| Author | Message | ||
     Paul_in_japan |
I'm about to install the heated grip elements sold on Americansportbike. The instructions that came with the grips simply state, to connect the power supply wire to something that only runs when the ignition is on, such as the front headlight. This makes sense, preventing running the battery down when accidentally leaving the grips on. All other instructions I have read involve a using a relay to prevent exactly the same thing. I don't have a relay and would like to install them tomorrow. Do I need this relay set up? (07 XB12R) | ||
| Dtaylor |
I'd avoid drawing large current off the already marginal headlight system, and install a switched relay system. Relay systems are good not only for avoiding unintentional battery draw when the bike is off, but also for easing the electrical load that goes through the ignition switch etc. when running high draw things on a switched circuit. This is something you could do yourself, but I'm less inclined to re-invent the wheel, as there are ready-made options available. I am a big fan of Eastern Beaver, a small business run by a Canadian living in Japan. His work is top drawer, and makes updating/modifying motorcycle electrics a breeze. You might consider his 3-circuit relay/fusebox kit, or a simple relay kit for heated grips. http://easternbeaver.com/Main/main.html Good luck, Doug | ||
| Reepicheep |
Dtaylor is absolutely right in theory, at some point "too much is too much" and you want to run a relay rather then blowing fuses at the wost times and in the worst places. But in this case, you can run the heated grips off the accessory line just fine. I've done it (and the math) on my Ulysses. And in fact the factory heated grips are done that way as well. On the older XB's, you can also use the line for the "auxiliary parking light". Those are used in Germany, but here in the US there isn't even a bulb in it. Not sure about Japan. | ||
| Syonyk |
Can you run both the low beam & heated grips off the "accessory line"? My low beam is attached to that now... | ||
| Paul_in_japan |
Thanks for the advice guys. Turns out Easterbeaver Jim lives just 40miles away. I think Ill be getting this set up which will give me 3 outputs for heated grips, phone/navi and perhaps a heated vest. http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/Fuseboxes/3 _Circuit/3_circuit.html Anyone know the location and color of an easily accessible wire under the seat to run the relay off? | ||
| Al_lighton |
No where would I say to hook the heated grips up to the headlight circuit!! Not sure if the generic instructions that come from the manufacturer say that, but I sure wouldn't! In the schematic linked to the heated grip product here (click on the larger image button) http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/5669.html, I say to hook up a relay to the battery for the POWER, and to use a circuit like the light circuit to hook to the CONTROL side of the relay. If the generic instructions say to do this, I would surely disregard them! AL | ||
| Reepicheep |
I ran them off my low beam lead when I had my XB9SX, but that was because I had a high end HID kit for the low beam fed from the battery through a relay.. So that original lead was now doing nothing. That may have started the confusion... my apologies if that was the case. It had a hassle factor anyway, as if I hit the high beams, my heated grips stopped working!  | ||
| Paul_in_japan |
Al, your instructions on the website were good. That's what got me asking about the relay in the first place, as the generic instructions that came with the hand grips didn't mention it. I didn't have a relay and was in a hurry to get them installed. I'll be getting it all sorted this weekend. Thanks for the help. | ||
| Paul_in_japan |
I plan on installing this relay/fusebox setup under the seat somewhere. Is the rear tail light wire the most easily accessible wire to trigger the relay? | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I used the plate illuminator light for the switching power on my 07 STT as I didn't want to have any concerns about my tail light having a problem... easier and safer getting home with the plate not lit than brake light and tail light not working... seems like someone smarter than me, maybe Al recommended that source for the switch power to the relay. Just used a red crimp on splitter. I've probably got pics here somewhere, if you'd like I'm sure I can dig them up. I love having heated grips, combined with my vest I can manage the colder temps a lot better. (Message edited by littlebuggles on December 08, 2011) | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Here's a link, can't quite tell the coloring on the wire I used, it's pretty easy to locate as it runs through a sort of rubber boot and out the the illuminater light housing. Second two pics are of the XB's under seat wiring. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/656147.html?1319477632 Hope this helps. (Message edited by littlebuggles on December 08, 2011) |
