Oxford heated hand grips saga

[Hitcher]

Oxford's heating hand grips work really well and are easy to operate. The range of different temperature settings comes in handy.

They're supposed to have a cut-out system that switches them off once the bike's voltage drops under 10.5.

Well, gentle readers, that's not quite what happened recently to one's Z1000. I uncovered it to take it out for a ride, as I sometimes do. I turned on the key to find not even a flicker or a random digital decimal place showing on the panel. Deader than a dead thing it was.

Ever gone looking for a battery in a Z1000? Yes, it is indeed "under the back seat somewhere." Several panels and Allen nuts later I had found the battery's terminals. A couple of bolts and a plastic box later I had liberated the battery terminals on Mrs H's Bandit. Electrical cross-pollination ensued. Leaving the Z running, everything then needed to be put back tidily away. Sigh.

The heated hand grips were nice and warm when it was time to ride away.

Next time the bike goes in for a service I'll get a relay fitted, because I don't want to go through this jump-starting palaver again.

[Crasherfromwayback]

If we fitted 'em...take it back there...tell them to sort it free of charge. I said so.

[Bonez]

I would've thought good standard practice would have them connected via a relay from the start.

[pritch]

Would a relay help if the grips turned on of their own volition and could only be turned off by disconnecting the wire?

[Bonez]

Only if you fitted a flux capacitor.

[caspernz]

Would a relay help if the grips turned on of their own volition and could only be turned off by disconnecting the wire?

You may have misunderstood... Good practice is to fit them via a relay that disconnects them once the key is turned off, thus avoiding the problem Hitcher had.

[Maha]

Heated hand grips.......and a saga no less

[slofox]

Easy to fit grips via a switched relay. Even I managed to do it without rending the very fabric of the universe.

Check HERE.

You're welcome.

[cheshirecat]

Mine turn off waiting at the lights, maybe should take up red light running

[spanner spinner]

Mine turn off waiting at the lights, maybe should take up red light running

Check your charge voltage sounds like they are dropping out at idle due to low voltage, have seen this with several sets that I have fixed. check the voltage at the power connector that feeds the control unit just in case there is a voltage loss in the power feed wire. Also some of the controllers cut out at higher voltages than others this is worth checking as well, if it is cutting out at to higher a voltage the only fix is a new controller.

[spanner spinner]

They're supposed to have a cut-out system that switches them off once the bike's voltage drops under 10.5.

Next time the bike goes in for a service I'll get a relay fitted, because I don't want to go through this jump-starting palaver again.

Just cut into the main power out put wire from the ignition switch, I have fitted 100's of sets of heated grips and always wire them in this way saves the cost of the relay and is simpler.

As for the cut out voltage they all vary, some are worse than others. I have seen sets that turn off at 13 volts and others that flatten batteries just like yours which is why I always recommend to my customers that they wire them through the ignition.

[gammaguy]

When I ran a workshop I would only fit them wired thru the ignition,to avoid those dreaded early morning or late night phone calls some workshops get....it always starts with the words..."you know my bike you worked on the other day"......

[SMOKEU]

That shit sounds too technical, what's wrong with a simple on/off switch somewhere in the circuit?

[nzspokes]

I reckon the Oxford controller is to complicated for its own good. They should just get rid of the volt sensor and tell people to relay them.

[tristania]

Interesting to hear. The shop that fitted mine refused to put a relay in saying the voltage cut-off would be sufficient and the units weren't known to malfunction.. ohh reaaaally?