Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


Homemade battery cut off switch

Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> General Bike Chat
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

Adam80UK
Traffic Copper



Joined: 08 Sep 2006
Karma :

PostPosted: 08:16 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Homemade battery cut off switch Reply with quote

To save my battery over longer periods of inactivity, I'm considering a isolating switch for the battery.

Ideal run from the battery to under the seat cowl.

Can anyone give advice on what wire I should use, and any specifics on what the switch needs to be?

I know you can buy ones with big red key etc, but I just want something smaller really and not for security issues.

Cheers
____________________
Current: '07 Suzuki SV1000 & '07 Honda SH300i (again).
Previously owned: '08 Yamaha R1, '10 Kawasaki Z1000, '07 Honda SH300i, '04 Suzuki SV1000S, '11 Honda CB1000R, '09 Kawasaki ZX-10R, '08 Aprilia Tuono 1000R, '07 Triumph Daytona 675, '95 Honda CBR600F.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

drzsta
World Chat Champion



Joined: 20 Apr 2009
Karma :

PostPosted: 08:28 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about put it on a trickle charge then?
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Adam80UK
Traffic Copper



Joined: 08 Sep 2006
Karma :

PostPosted: 08:34 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sadly garage is in a block so no power and as I go through periods of frequent use sometimes I don't wish to remove and fit the battery each time.
____________________
Current: '07 Suzuki SV1000 & '07 Honda SH300i (again).
Previously owned: '08 Yamaha R1, '10 Kawasaki Z1000, '07 Honda SH300i, '04 Suzuki SV1000S, '11 Honda CB1000R, '09 Kawasaki ZX-10R, '08 Aprilia Tuono 1000R, '07 Triumph Daytona 675, '95 Honda CBR600F.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

c-m
World Chat Champion



Joined: 12 May 2006
Karma :

PostPosted: 09:02 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

drzsta wrote:
How about put it on a trickle charge then?


Of course the OP could take the battery out and charge it that way. Perhaps that is what you mean?

It bug me that people on here assume that everyone with a motorcycle has a garage or even a driveway and access to power? It's not that common. Most houses in towns and cities do not have powered garages, plus you've got people living in flats and other accommodation.

In terms of adding a battery cut off, I wouldn't bother. The battery is going to discharge on it's own anyway. I bike even with an alarm draws hardly anything.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website You must be logged in to rate posts

anthony_r6
World Chat Champion



Joined: 31 Mar 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 09:14 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

As above, you're gonna get the batter losing power over time anyway. Put it in your house and trickle charge it. Then pop it back in when you want to use it. Best way to maintain it. How hard can it be to pop your battery back in? It's not like you have to take it out after every ride, just when you know you're not going to use it for a few weeks.
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Adam80UK
Traffic Copper



Joined: 08 Sep 2006
Karma :

PostPosted: 14:23 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

The thing is, I don't know when I'm not going to be using it for a few weeks really.

Bike has an alarm but even in the mode which draws least power, it still draws some. That's why I want a switch really.
____________________
Current: '07 Suzuki SV1000 & '07 Honda SH300i (again).
Previously owned: '08 Yamaha R1, '10 Kawasaki Z1000, '07 Honda SH300i, '04 Suzuki SV1000S, '11 Honda CB1000R, '09 Kawasaki ZX-10R, '08 Aprilia Tuono 1000R, '07 Triumph Daytona 675, '95 Honda CBR600F.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Adam80UK
Traffic Copper



Joined: 08 Sep 2006
Karma :

PostPosted: 14:24 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

The thing is, I don't know when I'm not going to be using it for a few weeks really.

Bike has an alarm but even in the mode which draws least power, it still draws some. That's why I want a switch really.
____________________
Current: '07 Suzuki SV1000 & '07 Honda SH300i (again).
Previously owned: '08 Yamaha R1, '10 Kawasaki Z1000, '07 Honda SH300i, '04 Suzuki SV1000S, '11 Honda CB1000R, '09 Kawasaki ZX-10R, '08 Aprilia Tuono 1000R, '07 Triumph Daytona 675, '95 Honda CBR600F.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Adam80UK
Traffic Copper



Joined: 08 Sep 2006
Karma :

PostPosted: 14:24 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

The thing is, I don't know when I'm not going to be using it for a few weeks really.

Bike has an alarm but even in the mode which draws least power, it still draws some. That's why I want a switch really.
____________________
Current: '07 Suzuki SV1000 & '07 Honda SH300i (again).
Previously owned: '08 Yamaha R1, '10 Kawasaki Z1000, '07 Honda SH300i, '04 Suzuki SV1000S, '11 Honda CB1000R, '09 Kawasaki ZX-10R, '08 Aprilia Tuono 1000R, '07 Triumph Daytona 675, '95 Honda CBR600F.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

The Shaggy D.A.
Super Spammer



Joined: 12 Sep 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 16:06 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Coxy_UK wrote:
The thing is, I don't know when I'm not going to be using it for a few weeks really.

Bike has an alarm but even in the mode which draws least power, it still draws some. That's why I want a switch really.


Rather than a switch for the battery, how about a switch for the alarm, if that's what is causing the drain? Keep it small and discrete, somewhere under something lockable so it doesn't defeat the purpose of having an alarm. Wire gauge will only need to be that of the alarm's.

If you want to go fancy, have something like this :-

https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/05a-spst-miniature-short-round-type-cj92a
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Islander
World Chat Champion



Joined: 05 Aug 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 16:10 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

To switch the feed off to your alarm will cause problems. It will probably set the alarm off (they're designed to detect the battery being disconnected) unless you put it into maintenance mode which, if it's like mine, will cause it to beep periodically as a reminder that it's in that mode.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

The Shaggy D.A.
Super Spammer



Joined: 12 Sep 2008
Karma :

PostPosted: 16:14 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Which it would do if the battery was on a switch and disconnected anyway.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Nobby the Bastard
Harley Gaydar



Joined: 16 Aug 2013
Karma :

PostPosted: 16:37 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why not just disconnect the fucking battery? It's not hard to remove one connection
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Islander
World Chat Champion



Joined: 05 Aug 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 16:49 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Shaggy D.A. wrote:
Which it would do if the battery was on a switch and disconnected anyway.


Yes that's my point. Switch off the battery or switch off the feed to the alarm and it'll go off - it'll have an internal battery to power the sounder. Put it in maintenance mode and it'll beep at a set interval. Either way it'll cause problems.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Islander
World Chat Champion



Joined: 05 Aug 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 16:51 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nobby the chihuahua wrote:
Why not just disconnect the fucking battery? It's not hard to remove one connection


Because it will set the alarm off.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

_mjs_
Could Be A Chat Bot



Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 17:10 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bump that shit.
____________________
Previous Bikes: 2006 Honda XR125L > 2003 Yamaha DT125R > 1996 Honda CB500
Current bikes: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 600 E5 > 2006 Honda Varadero XL125V
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

smegballs
World Chat Champion



Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Karma :

PostPosted: 17:57 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

I put on one my GS back along. As long as the switch is rated greater than the main fuse all should be well. I just had a 30A one tucked away under the sidepanel. Something else to confuse a would-be stealer.

MY CB doesn't have an ignition switch, just has a hidden battery isolator.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

BTTD
World Chat Champion



Joined: 22 Nov 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 22:00 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nobby the chihuahua wrote:
Why not just disconnect the fucking battery? It's not hard to remove one connection


Yeah, unless you have to remove the tank to get to it, or even better unbolt a load of shit and then remove the bikes ecu. Not all bikes have easy access to the battery - some are a right ball ache.

I fitted a cut off to a bike using a short length of high capacity welding cable (nice and flexible) and one of those isolation switches.

https://www.beal.org.uk/automotive/switches/flasher-units/battery-isolator-switch-100a/prod_1929.html

In summary, it wasn't ideal as it's all a bit bulky - you want to keep the cable as short as you can while making the cut off as accessible as you can.

Alternatively, could you use a solar panel with a voltage regulator (so you don't risk frying the battery)?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Charge-Controller-Solar-Panel-Battery-Regulator-12V-24V-UK-Stock-/201071364377
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 11 years, 263 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> General Bike Chat All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 

Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.08 Sec - Server Load: 0.76 - MySQL Queries: 14 - Page Size: 96.2 Kb