Triumphrat

03-05-2005

Hi all,

Long-time Triumph rider and RAT.net lurker here, but first time poster. Hello everybody!

I have just bought some Oxford heated grips for my '03 Speed Four, because I am absolutely fed up with not being able to feel my fingers. I ride the bike every day and the snow has been getting me down recently!

So the question I'm hoping you'll be able to help with is this: What do I connect my heated grips to? The easy option is the battery, but this will remain on even if the ignition is off, draining the battery. Maybe if I connect them to the head or tail lights it will be better, but I don't want to start cutting into stuff if there is a better option. Apparently, there is even a plug that comes on the bike as standard that allows me to connect up without cutting anything open, but I'm damned if I can work out what or where it is!

Anyone done a home-fitment job themselves? Any other suggestions?

Cheers! :???:

MercyBeat · 03-05-2005

Wire in a switch.

Battery ==> Fuse ==> switch ==> heating elements ==> ground.

Check to see if you can use your grips with a hi/lo/off switch.

Don't for get the fuse.

03-05-2005

Thanks, it does actually have a hi/lo/off switch anyway, but there is nothing to stop me forgetting to turn them off, or being fiddled with when I leave the bike out. I would really like them to be turned off when the ignition is off.

03-05-2005

Well I just ran mine from the battery, but I agree that it is a bit of a bodge really.

Really one of us needs to buy a mamual to see if there is a switched-power line in the headlight shell.

I have strapped the controller to the frame 'tube' by my left knee as it would not fit on the bars.

By the way they work brilliantly.

To complete the winterproofing I suggest you take off the nosecone as that reduces wind blast up to about 110. To tidy it up you fit the instrument backing from last year model speed triple ( the bottom bolt needs to be shortened by a bit)

Jon Green

Rik · 03-07-2005

I've got an S4 manual - If you send me a PM I can send you details of the wiring loom.

Also you should get some good ideas by searching the Sprint/Tiger forums as this sort of question must come up all the time over there!

03-07-2005

Rike wots a PM - prime-minister?

If so you would be welcome but I haven't got one on me right now.

Next time I buy a set I'll send you the spare one.. will May do?

Jon

Ghoti · 03-08-2005

First time I wired in my heated grips on my Diversion there was a spare connection coming out of the fuse box. I wired a relay into that and then wired the grips to the battery via the relay.

This allows the relay to close the circuit when the ignition is off and you get the full power from the battery without the risk of frying other circuits. Using the lighting wiring to switch the relay on and off would also do, but I would not run the grips from them as you could fry the wiring with them or not get enough heat as the wiring would not allow enough power to pass.

Second time I fitted them hard wired it into the battery so I can leave them on when filling up with petrol etc and the grips don't go cold. I've got the switch near the ignition (well, slightly in the way) and it has a light on it so (touch wood) I have not forgotten to turn them off as yet.

Jon - a PM is a personal message (like an internal email for this site I assume, but I have never used it).

Rik · 03-08-2005

Yeah it's a private message you can send by clicking the PM button below my post. That way you can pass on your e-mail address without posting it on the web site for SPAMers to pick up.

Like Paul said - Using a relay to do the switching would do the job nicely.

keithu · 03-08-2005

It would probably be easiest to just power it right off the battery. Make sure you use a fuse, of course. To ensure that the grips turn off with the bike, just use a relay. You can power the relay from the wire powering the tail light. Just tap into the wire for the taillight. When the taillight comes on the relay will be energized and the heated grips will work. It would look something like this:

This was the basic diagram for my auxillary light. Just replace "Lightforce Light" with "Heated grips" and you have your basic layout. You could also put the switch in a different place. My light is wired this way because the switch is a low-amp switch designed to be on this side of the relay.

Ghoti · 03-08-2005

I *think* as the switch has a variable setting you will need it between the relay and the grips (or light source in this case).

Not sure though and I stand to be corrected, but this is where I would put it.