Topic: extra fuses are handy to have

[noahspop]

best advice i've gotten on the site is to have some extra fuses handy.
well last night i had to use them. me and a buddy were heading to the ripon skatepark leaving merced. its about an hour ride. right as i'm done merging onto the freeway i lost all power. i freaked out at first thinking now whats wrong, but at the same time trying to get my friends attention while pulling over to the side of the road. he didn't see me.
in the back of my mind i knew what the problem was. yup busted fuse. popped the old one out threw in a new one. right as i was going to call him on his cell, he was calling me. i met up with him a few exits ahead, and off we went. ah life is good.

[fishhead]

Thats why I like circuit breakers. If they blow, you shut off the bike and they reset themself after 10 seconds or so.
 They are also nice to have when chasing a short in your wiring. No more replacing a burnt fuse with a new one just to watch it blow again.
  Shown on a XS 650 with custom wiring. The breakers are the correct motorcycle size, but my fuse panel is an automotive size. DOH...  (a breaker is shown on the frame rail)

[noahspop]

Hmm,
something to look into.
thanks.

[captaincrash80]

fishhead,

any info on how that setup was wired?

[Shenanigans]

Thats why I like circuit breakers. If they blow, you shut off the bike and they reset themself after 10 seconds or so.
 They are also nice to have when chasing a short in your wiring. No more replacing a burnt fuse with a new one just to watch it blow again.
  Shown on a XS 650 with custom wiring. The breakers are the correct motorcycle size, but my fuse panel is an automotive size. DOH...  (a breaker is shown on the frame rail)

Circuit breakers are the way to go. I will never have to buy a pack a fuses while chasing a short again.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Anyone have a place they like to purchase these?

I assume you can get them in the same amp values as the fuse they replace?

[fishhead]

fishhead,

any info on how that setup was wired?

 It's a Yamaha XS 650. I used an newer (electronic ignition) engine and wiring in in an older (1976) XS 650 and got rid of all the "weird" yamaha saftey stuff (clutch switch,kickstand switch, reserve lighting device,etc) that came with the newer wiring harness. Basically it is a stock electronic ignition wiring harness modified for use in this particular application.

 The stock fuse box had 3 fuses and I added and extra fuse for the auxillary lights (with a relay). I had to "custom" wire alot of stuff like the handle bar controls. The right side control has an on/off for the lights (this is now the master switch- turns off all the lights) and the left side control(off a different Yamaha) has an on/off (was the master switch, now on/off only for the aux lights) and the high/low switch that operates, well, the high/low beam. Power to the left side  light switches are turned on and off with the right side "master switch".
  The fuse box originally sat on top of the battery, but the new fuse panel sits on the right side of the battery box under the side cover. The bike has a one off seat and the side cover is easier to remove than the seat is.

 If you look to the rear of the fuse box (to the left in the picture) you'll see the rear master cylinder mounted to the frame (also hidden behind the side cover). It is actuated by a rod mounted to the stock brake pedal arrangement.

[fishhead]

Anyone have a place they like to purchase these?

I assume you can get them in the same amp values as the fuse they replace?

 I sell them. They come in 2.5 (I think), 5, 7.5, 10,15 and 20 amp.
 $5 each + shipping

[1974CB750rider]

I agree 100% about the extra fuses, but if your blowing fuses theirs got to be a reason. My 74 CB750 was doing that all the time and one time I even had to load it on a truck and bring it home. I found the problem. One of the wires, I believe it was the brown one coming out of the ignition switch had a short in it. I replaced the switch and solved the problem. I ran into the same problem on a 70 model CB450 I brought back to life but it turned out their was just some naked wire showing and making contact with metal. Hope this helps.

[winnipeg550guy]

 I use these circuit breaker types, picked up at Local Princess Auto (Canadian version of Harbor freight).
 Not much bigger than normal style fuses.

 

[Beans]

I blew a fuse the other day but was my supidty that did it.  Now I'm thinking a serkit breaker is the way to go.

[esw07]

Hey Fishhead, I'm leaving for a vacation here in a few hours but am def gonna look into my wiring setup to see what size circuit breakers I need and I'll pm you next week...

And what type of auxiliary lighting do you have? I just was thinking if it was ground effect type LED's as seen on some choppers It'd be pretty cool to have the handlebar control switch for the lights  wired to turn those on and off...

Hmmm I think I just got myself a new project for this winter when I run through my wire harness

[fishhead]

I have fog/driving lights on my XS. They are wired in with a relay to keep the heat/voltage down in the handlebar controls.

[myhondas]

Anyone have a place they like to purchase these?

I assume you can get them in the same amp values as the fuse they replace?

 I sell them. They come in 2.5 (I think), 5, 7.5, 10,15 and 20 amp.
 $5 each + shipping

So fish, it looks like they will just pop into the regular fuse holder and replace the fuses. If so, do they have a button for the reset or do you have to pop them out to reset them.

[fishhead]

Anyone have a place they like to purchase these?

I assume you can get them in the same amp values as the fuse they replace?

 I sell them. They come in 2.5 (I think), 5, 7.5, 10,15 and 20 amp.
 $5 each + shipping

So fish, it looks like they will just pop into the regular fuse holder and replace the fuses.


If so, do they have a button for the reset or do you have to pop them out to reset them.

 Yes, they just replace the stock glass type fuses in the fuse box. They are taller than the glass fuses so the fuse box cover wont fit back on the fuse box with the circuit breakers. I have been using them in all my bikes for a few years and I have never had any problems with them.

 To reset, you just turn the bike off and they automatically reset after a few seconds.