Earth point for Aux Lights?

[finestre]

Knowledageable folk of the GS world, I need to share your wisdom once again. Apoliges in advance for the lengthy post, but I can't explain it any better - well I can but the moderator would take offence !!!

I have recently fitted my aux lights on my Migsel bar wired up through the main beam - and very impressed I am too.

BUT (there's always a BUT)

I have also recently been having problems with a flat battery. It first came to notice after I had left the ignition on but engine off, while chatting to a fellow biker about how reliable the GS was - ironically the beggar failed to start - Thank God for the AA cos that bike is a git to bump start!

I realised that I had left the heated grips but was a bit suprised as it was only 15-20 minutes, but as the bike started fine for the next few days I thought no more of it. Until it died after being sat in the garage for 3 or 4 days.

I got the Oxymiser thingy on it for about 2 days and hey presto, bike okay again and been running fine for few weeks being used on an almost daily basis. Just come back from a week away to find flat battery again.

Now I was wondering - before I go and splash out dosh on a new battery that I may not need.

1) Could it be a dodgy earth draining the power from when I connected my aux lights - if so where is the best place to earth on the bike frame. I currently have it wired up at the bolt where the shock meets the frame (dont ask me where I got that idea from it just seems a good place at the time !)

2) Is the flat battery and the aux light fitting just coincidental?

3) Am I correct in assuming the the charging system is NOT at fault as when the bike is running daily, there are no problems?

4) Is the battery (probably the original on a 3 year old GSA) just past it's best and I really need to stop being so tight and go buy another one? I currently I have a Gel battery in there - should I go for this again?

Cheers for your help (again!)onyack

 

[(RIP) ugg]

earth under the front seat. (the bolt that holds the seat hight adjuster fitting). near fuse box

had no probs wi mine.

 

[alimey4u2]

1) Could it be a dodgy earth draining the power from when I connected my aux lights - if so where is the best place to earth on the bike frame. I currently have it wired up at the bolt where the shock meets the frame (dont ask me where I got that idea from it just seems a good place at the time !)
How did you wire them & how are they switched ?

2) Is the flat battery and the aux light fitting just coincidental?
Depends how you have used them, what Wattage, idling along with all beams on ? etc.etc.

3) Am I correct in assuming the the charging system is NOT at fault as when the bike is running daily, there are no problems?
Again, what wattage, type of riding ?

4) Is the battery (probably the original on a 3 year old GSA) just past it's best and I really need to stop being so tight and go buy another one? I currently I have a Gel battery in there - should I go for this again?
Possibly, take it to a garage & have a load test done after a full charge. Check battery threads for advice on type/brand

 

[BTBR]

Personnally, before you get to carried away I would do two things, go and have a chat with any bike dealer and then -

1) Have your battery checked.

2) Make sure that your alternator is charging ok.

Thereafter and assuming that the two checks reveal bugger all, then I would start exploring other avenues.

Maybe try disconnecting your wiring for a few days and see what happens.

As for the earth point, on the 1150 I use two points, one by the headstock.

The large Allen screw that secures the dashboard to the main frame, and the other inside the fuse box, spliced into the main loom

 

[rubberscrubber]

I would go for the battery test, best guess would be a duff battery.

As for the earthing point, for my lights, I ran a pos and neg direct from the battery, obviously through relay's and other gubbins

 

[davegs]

Earfs

Dont mess about with earths, run a good sized earthing lead back to the
relavent battery terminal from the new lights, that way you will not loose any volts on the return
as dont forget that you only have 12 of them to start with!. This very important for lighting as the differance can be noticable. It does not take much effort or cost (if any) but does work so do it.
dave (earthy) gs.

 

[D6]

cant vouch for yours but a 3yr old battery is gettin old, check ur chargin incase tho, simple an quick check,20mins with ign on and heaters on dnt do it much good either,,,y not turn it off at the key? ps, loads tests are good on batterys but not always accurate

 

[finestre]

Cheers Guys

FOund out my earht was okay, the battery was duffy.

Got mysefl a Hawker Odyssey after reading reviews on here.
onyack

 

[finestre]

Just seen my last post - I am sober, honest. Perhaps I need to take up drinking again (or just do a spell check !)