GTPAddict
Just a dude with an FZ6
- Joined
- May 4, 2011
- Messages
- 781
- Reaction score
- 14
- Points
- 18
- Location
- Lawrenceville Ga
I got stuck in traffic a few weeks ago, the kind where you don't really move. Well, after moving about a mile in 10 minutes, I accidently stalled my bike. As luck would have it the battery was drained to the point it would not start the engine, so I had to pop start it.
This happened once before, while taking my MSF course. The first half of the class was basically idling around in a parking lot, and with both headlights on, by lunch the battery was too weak to start the engine (again, it pop started just fine) I disconnected the second headlight, rode around a while at lunch, and the bike was fine the rest of the day.
So (after that long ass story) I decided to do something so this wouldn't happen again. After searching, I found that a lot of people install a separate switch to turn off the second low beam for just such occasions. I thought I could do one better. I designed a circuit and programmed a PIC to turn off the second headlight if the battery voltage drops below a certain level (testing 11.5 volts now) for over 2.5 minutes, and turns it back on if it stays over a certain level (testing 12.2 volts) for 2.5 minutes. I may also play with the delays, but I'm still in the development stage. Tonight I finished building the circuit and tested everything on a breadboard, tomorrow I plan on soldering everything together, and by the weekend it will be installed.
Installing will be super easy, just 3 wires (ground, 12 volts from dimmer switch (connected to right low beam headlight now), and 12 volts to the headlight). Everything will work as it does now since the device will get it's power from the wire currently going to the headlight, so when high beams are selected there is no power to the device. I'm using a NC relay, so in case something happened the headlight would default to being on. When the conditions are right, the relay is turned on and the contacts are opened.
Anyway, I was looking at maybe having a circuit board made (I'm using a radio shack generic board now) and was wondering if this is something anyone else may be interested in. If I do decide to have a board made, I believe the minimum order for most of the places I looked in to is 20-25 boards. If this is going to be just for me, I probably won't do this, but I thought I'd ask here and see if there was any interest.
If anyone want's more info, let me know. Looks like the parts to build it will be around $30 or so (not including an enclosure), then it would have to be assembled. I may be willing to do this, but I haven't really thought too much about it.
BTW, here's a thread that really got me thinking about doing this -> http://www.600riders.com/forum/garage-mechanical-help/32324-charging-system.html
This happened once before, while taking my MSF course. The first half of the class was basically idling around in a parking lot, and with both headlights on, by lunch the battery was too weak to start the engine (again, it pop started just fine) I disconnected the second headlight, rode around a while at lunch, and the bike was fine the rest of the day.
So (after that long ass story) I decided to do something so this wouldn't happen again. After searching, I found that a lot of people install a separate switch to turn off the second low beam for just such occasions. I thought I could do one better. I designed a circuit and programmed a PIC to turn off the second headlight if the battery voltage drops below a certain level (testing 11.5 volts now) for over 2.5 minutes, and turns it back on if it stays over a certain level (testing 12.2 volts) for 2.5 minutes. I may also play with the delays, but I'm still in the development stage. Tonight I finished building the circuit and tested everything on a breadboard, tomorrow I plan on soldering everything together, and by the weekend it will be installed.
Installing will be super easy, just 3 wires (ground, 12 volts from dimmer switch (connected to right low beam headlight now), and 12 volts to the headlight). Everything will work as it does now since the device will get it's power from the wire currently going to the headlight, so when high beams are selected there is no power to the device. I'm using a NC relay, so in case something happened the headlight would default to being on. When the conditions are right, the relay is turned on and the contacts are opened.
Anyway, I was looking at maybe having a circuit board made (I'm using a radio shack generic board now) and was wondering if this is something anyone else may be interested in. If I do decide to have a board made, I believe the minimum order for most of the places I looked in to is 20-25 boards. If this is going to be just for me, I probably won't do this, but I thought I'd ask here and see if there was any interest.
If anyone want's more info, let me know. Looks like the parts to build it will be around $30 or so (not including an enclosure), then it would have to be assembled. I may be willing to do this, but I haven't really thought too much about it.
BTW, here's a thread that really got me thinking about doing this -> http://www.600riders.com/forum/garage-mechanical-help/32324-charging-system.html
Last edited: