Topic: Electrical short - turn signal

[eigenvector]

I was about to go on a ride today when in the middle of a safety check I discovered that the left turn signal blows the main fuse.

I have to admit this one came out of nowhere.  It was working just fine, I was fiddling with the bulbs to get them to flash, may have changed some wires (the orange with white and orange wires) but I don't see why it would blow the main.

Symptoms:
Turn on the ignition key, run switch off.
Flip the switch to the right side.  Front and back lamps blink.
Flip the switch to the left side.  Console indicators blink quickly, front and back lamps stay dark, main fuse blows after ~2 seconds.  15A main fuse.

[Bodi]

The fast console lamp blink indicates overload. The dark signals say the wire for them is going to ground instead of the lights.

[eigenvector]

I'll have to wait until tomorrow to dig into it then. 

I'm still trying to get over this dang cold I got last week - last thing I need to do is hover over the bike in the rain trying to figure out where the short is.

Could the short be in the console rather than the indicator housing?

[Bodi]

The power comes from the battery and then goes (not at all directly) to the flasher. After that, on to the switch. The signals and the console lamp split there with wires to left, right, and console. If the problem is in the console the signal would flash and the console stay dark. The voltage will be zero right at any cross connection ("short") and rise as you move back up the harness towards the battery: this is because of the wires, connection, and switch resistance. When you reach the battery terminals it will be 12V or so unless the battery is being overwhelmed (unlikely without a fire - they can easily provide enough amperage to melt harness wiring) or discharged. Since you seem to have decent voltage to the console lamp, the switch contact for the L signal is probably dirty and  limiting the load current. If so, the switch may have been damaged by overheating if you left it in L for long with this happening.
It's odd that the fuse doesn't blow - probably the switch+wiring resistance and the flasher's heater resistance limit the current enough.

[eigenvector]

I won't fuss over why the fuse isn't blowing - I have a low battery and it just isn't capable of generating enough power to blow the fuse, my guess anyway.

It's easy enough to take apart the switch at the handlebar and see what's what.  Could very well be that a creepy critter has decided to take up residence or moisture got in there and is shorting out something.

Thinking about the wiring, I guess I can accept that the console wouldn't be it - it's only fed that single orange and white wire.  Whatever shorting out the system has to be coming from the orange wire. 

[eigenvector]

I really don't like electrical problems -  I especially don't like them when it decides to rain for the first time in like 3 months AND I have come down with a miserable cold too boot.

Yeah I'm a little annoyed this weekend.

I do appreciate you talking to me about it though.

[Bodi]

look for a problem at the left front signal lamp. maybe even the bulb itself.