Electrical help needed - SV650.org

Red ones · 31-03-17, 09:31 PM

For a while now my headlights have flickered at tick over. Then they dimmed when it was ticking over and the indicators flashed. Now I notice they dim sometimes as I ride along the motorway. I'm thinking I probably have a dodgy connector or a wire chafing somewhere.
Any tips for usual suspect locations/connectors etc?

It's an SK8 and I can't afford the bike to be of the road as it's my commuter.

Red Herring · 31-03-17, 10:02 PM

Have you got access to a voltmeter so you can measure across the battery terminals with the engine off, at tick over, and then at increased RPM?

Red ones · 31-03-17, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Herring

Have you got access to a voltmeter so you can measure across the battery terminals with the engine off, at tick over, and then at increased RPM?

Yes. Are you thinking it could be the battery on its way out? The voltmeter won't pick up the variation in the voltage only the average voltage at each of those conditions.
I also have a battery tester. I shouldn't think it's a lack of charge going to the battery given the distance of the commute, unless the R/R has gone, but as nothing other than lighting is affected I doubt that is the cause.

Blapper · 01-04-17, 06:44 AM

Daily commuting is a good life for a battery. My money is 75% on RR and 25% on battery. Do the checks on the battery terminals and get back to us Red ones.

Red ones · 01-04-17, 09:12 AM

Voltage with engine off and standing over night first 12.8

Idle 14.50

3500rpm 14.48 and steady across the range

After running the battery gradually drops initially from 13.5v

Blapper · 01-04-17, 09:21 AM

Looky:

http://www.electrosport.com/media/pd...ng-diagram.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n6oNFfcCOA

Red ones · 01-04-17, 09:30 AM

Cheers Blaps
I've been looking for that chart, needless to say as soon as I opened it my phone pointed out I have it on Dropbox.

Two readings and I find it's OK.

So it looks like I'm tracing the wiring to the lights for a reason for losing voltage to them.
Dodgy connector or chafing.

Blapper · 01-04-17, 09:49 AM

FYI, this winter I did a relay mod on my headlights so the switch only handles low current and the hair-like Suzuki wires only carry mA. The difference is much greater than I thought, brightness and response when flashing are both improved a lot.

So, check out your wires. Try connecting the volt meter to the battery and headlamp etc to compare the voltage dropped along the cables/relays to each other (+/- cables). This will highlight bad connections.

How much do your dash lights dim when you hit the starter? I am not convinced yet that your battery is ok.

Red ones · 01-04-17, 09:55 AM

The neutral light on the dash only slightly flickers on start. The voltage at the headlight connector is 13.3v but this drops to 12.5v when the indicator lamps come on (and obviously fluctuates as they flash!)

Red ones · 01-04-17, 10:05 AM

There should be a white connector for the front lights to the wiring loom. Any idea where it hides before I tackle the fairing removal fiasco?
Is like to check that before I consider a new battery.

31-03-17, 09:31 PM	#1
Red ones Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 1,422	Electrical help needed For a while now my headlights have flickered at tick over. Then they dimmed when it was ticking over and the indicators flashed. Now I notice they dim sometimes as I ride along the motorway. I'm thinking I probably have a dodgy connector or a wire chafing somewhere. Any tips for usual suspect locations/connectors etc? It's an SK8 and I can't afford the bike to be of the road as it's my commuter.

31-03-17, 10:02 PM	#2
Red Herring Member Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,708	Re: Electrical help needed Have you got access to a voltmeter so you can measure across the battery terminals with the engine off, at tick over, and then at increased RPM?

01-04-17, 06:44 AM	#4
Blapper Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Rochester,Kent. Posts: 824	Re: Electrical help needed Daily commuting is a good life for a battery. My money is 75% on RR and 25% on battery. Do the checks on the battery terminals and get back to us Red ones.

01-04-17, 09:12 AM	#5
Red ones Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 1,422	Electrical help needed Voltage with engine off and standing over night first 12.8 Idle 14.50 3500rpm 14.48 and steady across the range After running the battery gradually drops initially from 13.5v Last edited by Red ones; 01-04-17 at 09:14 AM.

01-04-17, 09:21 AM	#6
Blapper Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Rochester,Kent. Posts: 824	Re: Electrical help needed Looky: http://www.electrosport.com/media/pd...ng-diagram.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n6oNFfcCOA

01-04-17, 09:30 AM	#7
Red ones Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 1,422	Electrical help needed Cheers Blaps I've been looking for that chart, needless to say as soon as I opened it my phone pointed out I have it on Dropbox. Two readings and I find it's OK. So it looks like I'm tracing the wiring to the lights for a reason for losing voltage to them. Dodgy connector or chafing. Last edited by Red ones; 01-04-17 at 09:33 AM.

01-04-17, 09:49 AM	#8
Blapper Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Rochester,Kent. Posts: 824	Re: Electrical help needed FYI, this winter I did a relay mod on my headlights so the switch only handles low current and the hair-like Suzuki wires only carry mA. The difference is much greater than I thought, brightness and response when flashing are both improved a lot. So, check out your wires. Try connecting the volt meter to the battery and headlamp etc to compare the voltage dropped along the cables/relays to each other (+/- cables). This will highlight bad connections. How much do your dash lights dim when you hit the starter? I am not convinced yet that your battery is ok.

01-04-17, 09:55 AM	#9
Red ones Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 1,422	Re: Electrical help needed The neutral light on the dash only slightly flickers on start. The voltage at the headlight connector is 13.3v but this drops to 12.5v when the indicator lamps come on (and obviously fluctuates as they flash!)

01-04-17, 10:05 AM	#10
Red ones Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 1,422	Re: Electrical help needed There should be a white connector for the front lights to the wiring loom. Any idea where it hides before I tackle the fairing removal fiasco? Is like to check that before I consider a new battery.

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