Tail light wire.

stratblue · Nov 23, 2017

Greetings to The Collective.

Haynes tells me that the tail and brake light wires have yellow bands but not which is which. I've opened up a bundle of wires running down the sub frame on the left hand side and I was hoping one of you electrical wizards could tell which one in the bundle is the right one.

Thanks.

g.s.john · Nov 23, 2017

Why don't you go to the tail light and see which one is which by taking them off one at a time, the brown is earth.

stratblue · Nov 24, 2017

g.s.john said:
Why don't you go to the tail light and see which one is which by taking them off one at a time, the brown is earth.

That is plan B but it seems like a bit of a faff, apparently you have to go in from underneath and take the luggage rack off too. I was hoping a guru would know.

Andi_archer · Nov 24, 2017

Use a pin to puncture the insulation and use a meter to test will

Bendy toy · Nov 24, 2017

In the old days we would simply undo the connector and see which one was live/dead with the brakes on/off. Today @Andi's method is the best. If you are looking for ignition switched power, the aux socket under the seat is more useful. Wire that to a relay, etc, etc.

g.s.john · Nov 24, 2017

Just had a look at the diagram tail light should be red/yellow black/yellow brake light
you should be able to see the wires going into the tail light to confirm.

Slipperyeel · Nov 24, 2017

I'm interested in the answer to this as I'll be fitting a PDM60 onto my new-to-me 1200 tc.

Found this: http://www.r1200gs.info/forum/showthread.php?t=3137

Suggests the grey/black/yellow, which is contra to the above. But the wire colouring can change from models...

g.s.john · Nov 24, 2017

The diagram I am looking at is for an 2007 GS
the OP did not say which year.

autogs · Nov 25, 2017

Andi_archer said:
Use a pin to puncture the insulation and use a meter to test will

dont do that unless to plan not to keep the bike,moisture will get in and spread along the wire

Bendy toy · Nov 25, 2017

autogs said:
dont do that unless to plan not to keep the bike,moisture will get in and spread along the wire

Really? What about the contacts at each end of the wire? It’s only the ECUs that are fully sealed. The others are only protected not sealed.

stratblue · Nov 26, 2017

g.s.john said:
Just had a look at the diagram tail light should be red/yellow black/yellow brake light
you should be able to see the wires going into the tail light to confirm.

I can just see two wires in the gap, no way to distinguish tail from brake though?

stratblue · Nov 26, 2017

autogs said:
dont do that unless to plan not to keep the bike,moisture will get in and spread along the wire

Couldn't I just melt the hole a tiny bit to seal it back up?

stratblue · Nov 26, 2017

g.s.john said:
The diagram I am looking at is for an 2007 GS
the OP did not say which year.

It's a 2011

autogs · Nov 26, 2017

stratblue said:
Couldn't I just melt the hole a tiny bit to seal it back up?

yea you could :thumby:

Bendy toy · Nov 26, 2017

Compared to the risk of moisture ingress at the connection plugs/sockets the pin prick is nothing. It's only 12V.

Andi_archer · Nov 26, 2017

If your that paranoid over an less than 1/2 mm square hole then just tape over or mastic the hole afterwards

Bendy toy · Nov 27, 2017

Andi_archer said:
If your that paranoid over an less than 1/2 mm square hole then just tape over or mastic the hole afterwards

With a sewing pin it wont even be that big and the plastic edges will close up. The biggest risk is ramming the pin though your finger.

Tail light wire.

stratblue

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g.s.john

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