spinalator |
11-20-2008 01:16 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin081
(Post 408228)
i never wired up any relay. is that bad? should i be using relays?
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How To Vire Zee Relay Fir Zee German Moto
Quote:
Why use a relay?
There are several reasons you should use a relay instead of just wiring your accessories directly to the battery. The most important reason is so that your accessories won't be ON all the time. Sure, you can put a switch in the circuit, but what's to keep a little kid (motorcycles attract kids, you know) from flipping the switch on your parked bike? Or forgetting to flip the switch off yourself? If either of those things happen, you might find your bike's battery dead the next time you try to use it.
What is a relay?
In simplest terms, it's a little switch that throws a bigger switch. The little switch gets "thrown" by your motorcycle's electrical system when you turn the ignition on. The little switch triggers a solenoid (or solid-state equivalent) which flips the big switch ON. The big switch side of the relay is the "power" side that will be used to run accessories you're adding to your bike. The way we'll wire it, the relay will be ON when the bike's ignition is on, and off otherwise. Thus your accessories will also be on only when the ignition is on.
Here's a photo of a typical relay. In this case, a Bosch micro-relay, part number 0 332 011 007. The US quarter is shown for scale. Relays like this are available from auto-parts stores, truck stops, electronics supply places, and so on. They typically retail from $5 to $20US.
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You don't have to use a relay, but I have learned that it not increased my penis size, it made it foolproof, for the fool with too many accessories wired up to his vehicle and bike. In the past I would overload some circuits by splicing in, and one time chose a random wire behind the speedo, and then had no headlights 4 miles out in the country. Oops that was smart. After I limped back to the cabin with hazards on, I changed the fuses, and put a hot wire and relay directly to the battery, and all is good. Well so far. I am sure the audio installers have better reasons than that.
One example, I came back to the airport in the middle of -30 weather, and found that dumbass (me) left the heated seat on while I was getting fat and drunk in Cuba, for a week. Boosting a car with no winter clothes and a hangover sucks donkey balls. :drunk:
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