Blowing Fuses Since Lucas Kit Install

[yellowrubiu]

I'm posting this because I am running out of options and not sure what to try next. I recently installed a complete Lucas bolt-on light kit and have been blowing the 10 AMP fuse in position 7 on my 08 Bonneville T100 since. So far I have checked all the cables in the rear assembly to make sure nothing was pinched or shorting out anywhere. I have done the same in the light bucket. I’ve checked all the connectors to make sure everything is plugged in firmly. I’ve also gone through 4 fuses, including a couple from a new batch I got from Wal-Mart.

Yesterday I was out for a long ride and decided to fill the tank before going home. Everything was working fine until I stopped to fill-up. When I took off again the fuse had blown. This really stinks because it means you lose your turn signal, brake light and horn I’ve been carrying some extra 10 AMP fuses with me just in case but didn’t bother to stop and change it this time because thankfully I was just a few blocks away from home. The same thing happened Friday night but luckily I was very close to home so I turned around and headed back.

I have a Kisan signalMinder with the full running light feature hooked up and tailBlazer. I’ve had this setup since I got the bike and never had a problem with it and the stock lights.

After thinking of what else to try last night I decided to check out the bulbs that came with the Lucas kit. When I opened the signals today I noticed that the bulbs are stamped 12V23W. When I checked the specifications section in the owner’s manual I noticed that it calls for 12V10W (and interestingly enough 12V21W for the Thruxton - I wonder why but that's a different topic). After seeing this I’ve replaced all the bulbs with the ones from the stock setup hoping this will make a difference considering the ones that come with the kit are more than twice as powerful.

I took the bike out for about an hour today and tried to turn the signals on and off as much as possible. I even kept the hazard and escort features that are available with the Signal Minder on for a while as I was cruising through some desolate back roads. So far so good and keeping my fingers crossed.

If the fuse blows again I’m not sure what to try next and I’m concerned about this happening while on the highway or at night. I’m hoping some of you electrical gurus out there can give me a few pointers on what else I should check in hopes of getting to the bottom of it and reducing the guessing work on my part.

Thanks.

 

[Nick Morey]

I wonder if the Thruxton also uses a 10 amp fuse or is it stepped up for the 21 watt lights? Do the 10 watt lights look bright enough in the lucas set up espedially in sunny daylight?

 

[yellowrubiu]

Do the 10 watt lights look bright enough in the lucas set up especially in sunny daylight?

They definitely look as bright as the stock lights when flashing. They don't look as bright when in running light mode.

 

[Nick Morey]

They definitely look as bright as the stock lights when flashing. They don't look as bright when in running light mode.

That sounds like a trade off you have to accept with the running light mode. The only alternative would be the brighter bulbs with a higher amp fuse (15 amp?) that's why I was wondering if the Thruxton's use a higher amp fuse for there signal lights. The risk is a higher amp fuse could cause problems somewhere else in that circuit (ie. wires, signal flasher relay).

 

[jeffery_1965]

Oh come on, someone has to say it.......



LUCAS is the prince of darkness:brit:

Jeff

 

[NYBonnie]

Is it earthed properly?

I had the same problem when I first fitted my Lucas. It turned out that where I'd bolted the earth wire, I hadn't sanded off the paint - so it wasn't earthed!
Of course you may already have done that, but just in case you haven't, I thought I'd mention it.

Matt

 

[sidtriumph]

Had the same problem with my bike.
Turned out to be the horn wire shorting out which is on the same circuit as the indicators.Worth a check maybe.

 

[yellowrubiu]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll double check my grounds again and make sure that is all good. I know the front signals are grounded to the stem nuts/light bucket bracket. Does anybody know if the rear is similarly grounded through the fender bolts or is the ground connection in the harness? I assumed the latter when I installed it.

 

[NYBonnie]

It's grounded/earthed, from the harness and connects under the mudguard/fender at the lower of the three holes. Check that the paint is sufficiently sanded off.