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Need electrical advice on motorcycle wiring

S

SBH

Jan 1, 1970
0
I hope someone can help me with the wiring on my motorcycle.

I bought a license plate frame with turn signals from J & P Cycles. You can
see it here >>>> http://www.jpcycles.com/shop/group.asp?GPID=14208

Upon it's arrival, I noticed it only had one wire on each signal. No
problem, I thought, I added a ground wire for each side. Now, I have the two
proper wires needed to work.

My main idea is to remove my stock signals and replace with the plate/signal
combo. Therefore, I had a second set of stock lights, which I used to cut
off the connectors and solder them onto the two wires from the plate. All
the while, I have my 14 volt cordless drill battery to test it's function,
so far so good.

Now, all wires are soldered, connected and set. I plug the two connectors to
the main harness. From the other end of the wire harness (the part which
plugs in when I remount the rear fender) I used my jumper wires to make sure
I'm getting connection all the way to the lights. One wire is on the
positive side of the battery while the other is on the negative side. When I
connect the proper metal contacts, "both" signals go on at the same time.
Therefore, I try something else. I took the old stock assembly and
reconnected those. When I jump the wires from battery again, it works as it
should, one side, than the other, individually. Now I reconnect the
plate/signal again and run the wires from battery to contacts and do it
again and "both" lights come on at the same time again. That's my dilemma.

FYI...When I added the wires for ground, I used one wire per side and
grounded to the frame, therefore, they are contacting each other. Could this
be the problem? If not, anyone know why this is doing it and what can I do
to resolve it.

Thank you
 
M

Mark or Sue

Jan 1, 1970
0
SBH said:
I hope someone can help me with the wiring on my motorcycle.

I bought a license plate frame with turn signals from J & P Cycles. You can
see it here >>>> http://www.jpcycles.com/shop/group.asp?GPID=14208

Upon it's arrival, I noticed it only had one wire on each signal. No
problem, I thought, I added a ground wire for each side. Now, I have the two
proper wires needed to work.

My main idea is to remove my stock signals and replace with the plate/signal
combo. Therefore, I had a second set of stock lights, which I used to cut
off the connectors and solder them onto the two wires from the plate. All
the while, I have my 14 volt cordless drill battery to test it's function,
so far so good.

Now, all wires are soldered, connected and set. I plug the two connectors to
the main harness. From the other end of the wire harness (the part which
plugs in when I remount the rear fender) I used my jumper wires to make sure
I'm getting connection all the way to the lights. One wire is on the
positive side of the battery while the other is on the negative side. When I
connect the proper metal contacts, "both" signals go on at the same time.
Therefore, I try something else. I took the old stock assembly and
reconnected those. When I jump the wires from battery again, it works as it
should, one side, than the other, individually. Now I reconnect the
plate/signal again and run the wires from battery to contacts and do it
again and "both" lights come on at the same time again. That's my dilemma.

FYI...When I added the wires for ground, I used one wire per side and
grounded to the frame, therefore, they are contacting each other. Could this
be the problem? If not, anyone know why this is doing it and what can I do
to resolve it.

You do realize that many things automotive/motorcycle use 1 wire (to the battery +) and the metal
chassis provides the negative wire? Assuming you know that, how many wires did your old lights
have -- one or two per light? If two, is each intended to be a separate powered wire to different
filaments in the bulb (separate running light and turn signal), or is one + and the other - ?

If the old lights were two wires, + and -, then you need to determine how the blinking circuit
works. You may be OK with a common wire (the grounds or maybe the hots), or maybe not. We need to
know a lot more to answer your question unless all motorcycles are done the same (I don't know much
about bike wiring myself).
 
S

SBH

Jan 1, 1970
0
You do realize that many things automotive/motorcycle use 1 wire (to the battery +) and the metal
chassis provides the negative wire? Assuming you know that, how many wires did your old lights
have -- one or two per light? If two, is each intended to be a separate powered wire to different
filaments in the bulb (separate running light and turn signal), or is one + and the other - ?

If the old lights were two wires, + and -, then you need to determine how the blinking circuit
works. You may be OK with a common wire (the grounds or maybe the hots), or maybe not. We need to
know a lot more to answer your question unless all motorcycles are done the same (I don't know much
about bike wiring myself).
The stock lights have two wires coming out and the bulbs are single
filament. If they were ok to use a single wire, how would I plug them into a
two wire connection to make them function properly?
 
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