Molly Ayala
Motorcyclists often add electrical accessories to their bikes to enhance safety, comfort, and enjoyment. These accessories, known as farkles, can include strobing brake lights, phone charging ports, stereo systems, speakers, auxiliary lights, GPS, heated vests, and grips. While these additions improve the riding experience, they also increase the demand on the motorcycle's electrical system, which already powers essential components such as the headlight, instrument cluster, ignition system, fuel pump, brake lights, and turn signals. To accommodate farkles without overloading the system or draining the battery, riders must carefully consider power management and circuit design. This involves understanding voltage, current, resistance, and the principles of complete circuits, as described by Ohm's Law. Properly installing and managing these electrical accessories ensures that riders can benefit from the added features without compromising the motorcycle's performance or risking electrical faults.
How to add electrical circuits to motorcycles
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose of adding electrical circuits | To improve riding comfort and safety |
| Examples of electrical accessories | Riding lights, heated grips, GPS, stereo system, speakers, strobing brake lights, phone charging port, auxiliary lights, heated vest |
| Common issues with adding electrical accessories | Increased risk of short circuit, excessive power draw, battery drainage |
| Preventative measures | Use high-quality wires and connectors, avoid connecting accessories directly to the battery, use OEM sockets, consider professional advice |
| Power supply for accessories | Motorcycle battery or switched live connector |
| Circuit basics | Complete circuit required for electricity flow, path from positive to negative terminal, voltage, current, resistance |
| Troubleshooting | Use circuit tester or multimeter to detect faults and measure electrical parameters |
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What You'll Learn
Using a switched live
To use a switched live, you need to find a live (positive) wire on your bike that only has power when the ignition is on. Taillight circuits are a good option, as they are typically only live when the headlights are on. Once you've found the right wire, you can use a supplied connector to bridge into it and connect it to the accessory you want to power. This way, the accessory will only power on when the ignition is on, preventing battery drain.
It's important to verify that you've found the correct switched power source before proceeding. You can do this by removing the fuse and using a voltmeter to check which side of the fuse is hot. You can also consult the wiring diagram in a service manual to help identify the correct wire.
When splicing into the circuit, it's important to use the correct type of splice for your needs. The butt splice allows the new wire to follow the same path as the old one, while the pigtail splice keeps the wire from having to make a 180-degree turn. Always use electrical tape to wrap the splices and protect the wires.
Using a relay with a switched live can also be a good option, especially if you plan to power multiple accessories. A relay uses a small amount of power to activate a larger, power-hungry switch. By using a relay, you can avoid the risk of blowing a fuse by exceeding the limits of your bike's charging system. Make sure to select a relay rated for the number of amps of your planned accessory circuit.
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Preventing electrical issues
Adding electrical accessories to your motorcycle can be a tricky business, and electrical issues are a common problem for riders. However, there are some steps you can take to prevent electrical issues before they occur.
Firstly, always use high-quality wires and connectors. Cheap aftermarket accessories can increase the risk of a short circuit, so it is worth investing in factory-made accessories from well-known brands. You should also avoid connecting accessories directly into the battery, as this can drain the battery and cause it to die. Instead, use a splitter with a socket to safely run accessories.
It is also important to be mindful of your motorcycle's battery before adding electrical accessories. A common issue is a rapidly draining battery, which can be caused by a faulty charging system, parasitic drain, or a bad battery. To prevent this, ensure your battery is producing enough amps to power all electrical components, and consider using a tool like the Ancel MT700 to check battery health.
Corrosion is another common cause of electrical issues. To prevent corrosion, make sure connections are correct and use anti-corrosion grease or spray on plugs, joins, and terminations.
Finally, a blown or faulty main fuse can cause a range of issues, from a dead bike to electrical components working intermittently. It is a good idea to keep a spare main fuse and to check other components of your electrical system if the fuse continues to blow.
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Understanding motorcycle electrical systems
Basic Principles
Electrical systems follow the fundamental rule that electricity only flows when a circuit is complete. A circuit is complete when there is a path from the positive end (red terminal) to the negative end (black terminal) of the power source, typically the motorcycle battery. This concept is described by Ohm's Law, which relates voltage, current, and resistance in a circuit. Understanding this law is essential before working with motorcycle electrical systems.
Motorcycle Electrical Components
Motorcycles have various electrical components, including the lighting system (headlight, tail light, brake light), ignition system, instrument cluster, EFI fuel pump, brake lights, turn signals, horn, and warning lights. Each of these components is connected to the electrical system and draws power from the battery. Modern motorcycles may also have more advanced features like thermostatically-controlled engine cooling and computer-aided injection electronics with sensors.
Adding Electrical Accessories
Aftermarket electrical accessories, often referred to as "Farkles," can enhance the functionality and comfort of your motorcycle. Examples include strobing brake lights, phone charging ports, stereo systems, auxiliary lights, GPS, and heated gear. However, these accessories can draw significant power, impacting the motorcycle's charging system. Therefore, it's crucial to consider power management and use high-quality wires and connectors to prevent electrical issues.
Power Management
When adding electrical accessories, it's important to manage power consumption to avoid draining the battery. You can use a splitter or OEM sockets to safely run accessories without overloading the battery. Additionally, consider using a switched live connection, which powers accessories only when the ignition is on, or a ThunderBox, which detects overload and cuts power to prevent electrical issues.
Troubleshooting
To troubleshoot electrical issues in your motorcycle, you can use tools like a circuit tester or a multimeter. These tools help detect and measure DC currents, voltage, resistance, and current flow. Understanding how to diagnose and resolve electrical problems is essential for maintaining your motorcycle's electrical system.
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Lighting circuits
Adding lighting circuits to your motorcycle can be a fun way to make a unique statement, but it's important to take safety precautions and follow instructions carefully. Here are some detailed steps to help you add lighting circuits to your motorcycle:
Firstly, decide on the type of lighting you want to install. You can choose between LED light kits, which come in single-color or multi-color options, or LED strips that you can use to design your own custom lighting. Once you've made your choice, gather the necessary tools and materials, including additional electrical wire, velcro strips or adhesive, sandpaper, pliers, screwdrivers, soldering equipment, wire terminal connectors, electrical tape, and an in-line fuse.
Before you begin the installation, it is crucial to disconnect the motorcycle battery for safety. If your LED kit doesn't include a fuse, consider splicing one into the wiring for added protection. When working with the wiring, always use quality stranded wire to ensure optimal performance and safety. Avoid cheap wiring, as it can compromise the aesthetics and protection of your motorcycle.
Now, let's move on to the lighting installation process. Start by determining the placement of your lights and the power on/off switch. It is recommended to mount the switch by drilling a hole and securing it in an easily accessible location on your motorcycle. Next, attach the positive and negative wire leads to your LED light strips or kit. If you have individual light strips close together, you may need to join the positive or negative leads together and then run a single wire to the switch.
Once the wires are in place, it's time to connect the circuit. Strip about a quarter of an inch from the end of the wire leads and insert them into the spade and terminal connectors. Secure the wires and connectors together by crimping them gently. You can use an electrical crimping tool or needle-nose pliers for this step. Now, run a power wire from the positive terminal of your battery to the switch.
Finally, test your lighting circuit. Connect the positive lead wire of the LED strip to the positive terminal of your battery, and do the same for the negative leads. Ensure that each individual strip lights up properly. If your LED kit doesn't include a battery, you can use your motorcycle's battery for testing, but remember to disconnect it from the motorcycle first.
By following these steps carefully, you can successfully add lighting circuits to your motorcycle, enhancing its functionality and visual appeal.
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Adding accessories
Adding electrical accessories to your motorcycle can make riding safer, more comfortable, and enjoyable. These accessories can include strobing brake lights, phone charging ports, stereo systems, speakers, auxiliary lights, GPS, heated vests, and grips.
When adding electrical accessories, it is important to be mindful of your motorcycle's battery and the power it can supply. Most motorcycles feature an extra socket to plug in electrical devices, and you can use a splitter to add extra accessories. It is recommended to use OEM sockets to safely run accessories without killing the battery. Connecting accessories directly to the battery should be avoided, as they will continue to draw power until manually turned off, which can result in a dead battery.
To prevent electrical issues, use high-quality wires and connectors. You can also consider seeking professional help for advice on complex electrical systems. A switched live is a connector built into the bike specifically for adding electrical accessories. When the ignition is turned on, the switched live connection delivers power to the accessory, and when the ignition is off, the power is cut.
If you want to avoid connecting accessories directly to your battery, you can purchase a ThunderBox, which connects to a live (positive) wire that only has power when the ignition is on. The ThunderBox will cut the power if an overload is detected and will automatically try to reconnect the power three times.
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Frequently asked questions
Some electrical accessories that can be added to a motorcycle include strobing brake lights, phone charging ports, stereo systems, speakers, auxiliary lights, GPS, heated vests and grips, and USB sockets.
Adding electrical accessories to your motorcycle can increase the risk of a short circuit. This is because the accessories draw power from your motorcycle's charging system, which is already powering essential components like the headlight, instrument cluster, ignition system, and brake lights.
To prevent electrical issues, use high-quality wires and connectors. You can also consider getting a switched live, which is a connector built into the bike specifically for adding electrical accessories. This ensures that the accessory only powers on when the ignition is on.
A circuit tester can be used to detect and measure DC currents in your motorcycle's electrical circuit. A multimeter is another useful tool for measuring battery voltage, resistance of cables or components, and current flow.
