I’m adding grip warmers to my bike. Unfortunately, I don’t have a wiring diagram.
I’m planning to tap power from a dash light. The wires going into the bulb assembly are red with blue stripe and green with funny paralellograms. Anyone know which is the hot line?
No Idea on the Triumph specifics, but your plan sets off alarm bells:
I’d suggest NOT tapping power from an instrument light circuit, as the grip warmers will need significant current.
Best is to run a fused line (fused at the source) from the battery or alternator terminal.
Agreed. I know little about Triumphs in general but the wires run for a dash light are likely way too light and have far too little amps to drive a pair of hand warmers.
As Kevbo said, a dedicated wire (14 or 12 ga) would be best. If you can get to the back of the key switch you can determine were the power comes in and which terminals are hot when the key is turned to different positions. If it’s possible to put a wire/connector to this you’d have a good power supply and an ability to turn it off so as not to kill the battery when the bike is not running.
It is very hard to get info on what the ignition switch contact ratings might be, and that switch is likely to be expensive and/or difficult to replace.
A good solution to this is to use any “hot on run” circuit to control a relay that in turn switches on the new high current circuit(s). The relay coil current is very modest, and unlikely to cause trouble even for the instrument illumination circuit mentioned in the OP. Suitable “ice cube” relays are sold at any auto parts store. Relays with 30A contact ratings are common, so a single relay could provide “hot on run” circuits for several accessories.
There are lots of ways to wire in accessories so they will work. My recomendations are based on doing it so that it never causes problems in the long term. Problems that tend to occur in the middle of nowhere, when it is dark, cold, windy, and maybe even raining.
When I wired the plug for an electric vest for my Triump Tiger I found a great wiring diagram on the last page of my owners manual. It’s a '97, hopefully they are still as user friendly.
I agree that a dash light isn’t the right circut. I put in a new hot line right from the battery with it’s own fuse. Somehow it’s also done that it only is hot with the key on. I don’t remember what I did now, it made sense at the time.
Thanks all for the replies. I was thinking about the current issues as well but the instructions with the grip warmer kit suggest tapping into either the headlamp line, taillight or the dash light. Perhaps the current draw isn’t so great or the instructions are crap.
Given the discusion here, I’ll delay the project until I enlist the aid of a handier-than-me pal.
Have you considered getting in touch with Triumph, telling them that you own one of their fine products, and yur predicament?
Based on my friend’s ownwership experience, they might provide you with the necessary diagrams and possibly even some helpful advice on how to go about it.
The convention for something like heated grips is usually to tap into the headlight or add a relay. For specifics, try searching around or asking at TriumphRat.net. That’s the definitive Triumph message board. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone there has posted step by step instructions with photos for installing heated grips.
And for an after thought, is there a warranty to be considered with this bike? modifying the wiring would almost certainly void any if it exists.