 'Lights' Power Feed?

[Nostalgiajohn]

My Classic has a pair of panniers fitted (By the PO) but the lights are not wired in. Where would you recommend taking a feed from so they are on with the normal lights?

 

[Star-Lord]

Just thinking aloud here, but perhaps trace back the wiring from the existing tail lights, and find an appropriate spot where you can connect the pannier lights in a parallel configuration (vs series connection) with the existing wiring.

Do the pannier lights have only two wires [ a (+) and a negative (-) ground wire]; or, do they have three wires?

 

[Nostalgiajohn]

Hi, Thanks for the response. They have 2 wires.

 

[R2K]

I would purchase a CANopener light kit from Clearwater lights and use the brake light connection to light them. This would also give you added front aux lights. Otherwise you risk CanBus fault issues.

https://www.clearwaterlights.com/products/darla-r18b-r18-transcontinental?variant=40595205783618

 

[Deleted member 1810]

Those look very similar to the oldtimers bags.
https://www.oldtimers.si/en/bags-saddlebags-set-ready-for-bmw-r18.html

 

[Star-Lord]

Hi, Thanks for the response. They have 2 wires.

Do you know if the pannier lights are LED or incandescent bulbs? If they are LED, you will most likely not generate any error codes due to the low current draw of a Light Emitting Diode (L.E.D.), vs the higher current draw of an incandescent bulb.

Next, you need to consider how you want the lights to operate; do you want them as running lights or brake lights or directional lights, and that will be determined by which (+) wire you tap from the existing wiring.