Author Topic: Two Electrical questions about my 400.  (Read 1070 times)

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Two Electrical questions about my 400.
« on: July 20, 2024, 02:10:05 PM »
It's probably not new but when I went for a short ride out today I noticed that my usually  bright neutral light (LED lit) would dim slightly when I pulled in the clutch lever. Is this normal or is it something that needs sorting?

I have fitted the AGM battery from my 500 to the 400 as it is not holding it's charge as I think it should.
I use the sidelamp switch position as a D.T.R.L. option as I have a Halo style front side lamp plus an LED bulb in the rear lamp. This circuit by means of a relay activates my bar mounted LED volt meter.

At an idle of 1100rpm  with sidelights on the voltmeter reads 12.2 - 12.3 volts.
As I increase the engine rpm to 3k the voltage rises to around 13.5-13.7 volts then at 4k rpm it peaks at 14.9 volts dropping down to 14.2 - 14.3 volts. In bright sunshine it's difficult to read the volt meter so only really started looking at it as I have fitted the AGM battery.

Does this voltage range sound about right?
I had noticed that the old lead acid battery did need topping up after only 300 miles in the last 18 months.
« Last Edit: July 20, 2024, 02:12:44 PM by McCabe-Thiele (Ted) »
Honda CB400NA Superdream (current money puddle)
Honda CB500 K1 (second money pit)
https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,28541.0.html
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html
This is a neat 500 restoration in the USA.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.msg1731556.html#msg1731556

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Two Electrical questions about my 400.
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2024, 02:40:55 PM »
Those volts sould about right Ted, that tanya battery is probably 4 yrs old now even though it has had little use

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Two Electrical questions about my 400.
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2024, 04:16:53 PM »
Neglected the neutral dim Ted, does it have the safety interlock with clutch switch? Led are far moe susceptible to small voltage variations

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: Two Electrical questions about my 400.
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2024, 05:06:18 PM »
Neglected the neutral dim Ted, does it have the safety interlock with clutch switch? Led are far moe susceptible to small voltage variations

Yes I have the clutch switch on the bar lever Bryan - never thought that might affect it!
« Last Edit: July 20, 2024, 05:20:38 PM by McCabe-Thiele (Ted) »
Honda CB400NA Superdream (current money puddle)
Honda CB500 K1 (second money pit)
https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,28541.0.html
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html
This is a neat 500 restoration in the USA.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.msg1731556.html#msg1731556

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Two Electrical questions about my 400.
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2024, 05:13:03 PM »
Well the power goes Either through the bulb Or through the bulb AND switch and diode so perhaps the voltage splits wich doesnt show on incandescent but does on led.
Led are confusing as some are polarity concious and others of same fitting arent

Offline TrickyMicky

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Re: Two Electrical questions about my 400.
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2024, 11:11:53 PM »
Ah yes, the joys of LED's. I changed virtually every bulb to LED on the 400, plus a digital flasher unit so the indicators would operate at the correct rate irrespective of bulb type.  I was so pleased that I carried out the same task on the GB250. All was well until I operated the indicators, signalled left, both left units flashed, along with front right, whilst the rear right had little hiccups!!!  It transpired that the 250 only has a single shared warning light, so if you signal left it earths through the right hand system, and vice versa. With filament bulbs the amount of current running to earth is insufficient to operate the remaing bulbs, but LED's only need the minutest amount to illuminate, so I had to rig up seprate warning lights. It can be overcome by fitting one-way diodes but I did not know about these until the job had been done. 

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Two Electrical questions about my 400.
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2024, 08:36:52 AM »
That happens on 500, early 550 and 750 as well

 

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