Hitchcocks Forum

I got fed up with having to remove the battery cover to check the voltage or put the battery on trickle charge, so I've fitted a pair of terminals to the cover box and wired into the battery terminals. Now I can connect the charger with banana jacks and check the battery voltage by simply touching the voltmeter on the poles. I put them on either side of the box to avoid any shorting.. It also give me a 12v take-off if I need it and would make a jump-start that much easier..


Here's the result..

Good lateral thinking.

Very neat and also very useful but...

If you do intend to use as a power take off (nothing wrong with that) I really would suggest putting a 15 or 20 amp (forum advice on best value requested) fuse between the Positive terminal and the take off, because if you external device, or the wiring to it happens to short circuit... Then poor old Thumper's going to get a bit of a 'shock'.



I am about to do something very similar (with fuse). Our telephone line has about thirty poles between the main road and the house, and the logging lorries have a habit of snapping it with their crane jibs. When it happens, I take thunderbolt, the broadband router, and my iPhone or macbook and a connecting lead for the battery, and ride off to the other side of the break, strip the end of the cable and connect up the router to the line and power it from the bike battery. France telecom have never has a problem with this so far, and it helps to keep in contact once a day!



As I only intend to run low power devices such as an led headlamp or wandering lamp in case thunderbolt has a problem at night, or just the broadband router, Then I can go for a commercial two pin type 5 amp or banana plug socket, but I will certainly fuse the positive side.



As a kid, I was cleaning my dad's car's battery terminals with a wire brush. Managed to bridge the terminals by mistake, just for a fraction of a second. Bloody wire brush had orange glowing bits all over it!



Anyway, it's a good idea mate, But consider an in-line fuse holder, even if it's a bugger to fit in the space.

Good point Scaly.. an inline fuse must go in. Why didn't I think of that? And I remember the "glowing" examples from the days of FFR and rookies hooking it all up wrong.. You don't want to mess about with DC..!! I have loads of room in the box. The battery is only half as tall as the cover..

I like the wandering lamp idea.. I hadn't considered that, but probably would have at some point. May as well build one now... Nice tip! Thanks.

FFR?



Did you say FFR?



You did! You said FFR didn't you?









Fitted For Radio

I have a cigarette lighter under the seat above the right-hand toolbox with a 15A fuse. Handy for plugging in the 12V compressor when I want to check the tyre pressures, charging mobile phone; maybe a coffee pot, frying pan, TV, hair dryer later etc, etc.
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Scaly.. looks a bit like a C11 and a C43/42.. I knew them so well.. happy days with whips and dipoles and those awful telescopic masts!


Leon.. good idea. I had thought about something similar..

Those were the days...




"We won't be needing a rider today, they have all gone out with Clansman radios..."

(3 minutes later)

"Could you ride round and give them all a new set of frequencies? We don't seem to be able to communicate."



Memories!



Pneumatic radio masts? pull out the pegs and hope! IF the seals held, then they would collapse with a little hiss, if not, then they would come slamming down, looking for your fingers!

To get back to the terminals.
Too east to short out with something I would think.
Why not use the insulated plug/socket system that Optimate use? You can get spare ones without having to buy a charger.
All my bikes are fitted with these and it's seconds work to swop from one to the other.

I use a motorcycle charger lead from Halfords http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_246903