Voltage of the Low Octane Wire

I currently have a waterproof switch to activate the low octane map on my bike instead of disconnecting the wires. Only problem is the only waterproof switch I could find was a push button. I can't tell when the thing is pushed or not because it resets to the same position.

I want to wire it to a Highway Dirt Bikes handle bar clamp set up so my questions are:

1) Are the HDB buttons set up so that it is very clear if the button has been pushed or not?

2) Is there a way to wire it so that when it is activated it lights up the small LEDs that you can get with the kit?

I know I could just wire it so that I unplug the wire like stock, but what fun would that be?

Hard to say what voltage since it goes into the ECU.

Get out your voltmeter, unplug your existing connection and read across the 2 wires.. Then find out what the Led's need to operate.. Voila!

Doubt you will find voltage. Most ECU's look for a ground to switch maps.

I knew this but I didn't want to cut the switch out that I've already installed and was hoping someone knew off the top of their head.

Makes sense. Ground for one map, no ground (no circuit) for the other. K.I.S.S.

On top of this I've realized that if there was a voltage running through the wire that the LED would always be on unless I had a DPST switch or something like that. Electrical circuits weren't my physics professor's strong point when he was teaching us.


Thanks guys!

What he said, it's ground for sure...no guessing either, it says so in the wiring diagram

Talking switches, you should look at online chandlery (boat) stores, they sell waterproof toggle switches like this one that will fit the hdb switch mounts.

http://www.tcschandlery.co.uk/7213/ECS-Waterproof-Toggle-switch.html?referrer=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid7213

Switching a line to ground to switch maps is common....there would be some DC voltage on one of the lines when not activated, but I wouldn't run an LED with it. You could measure it...might be anywhere from 5V to 12V when not switched on.

I ran mine through a relay. The NC coil voltage is also what lights the LED (on for low octane)

short answer, "no" on the HDB push-button switch question

Thanks everyone. Looks like I'm just going to put the thing back stock. Serves me right for overthinking something.

? Why not just use a toggle switch like mentioned above ? It would work perfect in the HDB mount.

Indeed.

Radio Shack, less than 5 bucks, not waterproof, slathered on a little silicon sealer to help with splash resistance. Works great, and I live in a wet climate.



I too thought about an indicator light, but worried the draw night affect the curve. The toggle is its own indicator: up for high octane, down for low.