Topic: Hypothetical Question

[wedoo2]

Let's say, hypothetically of course, that someone is thought to have hooked up their battery, positive to negative, backwards?  Myth has it that there was a mystical smoke about the area of all the side panel wires.  It goes without saying that this is the kind of person that should not be lead to an area where tools would lie.  Hah!  I shudder to think of this person working on one of my vehicles.

But, let us say that this scenario took place.  And even though our intrepid craftsman was quick as lightning (an apt adjective)and removed the errant wiring; and miraculously his lights came on when the key was turned.  Would our feeble minded one have cause to worry what he had done to his electrical system?

Hypothetically, of course.

[Gordon]

This person would have hypothetically killed his/her rectifier, and hypothetically melted the green wire from the rectifier up to an unknown point in the harness, along with any adjacent wires, and will hypothetically need to replace said rectifier and any involved wires along the way. 

Don't feel too bad, the writer of this response may have, hypothetically, been one of the many sohc4 owners who have, hypothetically, done the exact same thing in the past.

[GammaFlat]

The rectifier's fate is quite certain but other damage is not.  Good luck. 

[weekend_junkie]

I have a smart-charger that senses the polarity so this never happens, hypothetically or in reality.

I'm also certain it was about $30 and is black & yellow, but I forget the brand.

[Rigid]

Had a friend, that knew a guy, that his fiance's brother was roommates with, that installed a battery backwards once.   It wouldn't charge, but everything else worked fine.  Story has it, he eventually found his error and only had to replace my, I mean his, rectifier.

[wedoo2]

I have a smart-charger that senses the polarity so this never happens, hypothetically or in reality.

I'm also certain it was about $30 and is black & yellow, but I forget the brand.

Of course there is always one know-it-all in the crowd that has an answer for everything.   But, grudgingly, he must be thanked.

Seems that this particular part, a rectifier, is the most expensive on the motorcycle.  Foolishness is always rewarded.  I'll pass on this advice if I ever hear of this happening.

[Tews19]

If you removed it fast enough you may not have that bad of fate.

[CycleRanger]

Seems that this particular part, a rectifier, is the most expensive on the motorcycle.  Foolishness is always rewarded.  I'll pass on this advice if I ever hear of this happening.

Expensive?  Not at all.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=12465.0

I replaced mine for about $15.

[wedoo2]

Thank you.  Can the rectifier be tested?

[MCRider]

Did you hook a battery charger up to it in reverse, (per weekend_junkie) or

Did you hook the bike to the battery in reverse? I didn't think this could be done, the wires wouldn't reach.

Hmmm.

[bjatwood]

Thank you.  Can the rectifier be tested?

It can, run the bike and see if the battery Hypothetically dies. If it lives with over Hy pothectically 12+ volts. If it doesn't, spend the 15 dollars and Hy pothectically thanks for the lesson....

[Stev-o]

Hypothetically a good question!

[wedoo2]

Well, it seems that there may be some masked sarcasm in these replies.  Surely you wouldn't think I would do such a thing?

[Stev-o]

Hypothetically, no!

[Gordon]

If you removed it fast enough you may not have that bad of fate.

He saw smoke, which means it was connected long enough to burn insulation on the wires, therefore it's toast. 

[dave500]

the smoke should be left to circulate throughout the loom not escape it,if the battery is connected in reverse it will push the smoke backwards and cause it to backup untill it bursts a wire and comes out smelly,hypothecticaly

[Duke McDukiedook]

If you removed it fast enough you may not have that bad of fate.

He HYPOTHEICALLY saw smoke, which means it was HYPOTHEICALLY connected long enough to HYPOTHEICALLY burn insulation on the wires, therefore it's HYPOTHEICALLY toast.

Fixed that for ya. 

[Rgconner]

Did you cross the streams?

Never cross the streams, that would be bad.

[72500john]

thats one sure way to prove how electricity works..if you let the smoke out it doesnt work anymore. cant say i ever did that myself..opps yea i did!
this kinda relate to a sayiing an old guy once told me related to shooting blackpowder guns. there are two kinds of blackpowder shooters out there. those that have loaded thier guns without powder..and those that eventualy will!!