Electrical Help Advice

[stgilmer]

I got a motorcycle stereo kit today, Amp and Speakers. Hooks straight to a ipod. The Amp doesn't have a on/off switch so I was thinking of putting a rocker switch to turn on/off(good idea?)
OK next thing is, I don't have any other electrical things run on the bike, all stock, I want to wire it up the easiest way possible. I was thinking of going straight back to the battery terminals or is there an easier way(Fuse box up front)? If I do run straight to the battery do I need to add a inline fuse and if so what size fuse would work best? Or use a relay? Thats it for now unless I run into more trouble.

 

[NancysToy]

First, be sure that you go to the actual battery terminals, if you do this. Do not use the jumper terminals under the seat. You will have to remove the body panels to do this. You will need a fuse as close to the battery as possible, of the appropriate size for the wire you use. If that fuse is larger than the one specified for the stereo, you will need an additional fuse near the stereo, between your new hot wire and the stereo hot wire.

I recommend strongly against this type of installation. The Spyder battery will be quickly run down if you forget to turn the switch off. A waterproof rocker switch would be needed, too. I would propose that you install an auxiliary fusebox, and a relay to power down the stereo when the Spyder is turned off. There are several good units on the market to do this job, or you can make your own from component parts.

If you have not done this kind of work before, you may want to get a friend who is familiar with electrical work to help you. There are several standards that must be followed closely, and it is a difficult place for a beginner to get his/her feet wet.

 

[stgilmer]

First, be sure that you go to the actual battery terminals, if you do this. Do not use the jumper terminals under the seat. You will have to remove the body panels to do this. You will need a fuse as close to the battery as possible, of the appropriate size for the wire you use. If that fuse is larger than the one specified for the stereo, you will need an additional fuse near the stereo, between your new hot wire and the stereo hot wire.

I recommend strongly against this type of installation. The Spyder battery will be quickly run down if you forget to turn the switch off. A waterproof rocker switch would be needed, too. I would propose that you install an auxiliary fusebox, and a relay to power down the stereo when the Spyder is turned off. There are several good units on the market to do this job, or you can make your own from component parts.

If you have not done this kind of work before, you may want to get a friend who is familiar with electrical work to help you. There are several standards that must be followed closely, and it is a difficult place for a beginner to get his/her feet wet.

Thanks, I might have to find some help. Is there no way to tap into the fuse box upfront? I don't know much at all about wiring muchless about the spyders wiring is why this is the best place to ask. Better to ask than to mess something up, right.

 

[bjt]

Thanks, I might have to find some help. Is there no way to tap into the fuse box upfront? I don't know much at all about wiring muchless about the spyders wiring is why this is the best place to ask. Better to ask than to mess something up, right.

You could potentially tie into existing fuses but you need to know a few things first like how much current your stereo system will draw and what is currently being drawn from the fuse you intend to tie into. There is no "extra" 10 or 20 amp circuit in the existing fuse block. Agreeing with Scotty, your best bet is to install one of the auxilliary fuse block systems that are fed off the battery and have a relay that cuts power when the Spyder's key is turned off.

 

[stgilmer]

You could potentially tie into existing fuses but you need to know a few things first like how much current your stereo system will draw and what is currently being drawn from the fuse you intend to tie into. There is no "extra" 10 or 20 amp circuit in the existing fuse block. Agreeing with Scotty, your best bet is to install one of the auxilliary fuse block systems that are fed off the battery and have a relay that cuts power when the Spyder's key is turned off.

It looks like that will be my best bet, it is going to require a 10A fuse anyway. Thanks for the advice.