Can someone that knows gen4's help me quick? Electrical question

[gsus]

I'm working on a project for my 97 VFR... Will post thread and pictures if/when I finish the project.

Anyway, does anyone know which component (if any) I can use to find a wire that only comes on once the engine starts? I want to avoid using an 'accessory' wire (power cuts out while starter is pressed) and I want to avoid using an 'Ignition' wire (stays on no matter what the position of the starter be in).

I have the wiring diagram for the bike but that only helps me figure out which wire goes where. If I know what component to look for it would save me a some time! If someone could point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it!

[Sye]

You need a 12 volt relay.

Take the feed to the relay directly from the battery + and - then take an ignition live feed from your rear brake light switch to the relay.

Hey presto, whenever you switch the ignition on there will be a 12v live feed.

Alternatively Toratech in the Uk supply a relay as in the picture below. It's part number 01-044-0450-0 and can be found here:

Touratech UK Webshop

It retails at around $55 plus shipping. It's a great bit of kit and you can run 5 electrical accessories from it. I have one fitted to my 97 VFR750 behind the left rear panel. I run my Communications system, mobile phone and GPS from it. Worked great for the past three years.

It works on the same principal. It has a built in relay that operates only when the ignition is switched on and it is sealed in resin so completely waterproof.

HTH

[gsus]

Thanks for the reply! I know I need a relay, however the rear taillight is still on when the engine is off ('ignition' wire)... While it would work for my project I'd prefer to have a source that is only on when the engine is running.

Does the fuel pump, ignition coils, R/R and/or the ignition control module have wire that is only on when the engine is on?

I haven't gotten to needing to do this part of the project yet so I haven't torn my bike apart to do testing of my own yet, since I'm still riding the bike daily.

*edit* If I remember correctly doesn't the low fuel light stay on while the bike is off and shuts off once the bike is on? I'll have to test this tomorrow, if so my search may be over... assuming I can access the wire and it works the way I want it to work.

[Sye]

Originally Posted by gsus

Thanks for the reply! I know I need a relay, however the rear taillight is still on when the engine is off ('ignition' wire)... While it would work for my project I'd prefer to have a source that is only on when the engine is running.

Does the fuel pump, ignition coils, R/R and/or the ignition control module have wire that is only on when the engine is on?

I haven't gotten to needing to do this part of the project yet so I haven't torn my bike apart to do testing of my own yet, since I'm still riding the bike daily.

*edit* If I remember correctly doesn't the low fuel light stay on while the bike is off and shuts off once the bike is on? I'll have to test this tomorrow, if so my search may be over... assuming I can access the wire and it works the way I want it to work.

I'm not talking about the rear tail light feed. If you look at the brake light switch behing the right riders footpeg you will see two wires exiting under the right side panel. This is connected just behind the tank close to the rear subframe right side rail. One of these becomes live when you switch the ignition on and the other is live when you press the brake pedal.

Find the switched live using a meter and tap into that.

[gsus]

Ah! I see, I totally misunderstood you then! I will test the wires when I get home...

Touching on my edit from last night. It's the oil light on the cluster that is on when the while the engine off and off when the engine is running. If all else fails, this may be the wire I use.

[VT Viffer]

^^^

Um..., kind of. The oil pressure light is on when the oil pressure switch does not get a high enough electrical reading. Not just because the engine is NOT running.

It goes off because it reads adequate oil pressure, again, not just because the engine is running.

What is it excactly that you are trying to do???

[gsus]

Damn, good point! What it basically comes down to- if I were to use that oil light as my relay trigger... is that if the oil pressure switch ever goes bad.. so does my circuit.

What I'm trying to wire up is my headlights to only come on when the engine is on... similar to how the newer Kawasaki's light system works. For this reason: