Oxford HotGrips - bad fittiing or bad advice in the Comic

[davebullet]

As Moki said.

I wired mine using a 12 volt automotive relay. I think I bought a Narva from Dick Smith for about $8? It doesn't come with wiring instructions, but the pin-out on the back is industry standard and google takes care of that. I used the instructions on this site:
http://www.canyonchasers.com/shop/generic/relay.php

All you need to do it (4 pins to connect on the relay):
1. Run a dedicated connection from the battery to the main feed of the relay
2. Tap into your brake light (or any other circuit that switches on when the ignition key is on) - feed that into the relay on the pin that triggers the relay (ie. completes the connection from the main battery feed
3. Wire in the ground on the relay
4. Wire in the switched circuit on the relay to the hot grips.

Voila - hot grips you can never forget to turn off.

I'm pretty dumb when it comes to electrical things... and even I could figure it out. The instructions above are really good. One flat battery will convince you it's worth it :-)

To be fair - a mechanic may not have auto-electrical training hence the initial comment. Also - it could be costly if your bike makes it had to tap into an ignition source - as labour is involved in removing panels / parts.

The cost of parts themselves should be pretty cheap. As noted the relay is the most expensive part - followed by a few connectors and some wire.

[dipshit]

But unlike what dipshit says, the neg. on the realy just has to go to earth, does not need run all the way to the battery.

True. Though with most bikes where the battery is under the seat... it's so convenient to find a location for the relay under the seat as well and be close to a taillight wire running down the rear subframe to tap into for the switch power and earth the relay directly on the battery negative to be absolutely sure you have a good earth instead of attaching the wire under a bolt somewhere on the frame that could one day fail when dirt and corrosion and vibration does its usual thing.

A bike is easy to earth directly to the battery... doing a similar job on a car would be a different story though.

Edit... example. The relay I added to my bike to run a radar detector.

[BMWST?]

Mate I have just fitted the same unit to my bike but when I purchased mine the salesman told me it could be wired to the ignition however my ignition is a sealed unit so that proved to be a no goer.

And as you have stated you cant hook into any other live line from the ignition due to the power draw so yeah I to will have to make sure I turn it off every time I get off the bike. Wish me luck.

Ed

tap the tailight circuit,i wouldnt use the headlight circuit as that is one of the most heavily loaded circuits on the bike already

[BMWST?]

I forgot to turn the lights off on my Falcon, why do manufactures advise or do this sort of thing. Should be out lawed.

parking lights are sometimes required.

[dipshit]

tap the tailight circuit,i wouldnt use the headlight circuit as that is one of the most heavily loaded circuits on the bike already

And if your accessory shorts, it could blow your headlight fuse on you in the middle of a ride one night. Probably why most bike shops refuse to wire up accessories like that.

[outlawtorn]

Slofox gave me the solution too, easy as to do it yourself at home, and no one installs accessories on your bike quite like yourself, you learn more about your bike and take more time, care and pride in the end result.