Battery Disconnect
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 3
From: Hudson Valley- NY
RE: Battery Disconnect
For the couple of minutes it takes to disconnect and reconnect the negative cable, it is a good idea. Now if I was just plugging in the T/L brake light module? No, I'd leave it as is. Anything more invovled than that, disconnect it. Electrical shorts are not only a pain in the butt to locate, but can be fairly costly to repair, it's a Harley after all.
It's up to you, but PowerCobra has a good point, besides, unless you know your hot and dead wiring, you never know when you'll accidently short out a live one and fry something pretty expensive.
It's up to you, but PowerCobra has a good point, besides, unless you know your hot and dead wiring, you never know when you'll accidently short out a live one and fry something pretty expensive.
Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 14,564
Likes: 9,225
From: the 50s & the 60s
RE: Battery Disconnect
ORIGINAL: 06FXDCIRider
That's why I'm asking about it though. I'm not made of dough and I hate having to pay for something that I screwed up. I figure it might be worth it to go ahead and disconnect the cable, it isn't like it's brain surgery. I really like that chrome swing arm on your bike. Really spiffs it up.
That's why I'm asking about it though. I'm not made of dough and I hate having to pay for something that I screwed up. I figure it might be worth it to go ahead and disconnect the cable, it isn't like it's brain surgery. I really like that chrome swing arm on your bike. Really spiffs it up.
you are forkin around with wiring and related components.
It costs you absolutely zero dollars to remove one screw from the negative batt terminal.
First time you get scatterbrained and ground the wrong component,
you're gonna be getting walkin instead of rollin, and spending some bux.
Like others state, you do not HAVE TO protect your investment.
I say it's a very GOOD habit.
mud
Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 14,564
Likes: 9,225
From: the 50s & the 60s
RE: Battery Disconnect
ORIGINAL: 06FXDCIRider
.................................................. ........
I really like that chrome swing arm on your bike. Really spiffs it up.
.................................................. ........
I really like that chrome swing arm on your bike. Really spiffs it up.
The swinging arm - attached to one really fineass machine.
You have voted for the Bike of the Month.
Right??
mud
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
RE: Battery Disconnect
OK -
I guess if the manual say to disconnect - then disconnect. If you have no knowledge on schematics, voltage and current flow, then you should do exactly what the manual tells you to do. I'm not tryin to be a wise a$$ here, but I think I have a good understanding of electricity and electronics. I understand the rigorous testing that automotive electonics go thru before going into a car that's intended to run for many years with total sh*theads screwing with it. I'd guess that motorcycle electronics are not far behind. The electronics are pretty bulletproof ....... anyone on the forum had an issue with things blowing up ????? NO.
I guess if the manual say to disconnect - then disconnect. If you have no knowledge on schematics, voltage and current flow, then you should do exactly what the manual tells you to do. I'm not tryin to be a wise a$$ here, but I think I have a good understanding of electricity and electronics. I understand the rigorous testing that automotive electonics go thru before going into a car that's intended to run for many years with total sh*theads screwing with it. I'd guess that motorcycle electronics are not far behind. The electronics are pretty bulletproof ....... anyone on the forum had an issue with things blowing up ????? NO.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 0
From: I been around
RE: Battery Disconnect
Yeah, umm..... sometimes a job only takes 20 minutes to do. 5 of that is disconnecting and reconnecting the batt.
Chasing down a problem because you didn't spend that extra 5 minutes could take days.
Yer call, but I agree with mud.
Chasing down a problem because you didn't spend that extra 5 minutes could take days.
Yer call, but I agree with mud.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
RE: Battery Disconnect
ORIGINAL: mudpuddle
ORIGINAL: glide05
OK -
................................................
NO.
OK -
................................................
NO.
got a lot of respect for you but don't understand your reply here. Seems you are not in agreement with my position - which is OK. If anyone can explain to me how current can flow from one node to another without voltage potential then I'm willing to listen.
anyway - the real answer is - if you don't feel comfortable without unhooking the battery - then by all means disconnect it.
Hey Mud -
I was not gonna take any pics of my winter mods until I was done, but could not resist and posted one in another thread. In a way I'm kind of glad you didn't see it - but figured if anyone stumbled upon it and looked close - it would be you........Not a good pic - use your keen eye and tell me what you think. I'm stuck on the bars - help me (don't say apes)
far from done -
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 457
Likes: 114
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
RE: Battery Disconnect
You should always look both ways before crossing the street too. Just a good habit to get into ;-)
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
RE: Battery Disconnect
2 things:
1) V=I*R
if V=0, then there can not be any current.
2) how is it possible to disconnect/reconnect the batt in 5 minutes???? I've never done it, but theres a whole bunch of crap under the seat to deal with - maybe I'm slow - but 5 min??
1) V=I*R
if V=0, then there can not be any current.
2) how is it possible to disconnect/reconnect the batt in 5 minutes???? I've never done it, but theres a whole bunch of crap under the seat to deal with - maybe I'm slow - but 5 min??
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
RE: Battery Disconnect
I was a Surface Sonar Technician for over 12 years in the Navy. I worked on computer cabinets the size of upright double door freezers. Rooms of them standing side by side. Along with all that electronics experience I got to work on a winch with a drum that stands about 8 feet high. I would imagine I could pull an Abrams tank out of the mud with that thing. Strong enough to play out 5,200 feet of inch and three quarters steel cable with a four inch sonar array eight hundred feet long on the end of it. So I dealt with hydraulics and more electrical on that system. After I spent 3 years learning that stuff I went to the fleet and spent 4 hard *** years working on that stuff day and night. Then I got to spend 3 years teaching a bunch of boneheaded 18 to 24 year olds how to work on it too.
I know electricity and electronics. Plenty comfortable working on almost anything. I just wanted to know if any of the old hands knew if a certain step in the instructions was all that important, or not.
I know electricity and electronics. Plenty comfortable working on almost anything. I just wanted to know if any of the old hands knew if a certain step in the instructions was all that important, or not.