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Request for voltage measurements

  • Thread starter Thread starter Normk
  • Start date Start date
N

Normk

Guest
I'm hoping for some data from those who have time & interest.

The measurements are:

Voltage with key on, engine not running between the battery + and the headlight fuse. Same with engine running.

Voltage between headlight fuse and high beam terminal on the headlight "bulb" with engine not running. Same with engine running.

Thanks for the attention,

Norm
 
And what will you do with my unique proprietary information?

I imagine you'll have quite a swing of results from those that redid their whole harness, those that cleaned connections, those that redid connections, those that replaced the fuse box, ignition switch, etc, etc. And that's before taking in to account voltmeter inaccuracy.
 
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Normk said:
I'm hoping for some data from those who have time & interest.

The measurements are:

Voltage with key on, engine not running between the battery + and the headlight fuse. Same with engine running.

Voltage between headlight fuse and high beam terminal on the headlight "bulb" with engine not running. Same with engine running.

Thanks for the attention,

Norm
Click to expand...

A 79 could have headlight off or On, right? I assume you are wanting to know what the voltage drop is across the wiring system with headlight on.

I would think it should Should be about zero, just a few tenths of volts or else something is going to be heating up.
And when someone measures this, it Could be different with low beam from high beam. More current of the high beam thru same resistance will be more voltage drop than if on low beam.

Perhaps you should specify that headlight on and on high beam when someone checks this for you.

The difference in such readings with engine off and with engine on will not prove anything relative to the headlight wiring (will only prove if charging system is functining and raisiing the system voltage or not).


Also: when measuruing voltage like you are doing looking for some resistance (voltage drop) where there should not be any, and when you do find some, then be very carefull to check at each place along the way that you can find such as one side of the fuse and the other side of the fuse and the connector on the fuse block as an example.
 
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Absolutely correct, including the tongue-in-cheek request for justification. I was remiss in not doing so as there needs be a reason for many people to undertake a project.

What I've found from checking many bikes is that there are circuits which benefit from upgrading/improving. Actually, can't recall a bike which didn't have some issues.... VStrom shows a huge Vd with engine off, as I recall.

The circuits involved vary, depending on the machine involved as evidenced by a couple of examples:

Honda ST1100 exhibits a high voltage drop in the ignition switch circuit which leads from the starter relay, main fuse, wiring harness up to ignition switch, ignition switch, parallel circuits from ignition switch to fuse box. 1 to 1-2/2 volts drop is common for these bikes with 2 volts not rare. The headlight relay circuit exhibits a low Vd, however the headlight ground circuit (1/2 volt+) typically benefits from improvement. Adding an additional ground wire from each headlight plug terminal to a frame ground reduces this Vd to near zero and as a benefit, also reduces the Vd in the common ground circuit.

Kawasaki KLR650 exhibits a high Vd in the headlight circuit, including the ignition switch to fuse box. The most efficient means of dealing with this issue is by installing headlight relays powered from the starter relay. This has the effect of also removing the main electrical load from the ignition switch to fuse box circuit and so improving power supply to the remaining loads. The KLR also benefits from a headlight ground circuit improvement..

Why bother? One example would be that a KLR650 with improved wiring has a headlight which is brighter with engine off than many with engine running. Yep!

Variations in meters aside, the data will show trends which are what matter. The bikes which have been upgraded will, or should, show Vd which reflects the change.

It is important to select the appropriate strategy for upgrading as one solution can be much better than another, more costly.:)
 
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