Proudly Made in the USA
The IQ-270-A or Intelligent High Beam Controller with Alert enables your bike's high beam to operate at reduced brightness when the high beam is turned off and at 100% brightness when the high beam is turned on.
Note: An inherent characteristic of the IQ-270-A is that it conducts the voltage on the high beam bulb's connection back to the bike's high beam wire even when the high beam switch is off. This is what turns on the bike's high beam indicator light. It is possible to have the high beam indicator stay off until the high beam switch is activated by inserting a diode. Click here for additional details.
Compatibility:
Models that are compatible have:
- Separate reflectors for high and low beam
- One or more lamps that come on only in high beam mode
- Headlight bulb types H1, H3, H7, or H11.
- Bikes with dual filament (H4) headlight bulbs are NOT compatible.
- The stock high beam bulb in the Honda Africa Twin is NOT compatible with the IQ-270-A.
- The Yamaha Tracer 9 GT is NOT compatible.
As shown in Fig 1, use the included Posi-Tap® and Posi-Lock® connectors to connect the controller to your bike's wiring.
- Connect the controller's black wire on the controller to any bike ground connection
- Disconnect or cut the wire to the high beam
- Connect the high beam bulb end to the orange/white striped and violet/white striped wires
- Connect the high beam bike end to the white and orange wires
- Connect the violet wire through an appropriately sized fuse either to a switched 12 volt circuit or to the battery. The switched circuit must be able to supply the full current drawn by the high beam bulb which is typically ~5 amps. If a switched circuit is used, this same circuit may be used to power the control module
- Connect the controller's red wire to switched power. The current draw on the red wire is only a few milliamps so any switched source will work. The red wire can share the same switched circuit as the violet wire.
The controller is small and can be mounted on the back side of the instrument cluster.
On some bikes, like the BMW F700GS, it can be tucked inside the headlight shell as shown in the photo
Kawasaki Versys Information
The wires on the light side of the high beam connector are both black, but you can use the corresponding wires on the bike side of the connector to identify the hot and ground. The first photo on right shows the red/black wire(hot) and the black/yellow wire(ground) that you will use for the installation.
The second photo shows the completed installation.
Installation option to include diode
As mentioned above, an inherent characteristic of the IQ-270-A is that it conducts the voltage on the high beam bulb's connection back to the bike's high beam wire even when the high beam switch is off. As a result you will now have a programmable lower voltage going to the bike's high beam wire. The high beam indicator light will come on only at the reduced brightness setting that you have selected. This difference is much more noticeable if the indicator bulb is an LED.
It is possible to prevent that lower voltage from reaching the bike's high beam wire by inserting a diode in the orange/white wire. A suitable diode costs about $1. A diagram of the optional diode installation is below.
The specifications of the diode are: Voltage: 25 volts or more; Current: 10 amps or more; Forward voltage: preferably < 600 millivolts. Voltage and current values above 25v 10a are more expensive and unnecessary but will not cause any problems. A higher forward voltage will increase the heat generated by the diode and should be avoided.
Programming
After installation, you will need to adjust the brightness of the high beam bulb for maximum light output without causing glare for oncoming traffic. When you turn on the ignition the high beam will come on low power for 3 seconds, flash briefly twice and switch to the default brightness level of 20%.
To change the brightness level follow these steps.
- Ensure that the high beam switch is off, then turn on the ignition. The high beam will come on low power for 3 seconds and then flash briefly twice
- To enter programming mode, as soon as you see the 2 rapid flashes, activate the high beam switch 3 times before 10 seconds elapse. The controller will respond by flashing the lamps back 3 times, signaling the controller is now in programming mode.
- Once in programming mode, each time the high beam is turned on then off, the high beam brightness will increase by 10% until it reaches 100%. The next increment beyond 100% will cycle it back to 0% or off.
- Exit the programming mode by turning the ignition off. The controller will also exit programming mode if there is no activity on the high beam switch for 20 seconds. The programmed brightness level is automatically saved and will apply the next time the ignition is turned on.
Once you select your desired brightness, please observe the bike's headlight from a distance of ~ 50 feet in front of the bike. If too bright, repeat the programming process. It can be helpful to have a second person on hand to help with this observation.
It is important that the selected brightness not cause glare to oncoming traffic
Note 1: If you turn the ignition on with the high beam switch on, the high beam comes on at full power and you are unable to enter programming mode
Note 2: If your bike's headlight comes on with the engine instead of the ignition follow this process for programming. The controller begins its start up sequence at power up, so it could be past the 2 rapid flashes by the time the headlight comes on. If so, go ahead and activate the high beam switch 3 times. If the controller flashes the lights back in response then you are in programming mode. If not, turn off the ignition and start again as long as the 3 high beam switch activations are completed within the first 13 seconds after the ignition comes on you will be in programming mode.
Note 3: If the wire connections will be in a wet location, We suggest that you wrap them in Rescue Tape or a similar waterproof tape for extra protection.