Dodgy Electrickery and Dead Battery?

Ram

Registered user
Joined
Sep 10, 2015
Messages
24
Reaction score
0
Location
Devon, England
My GS which i bought last week has a duff battery. I currently have it on an optimate to see if it can be salvaged but the hopes are fading. When i removed the seat, i noticed things which i didnt like too much. So i have a couple of questions.

This thing is wired direct to the battery, with an inline fuse built in, and some connector. Dont know if this is for a heated suit or something, but i have diconnected it entirely.
3.jpg


This is the connecor on the end
4.jpg


Which i thought initially connected to this thing, which looks like it was built into the bike factory...so i assume its a BMW power outlet of some type...which has no connector or wire going to it!?
5.jpg


There is a 12V power socket, which looks like it comes from the loom, however doesnt look as neat as a BMW original would look, and the wire is damaged has been bodged and is just hanging all over the place under the seat so i would like to route that better.
1.jpg

2.jpg


Anyone knows what these are, and how i tidy all this mess up i would appreciate it. I also would like some options on where to get a new battery just in case!

Cheers!
 
Before you get flamed, I will give you some concise answers:

1) Fused lead is for an Optimate charger. Is also useful as you can connect things like a compressor to it (as it should have a 15 amp fuse which is more than the canbus accessory socket will allow).
2) The factory looking this is the standard BMW accessory socket, but that only allows you to draw up to 5 amps which is pretty useless. You can also charge via this with the right lead but the lead in point 1) is better.
3) Looks like another accessory socket bodged into the loom somehow, it should probably have a fuse somewhere.
4) Motobatt. Ebay.

If I were you I would keep the first lead and get rid of the last one, as I said you can get connectors/adapters that connect to the Optimate lead (see ebay seller Towzatronics I think it is).
 
Thanks for that. Funny, i have an optimate charger connected to the battery now, but i never knew it had a dedicated connector. Mine is an Optimate 3, which i plug in and let it do its thing on crocodile clips, so i will indeed keep that lead.

The standard BMW socket, it has now wire leading to it, it is disconnected. Where might i trace that wire back to?

That accessory socket is going to be rewired properly, i will trace it back to the splice in the loom and hope no damage has been done that cant be rectified. I may just move it elsewhere.

I will look for Motobatt, thanks. I found the reason that the battery is dead, someone has taken the case apart and filled the battery with fluid, it was sitting around the terminal holes. I believe this will kill this Odyseey battery, as they are Gel types, although i could be wrong.

I will also be ordering a new clamp for the battery, which is missing.

I have been told that under the oil cooler area, there is supposedly a standard power socket on the GS, but with a (Admittedly quick look) i cant find one. Was this a standard fitment, or optional extra?
 
The Standard BMW power outlet wire is i am guessing what they have cut off and used to power the cigarette type power socket, that was what was under the bodged tape. Nice.

Ideally i wanted to put in a swtiched power supply for my phone/nav etc up front.
 
I have been told that under the oil cooler area, there is supposedly a standard power socket on the GS, but with a (Admittedly quick look) i cant find one. Was this a standard fitment, or optional extra?

You are probably referring to the socket dealers use to wire in a satnav. Its a little thingy fixed to the headstock with tape. You can get the corresponding plug, I believe its this one from Nippy Norms'
http://www.nippynormans.com/product...mtom-gps-into-the-bmw-harness-gar-canbuszu660
Again it won't carry much in the way of amps but will give you switched power for your satnav.
 
You are probably referring to the socket dealers use to wire in a satnav. Its a little thingy fixed to the headstock with tape. You can get the corresponding plug, I believe its this one from Nippy Norms'
http://www.nippynormans.com/product...mtom-gps-into-the-bmw-harness-gar-canbuszu660
Again it won't carry much in the way of amps but will give you switched power for your satnav.

Thanks, i take it this goes into the blanked off lead which is near the LHS of the headstock. Nice one, thanks.

Could i use this to connect something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/301227887338?adgroupid=&hlpht=true&hlpv=2&rlsatarget=&adtype=pla&ff3=1&lpid=122&poi=&ul_noapp=true&limghlpsr=true&ff19=0&device=c&chn=ps&campaignid=&crdt=0&ff12=67&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff14=122&viphx=1&ops=true&ff13=80
 
How you connect and use your accessories is personal choice and there are many solutions on here. I personally use a marine cigar lighter mounted on the handlebars near the clutch lever and connect this directly to the headstock lead. The lead from the headstock has 3 wires so you need to check which one is live and earth. I used a multimeter. The canbus will 'protect' the feed so no real need to use a fuse. I hard wired my tom-tom rider straight to the back of the cigar lighter using insulated spade crimps which piggy-backed onto the feed wires. If you do use these crimps make sure you use the proper crimping tool rather than the crappy tool you get in a set. The crimping tool is only about £10 and worth every penny as each joint I have done so far has never failed. Remember to check that your sat nav can take a direct 12v feed else it will go pop.
As far as providing a power supply for a pump etc I connected another cigar lighter on the RHS on a little bracket that has a slot cut in it just below the front seat (just below your pre-load knob in your photo) I used a Hella-sized socket to keep the profile down. I keep a Hella to Cigar adapter in a the gap bag under the rear rack. If you want to power your phone I would suggest that you create a fly lead and have that under the seat in the tool box area or wedged near the diagnostic plug. However, I don't bother and have not yet had a flat battery on my phone. It might be better if you buy a cheap power monkey if you are worried about it. Remember that it is not dry under the seat so a bag would stop your phone getting wet.
 
You have an Odyssey battery. They are usually very reliable and better than most at coping with periods of dis-use.

With additional wiring all you can do is follow it back to the loom. If it slips smoothly into the main bundle its probably original. Add-ons can be anything from professionally soldered and heat sink sleeved (etc) to who know what.

As said earlier, a wired-in voltmeter is great asset. A good one will let you see the voltage drop when the engine is started. It should be wired to a switched live. The connectors for the Adventure spot lights are handy because they use a separate fuse. I believe the GS has the connectors from the main system under the petrol tank.
 


Back
Top Bottom