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Power Distribution

   
Old Oct 22, 2013 | 02:47 AM
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Default Power Distribution
What's the best/recommended method of connecting a number of accessories to the battery for power and ground? Does everyone just connect directly to the battery or is there some sort of power distribution block I should use? For instance, on my bike I have and will need the following devices connected to the battery:

battery tender cable
relay isolator for trailer
amp
motolights

This just seems like a lot of ring terminals to attach to the battery post. I'm not even sure the battery tray cover would fit (2011 Ultra) with this many ring terminals connected.
 
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 04:43 AM
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The battery tender should go directly to the battery. The rest could be ran off a distribution block.
 
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 06:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Pioneer74
The battery tender should go directly to the battery. The rest could be ran off a distribution block.
I agree.

If you want to keep your power tray clean and neat then put one of these to the left (in front of) of your fuse panel under the left side cover.

For the accessories you're talking about, I would run an 8ga wire from the battery to the distribution block with a 40A inline fuse at the battery.

Then on each of the 4 outputs, you run the recommended wire and fuse size your accessory calls for.

Word to the wise. If you do this and use screws to mount the distribution block to the plastic as I did, MAKE SURE that the top screw will not pierce the wiring harness that is located behind the plastic.

Here's mine for my amps.

 
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 07:01 AM
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Originally Posted by LQQK_OUT
What's the best/recommended method of connecting a number of accessories to the battery for power and ground? Does everyone just connect directly to the battery or is there some sort of power distribution block I should use? For instance, on my bike I have and will need the following devices connected to the battery:

battery tender cable
relay isolator for trailer
amp
motolights

This just seems like a lot of ring terminals to attach to the battery post. I'm not even sure the battery tray cover would fit (2011 Ultra) with this many ring terminals connected.
LQQK OUT,

Do you already have motolights? Or is that a planned purchase?
 
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 08:39 AM
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FYI, the fuse block will not fit there if you have the security siren.
 
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Pioneer74
FYI, the fuse block will not fit there if you have the security siren.
true but I have to leave something to the imagination..
 
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by LQQK_OUT
What's the best/recommended method of connecting a number of accessories to the battery for power and ground? Does everyone just connect directly to the battery or is there some sort of power distribution block I should use? For instance, on my bike I have and will need the following devices connected to the battery:

battery tender cable
relay isolator for trailer
amp
motolights

This just seems like a lot of ring terminals to attach to the battery post. I'm not even sure the battery tray cover would fit (2011 Ultra) with this many ring terminals connected.
Each circuit should be separately fused and run to the battery. You can join all the circuits together with a single large guage ring terminal. This protects the individual circuits and wiring and simplifies troubleshooting if there are problems.
 
Last edited by nhrider1; Oct 22, 2013 at 12:08 PM. Reason: Add last sentence
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 11:31 PM
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Originally Posted by MontyCop05
LQQK OUT,

Do you already have motolights? Or is that a planned purchase?
I already own them. Actually, they were purchased a few years ago and I'm just now getting around to installing them.
 
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Old Oct 22, 2013 | 11:36 PM
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Originally Posted by nhrider1
Each circuit should be separately fused and run to the battery. You can join all the circuits together with a single large guage ring terminal. This protects the individual circuits and wiring and simplifies troubleshooting if there are problems.
Now why didn't I think of that???? A simple and obvious solution. I like it. Thanks!
 
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