Ignition circuit protection

[SDA]

I'm making a wiring harness from scratch for my Tonti project bike and have decided on using one of Rowe Electronics PDM-60 solid state power modules. Anyone tried or have opinions on these?

Never gotten this into electrical systems. Do I read my Carl Alliison wiring diagram correctly-ignition circuits have no circuit protection?

Any wiring design guidance offered will be greatly appreciated.

For those so inclined I believe I've found a great source for XLPE wire (not the PVC insulated stuff you get at the auto parts store) maneywire.com They have 22ga.-10ga TXL, GXL and SXL in 14 colors and they'll custom stripe your wire for you. 100' minimum per color and it comes on individual spools. Yea you'll have a lifetime supply of each size/color but if you geek-out on having the best supplies for your bike projects.......

 

[john zibell]

Many bikes don't run a protected ignition circuit for the ignition. You don't want the engine to die for no good reason.

That said, Guzzi does make an error in routing too much current through ignition switches. I'd like to see a latching relay system on circuits such as horn, lights, turn signals and so on just so you don't burn up the ignition switch supplying all the current for these circuits.

 

[OldJock]

The protection of the ignition circuit is a matter of personal preference. Apart from the fuse itself being another thing to fail I can't think of a downside in not protecting the circuit. I'd rather have an ignition failure than my lights when running at night on a dark road and nobody seems to question that circuit being fused.

My ignition circuit is protected and so far I've never had any problems.

That device seems very neat and I expect more to come onto the market in time and prices to fall. The first unit similar to it is the M-Unit from Motogadget, a German supplier producing trick electrical pieces for customs (with prices to match).

http://motogadget.com/en/electrics/...m-unit-digit-tastersteuerung-u-sicherung.html

I have an early version of it on my bike and it's great.

The fuse box was added for running lights and some auxiliaries, it acts more as a martialling block than anything else. All the main circuit protection is done with the M-Unit

John

 

[kampe]

I've got almost the same problem.
I have mounted an electronic ignition system made by silent hektik. The control box does not use to much current but will fry when the voltage exceeds 15V. It's run on my V7 with a mechanical voltage regulator. I have heard these things can fail and when it does it's turns my ignition control box into an expensive smoke bomb.

Currently i have been fiddling around with a circuit that will cut the power to the control box when the voltage exceeds 14,8 Volt. It wil also engage when I forget the jiffy and try to drive away ( did that twice with no damage :roll: but it's an accident waiting to happen).

 

[john zibell]

kampe,

Have you thought of using an electronic regulator? When they fail you go to zero charge. Rick Jones in the US has them http://www.motoelekt.com/charging.htm Or in Germany just get one for a BMW airhead (Bosch system also). It is the same regulator.

 

[kampe]

Hello John,

I was thinking of a comparator or with a zener diode that activates a relais that wil keep the unit from burning to a crisp. I would like to keep the bike original and just use modern electronics to check the original parts and interveen when things go bad.

 

[SDA]

Thanks all for your responses. It helps greatly to know that I'm not running with some cock-a-mamy idea that I came up on my own.

Old Jock, thanks for the photo. Some fine wiring work you did there. I think I'll use one of the circuits out of the PDM 60 for ignition. I went with the PDM 60 because of it's programmability. The company says it will have software and a cable out soon to enable you to do the programming yourself. Options are switched/non-switched; circuit protection adjustable in ¼A increments; power-up delay and power-down delay.

Zibell, Thanks for the input. I'll study the wiring diagrams and stray from normal Guzzi practice on those ignition switch powered items. I had not noticed that.

By the way Old Jock, Certainly you don't think you can post a photo of that without someone asking for more. It that a heavily modified Tonti frame? It the rear suspension one-off of your own design? Is there a thread on the forum with pictures?

 

[OldJock]

Hi SDA

It's a Magni Sfida, uses Guzzi running gear but in a frame of Arturo Magni's design.

The frame is basically a Tonti but beefed up and features a parallelogram suspension to stop "shaft jacking" under acceleration. It just feels like a chain drive as far as handling goes (apart from all the bloody weight).

Here are a couple of links

http://www.magni.it/

My badly written build story

http://www.vintagemotorcyclesonline.com/features/stories/184--sfida-italian-for-challenge-

From Willem van der Togt's Facebook page on Magnis

https://www.facebook.com/MagniMotorcyclesEnthousiasts/photos_stream

Finally one of another that is stripped down awaiting restoration soon

PM me if you want more info and sorry to go so off topic folks

John