Headlight Bucket Acc Wire

[superduty]

Going to be hooking up a fairing soon (fingers crossed on getting it back from the painter this weekend).

I'm wondering if the accessory wire in the headlight bucket would safely power the radio. I know it has power to it all the time, but I think I can remember to unplug it if I'm not going to be riding for a while.

Thanks

[strobe]

I think it might overload that circuit. My stereo has a inline 15 AMP fuse, but that lead is 10 amps. I would wire it directly to the battery with a relay. Depending on the radio you have, it may be fine, but I would do the relay.

[cactusjack]

I agree with Strobe, the fairing stereo should be on a dedicated circuit. When you get your fairing installed, post some pictures - I'd like to see it.

[macmac]

These guys are right.... It depends on the load the radio will be. If the radio has a 5 amp fuse, wich it might..... just maybe then you can. The AMP on many radios is much bigger and will need real power often times these days.

[superduty]

Thanks everyone. I've been thinking about ordering the PC8 Fuse panel that I've been reading about in another thread.

Maybe that's what I'll do, and skip hooking up power to the radio until that arrives.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by superduty

Thanks everyone. I've been thinking about ordering the PC8 Fuse panel that I've been reading about in another thread.

Maybe that's what I'll do, and skip hooking up power to the radio until that arrives.

You don't have to go that far, SD - unless you want to connect up multiple accessories. If you only plan to connect the stereo, the PC8 would not be worth the expense, IMHO. I can show you how to hook it up using a common relay and wire for < $10 if you want to do it that way.

[barrynfla]

SD, I also would recommend a relay. I also would strongly recommend that you hook the relay up to a switched power source. You said that you would remember to unplug the radio but human nature being what it is, you WILL forget one day and find a dead battery waiting for you. An excellent switched power source is the blue/white wire that powers the headlight after the motor starts. Why put more stress on the electrical system if you don't have to. Just my 3 cents.

Barry

Edit: I meant blue/yellow wire.

[spirello]

SUPERDUTY I have the same fairing and I wired mine to the batterybut I put a switch inline on the left side cover to shut power off to the deck because if I let it sit for a week or so it would kill the battery. I just ran the memory wire to a hot lead in the headlight bucket.

[macmac]

What is the watts/ amp rating on the radio?

[superduty]

I checked the radio and it's a 15amp fuse. 40W x 4 output. I've got the TFI and trickle charger wires connected to the battery now, so I didn't know when the was point that it was better to stop attaching stuff that way and go with a fuse box.

I have a two pole plug on the headlight bucket wire now and use it rarely for a GPS or charging my cell phone in the windshield bag. Just thought I could switch off occassionally and use the same plug, but if it's underpowered for the stereo, then it go another way.

I expect I'll get a light bar eventually, but that'll probably be it for electrical accessories.

[strobe]

If you are looking at a stereo and light bar as the only two electrical accessories to add, then I would say just go the $10 relay route. You can add the second relay for the light bar when you get it and save yourself a bunch of money on the fuse panel like CJ said.

[macmac]

Originally Posted by superduty

I checked the radio and it's a 15amp fuse. 40W x 4 output. I've got the TFI and trickle charger wires connected to the battery now, so I didn't know when the was point that it was better to stop attaching stuff that way and go with a fuse box.

I have a two pole plug on the headlight bucket wire now and use it rarely for a GPS or charging my cell phone in the windshield bag. Just thought I could switch off occassionally and use the same plug, but if it's underpowered for the stereo, then it go another way.

I expect I'll get a light bar eventually, but that'll probably be it for electrical accessories.

Whoa!!!!! Did I read that right? You really have the TFI hooked to the battery? Did you add some switch?

The power lead should be to the tail lamp, not the brake lamp, but the tail lamp to come on with the key!

I think you are in error, and think one thing and did another, but you need to check.

If the wiring is as you say then the TFI is ON all the time, even when the bike is off parked at night when you sleep, and so is a draw on the battery you don't want.

And now we know you have a 15 amp radio, the for sure answer is No the 10 amp circuit will be over loaded..

To sneak by you can make a cable from the battery, and fuse it, then run that cable somewhere you like, and add a buss block to hook up more things, and fuse and switch each one.

This might be done to hook up a radio like yours, but sooner or later a fuse box is in your future.

[superduty]

Sorry to startle you mac. Just the negative on the TFI to the negative on the battery, as per their instructions. :)

[macmac]

Ah ok I can live with that... So far I met just one guy from here, but on another site I met so many folks as i could that invited me to their homes on a USA tour. In real life i don't see very many people, most days just 2, so you guys are considered friends.

I figure most of you are butt ugly anyway, so I don't need to really see you!

[Top Cat]

Mac, we like the fact you consider us friends.
We aren't so happy about you thinking we are ugly ;)