Things hooked to my battery
#1
Things hooked to my battery
I was hooking up the power cable to my new GPS and having a lot of trouble getting the battery bolts to catch. I have the GPS cord, my electric vest cord, and my battery tender cord. I had to shim the nut with folded electrical tape to raise it high enough. It makes me wonder about putting in a terminal block. Next electrical thing I want to do is put in a relay for a pair of FIAAM horns.
Fortunately, my bicycle computer doesn't need a power cable, although I lost a couple of magnets before I found something that would fit AND work on the brake rotor. There's a pretty tight clearance between the rotor and fork leg on this bike.
One thing I lerned from the GPS: my speedo is waaaay off. I was wondering why I was always going 85-90 on my bike but only 75 in my car. An indicated 85 is actually 72. The tach did show about 5K at 75 MPH but now I know it wasn't really 75 MPH. Now I can calibrate my bike computer better for when I'm just riding around and come into a town with a low speed limit. I've ordered stock size sprockets 17/42 to replace what I have. I know the rear is 44 but it seemed like too much trouble to check what the front might be.
Fortunately, my bicycle computer doesn't need a power cable, although I lost a couple of magnets before I found something that would fit AND work on the brake rotor. There's a pretty tight clearance between the rotor and fork leg on this bike.
One thing I lerned from the GPS: my speedo is waaaay off. I was wondering why I was always going 85-90 on my bike but only 75 in my car. An indicated 85 is actually 72. The tach did show about 5K at 75 MPH but now I know it wasn't really 75 MPH. Now I can calibrate my bike computer better for when I'm just riding around and come into a town with a low speed limit. I've ordered stock size sprockets 17/42 to replace what I have. I know the rear is 44 but it seemed like too much trouble to check what the front might be.
#2
RE: Things hooked to my battery
I'm getting closer to doing something with power.
I would do something like, run only one extra cable to the battery,run it into afuse box.
run one to the front and have a block with servel 12v out connectors, you could also run a couple of 5v via usb plug for phones and ****
many way to do it, just make sure everything is fused somewhere
I would do something like, run only one extra cable to the battery,run it into afuse box.
run one to the front and have a block with servel 12v out connectors, you could also run a couple of 5v via usb plug for phones and ****
many way to do it, just make sure everything is fused somewhere
#3
RE: Things hooked to my battery
Guys - a word of warning - be careful running a lot more electrical stuff than the bike comes with, like heated jackets, GPS's, airhorns etc if you ride a lot in traffic. These bikes, as we all know, don't charge well under 3000RPM, so you may well end up with a flat battery, with the bike running......http://foodman123.com/gallery.htm
see Tony Dilworth's posts on this. Nothing worse than being stuck with a flat battery in cold weather......could be a killer......A reg/rec that charges at low revs, like my Electrex model, which gives me 13.8V at 1400RPM, may be an addition you could consider.
see Tony Dilworth's posts on this. Nothing worse than being stuck with a flat battery in cold weather......could be a killer......A reg/rec that charges at low revs, like my Electrex model, which gives me 13.8V at 1400RPM, may be an addition you could consider.
#4
RE: Things hooked to my battery
I tested the charge rate on mine, 2500rpm to break even, so yer 3000rpm to charge.
I built a volage display kit from Jaycar, havn't fitted it yet, has a 10-Led display, can be trim to different requirements.
I would proberbly have a master switch for you accessories.
It's all good, as long as you make a good job of it and get a voltage display of some kind, so you can see potential problems before they hurt.
When I had a charging fault with mine due to a F@$#Wit Bike Shop adapting the wrong r/r to my bike.
I pull the H/Light fuse to extend my range
I built a volage display kit from Jaycar, havn't fitted it yet, has a 10-Led display, can be trim to different requirements.
I would proberbly have a master switch for you accessories.
It's all good, as long as you make a good job of it and get a voltage display of some kind, so you can see potential problems before they hurt.
When I had a charging fault with mine due to a F@$#Wit Bike Shop adapting the wrong r/r to my bike.
I pull the H/Light fuse to extend my range
#6
#7
RE: Things hooked to my battery
Here are 4 links for various types - mine was bought from the last one - casporttouring.com
http://www.customdynamics.com/LED_battery_gauge.htm
www.zr5sdb.co.za/things/Projects/Dashboard%20Digital%20Voltmeter.pdf -It may be a bit cheaper than the Datel one.....
Screen=PROD&Product_Code=14124&Category_Co de=Electronics http://fjr1300.info/howto/datel.html
http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Has Voltmeter, low voltage alarm, lap timer, clock, and two temp sensors. Works like a charm !
http://www.customdynamics.com/LED_battery_gauge.htm
www.zr5sdb.co.za/things/Projects/Dashboard%20Digital%20Voltmeter.pdf -It may be a bit cheaper than the Datel one.....
Screen=PROD&Product_Code=14124&Category_Co de=Electronics http://fjr1300.info/howto/datel.html
http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Has Voltmeter, low voltage alarm, lap timer, clock, and two temp sensors. Works like a charm !
#9
RE: Things hooked to my battery
Well, well well - look who's decided to grace our humble abode with his presence !
Welcome back, Flogger mate ![sm=groupwave.gif][sm=icon_guiness.gif][sm=smiley20.gif]
Good to see you're still up and running.............
There're a whole new bunch around the Forum, but our guys are much the same..............
Welcome back, Flogger mate ![sm=groupwave.gif][sm=icon_guiness.gif][sm=smiley20.gif]
Good to see you're still up and running.............
There're a whole new bunch around the Forum, but our guys are much the same..............
#10
RE: Things hooked to my battery
I didn't know about the charging issue under 3000 RPM. The GPS can't draw much current since it has a 1 amp fuse. I really don't know what the electric vest draws but I never had a problem with it on an FJ1200 or Interceptor 500. I hook up the bike to the battery tender if I haven't ridden for a while. Do you think the battery could be drained in a single day's around town riding?