ElectricMotorcycleForum.com

Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: ESokoloff on August 29, 2017, 09:54:32 AM

Title: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: ESokoloff on August 29, 2017, 09:54:32 AM
So this past weekend I tore into my 16 DSR to put on heated grips,  Hella horns (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3O0Y0M/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3171424582&pd_rd_wg=Uhope&pf_rd_r=10BT8CNHS00ZDXQ5HNA2&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00R3O0Y0M&pd_rd_w=T9HwF&pf_rd_i=fiamm+horn&pd_rd_r=B0641C1ZCHXG1P6YCJY0&ie=UTF8&qid=1503978083&sr=1 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3O0Y0M/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3171424582&pd_rd_wg=Uhope&pf_rd_r=10BT8CNHS00ZDXQ5HNA2&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00R3O0Y0M&pd_rd_w=T9HwF&pf_rd_i=fiamm+horn&pd_rd_r=B0641C1ZCHXG1P6YCJY0&ie=UTF8&qid=1503978083&sr=1)), & a garage door opener.

I made up a custom loom from the 12v fuses to the headlight bucket including a ground strap which I affixed parallel to the factory ground strap.

To my dismay when I went to test my work I found it didn't work  :o

Turns out the bikes chassis is not 12 vdc ground like on an ICE bike.

I did discover the SAE connector in the Power Tank area that is 12vdc & could use this ground if push comes to shove but would rather terminate the ground back at the source if possible.

Can someone tell me where this is?

P.S.  I thought this SAE connection was used for the Aux. Power point on the right side of the dash?
My used DSR came with the power port presumably installed by the dealer. 

TIA
Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: DPsSRnSD on August 29, 2017, 10:26:08 AM
There's a Sumitomo connector accessory power port that probably looks like this: http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Connectors/Sealed/SMTS/smts.html (http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Connectors/Sealed/SMTS/smts.html)  There is a fan-out for multiple accessories:  http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_5&products_id=193&zenid=mp87apv8a04184e9lr01p4llk0 (http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_5&products_id=193&zenid=mp87apv8a04184e9lr01p4llk0) There should also be an SAE connector on the same circuit, which powers up when the key is turned to On: http://zeromanual.com/index.php/Common_Modifications#Accessory_Power (http://zeromanual.com/index.php/Common_Modifications#Accessory_Power)
Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: DonTom on August 29, 2017, 11:16:50 AM
I did discover the SAE connector in the Power Tank area that is 12vdc & could use this ground if push comes to shove but would rather terminate the ground back at the source if possible.

Can someone tell me where this is?

P.S.  I thought this SAE connection was used for the Aux. Power point on the right side of the dash?
My used DSR came with the power port presumably installed by the dealer. 

TIA
I think you will  find that all E-vehicles to not use a frame or chassis ground for safety reasons. Think of a car in an accident where the frame is ground. You need to cut out the victims. You short to something, sparks fly.  Or a worker get killed by a few hundred volts or whatever the car uses by his body being between the frame and the HV.

All that is  almost impossible to happen if the frame or chassis is not ground. With a "floating ground", the worse that can happen is you short to HV+ and the frame becomes positive. Or you short to negative and the frame becomes negative.  No sparks, no shocks, because no completed circuit.  Or your body gets between the frame and negative or positive but  nothing happens because there is no completed circuit. No shock, no sparks, no problems, when there is no frame ground.

But for a practical answer, what I start with to  find the floating ground on an E-vehicle for the 13 volts, is the headlamp common (low). That has to be a ground or the headlamp will not work. Ground, in this case, means the return path, not the chassis or frame, which is not a return for any circuits in an E-vehicle.   Perhaps by law. I assume it is law, for the safety reasons explained above.

While I see no possible harm by  grounding *ONLY* the 12 volt negative any more-so than in a gas vehicle, I guess in E-vehicles they simply make sure they don't ground anything at all to the frame. Perhaps because of the way the law reads.

-Don-  Auburn, CA

Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: DonTom on August 29, 2017, 11:23:32 AM
There's a Sumitomo connector accessory power port that probably looks like this: http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Connectors/Sealed/SMTS/smts.html (http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Connectors/Sealed/SMTS/smts.html)  There is a fan-out for multiple accessories:  http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_5&products_id=193&zenid=mp87apv8a04184e9lr01p4llk0 (http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_5&products_id=193&zenid=mp87apv8a04184e9lr01p4llk0) There should also be an SAE connector on the same circuit, which powers up when the key is turned to On: http://zeromanual.com/index.php/Common_Modifications#Accessory_Power (http://zeromanual.com/index.php/Common_Modifications#Accessory_Power)
I had no problem finding that connector in my 2017 DS. But in my 2017 SR with Power Tank, I gave up looking for it.

I wired my new horn in today, (with relay) and it is LOUD. What I used is a wire from the fuse box (labeled as "accessories") and the headlamp low to get the power for my horns.

-Don-  Auburn, CA

Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: DonTom on August 29, 2017, 11:26:11 AM
Can someone tell me where this is?
I should also mention it is best to use horns that do NOT use a ground. But you can still use them as long as you don't ground them to the frame. The idea is no connections to the frame on an e-vehicle.

-Don-  Auburn, CA
Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: ESokoloff on August 30, 2017, 07:19:28 AM
There's a Sumitomo connector accessory power port that probably looks like this: http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Connectors/Sealed/SMTS/smts.html (http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Connectors/Sealed/SMTS/smts.html)  There is a fan-out for multiple accessories:  http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_5&products_id=193&zenid=mp87apv8a04184e9lr01p4llk0 (http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_5&products_id=193&zenid=mp87apv8a04184e9lr01p4llk0) There should also be an SAE connector on the same circuit, which powers up when the key is turned to On: http://zeromanual.com/index.php/Common_Modifications#Accessory_Power (http://zeromanual.com/index.php/Common_Modifications#Accessory_Power)


Or short answer....
RTFM https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTFM (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTFM) :P

Looks like my best option is to get a crimper & a handful of connectors so I can make my own spider.

Thank you very much for the info.
Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: DonTom on August 30, 2017, 09:35:46 AM
Looks like my best option is to get a crimper & a handful of connectors so I can make my own spider. Thank you very much for the info.
If you have the Power Tank, you might not be able to find the connector but you can run you own wire.

The top of the "Accessories" ten amp fuse is the input to the fuse. The bottom is after the fuse.

It might be easier to tap into the top wire and then just add your own fuse. That is what I did.


-Don-  Auburn, CA

Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: BamBam on January 05, 2018, 12:43:35 AM
I'm resurrecting this older thread to see if anyone has found a good source to buy the mating connector for the Sumitomo accessory power plug on the Zero.  I've looked at the linked page from Eastern Beaver, but there are several types of 2-pin Sumitomo connectors shown.  Which is the correct one?

As an alternative, I found this multi-splitter adapter for the SAE accessory power plug on Amazon for $10.  Zero wants $110 for their splitter.

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-ISCC2-5-Way-Adapter-Connector/dp/B003L643KS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1515082920&sr=8-3&keywords=sae+connector+adapter

I think I'm going to just use the SAE connection since the Sumitomo type connectors seem to be difficult to source, especially locally.
Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: DPsSRnSD on January 05, 2018, 01:33:27 AM
I'm resurrecting this older thread to see if anyone has found a good source to buy the mating connector for the Sumitomo accessory power plug on the Zero.  I've looked at the linked page from Eastern Beaver, but there are several types of 2-pin Sumitomo connectors shown.  Which is the correct one?

This is what I ordered from Eastern Beaver:
    
SAE to SAE 12
2 @ $5.95 USD
Item no. SAE-SAE-12
$11.90 USD
   
Item no. EMS Shipping
$10.00 USD
   
2 Position 090WP-TS Special A Female Connector
2 @ $4.29 USD
Item no. 2P090WP-TS-SPA-F
$8.58 USD
   
2 Position 090WP-TS Special A Male Connector
4 @ $4.29 USD
Item no. 2P090WP-TS-SPA-M
$17.16 USD
   
SAE Plug with 48 inch leads
2 @ $4.95 USD
Item no. SAE48
$9.90 USD
Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: BamBam on January 05, 2018, 01:56:58 AM
Got it.  Thanks very much DPsSRnSD
Title: Re: 12v Ground Location?
Post by: BamBam on January 05, 2018, 03:32:36 AM
It might be easier to tap into the top wire and then just add your own fuse. That is what I did.

That's what I plan on doing also.  I'm going tap the 12V positive at the top of the fuse box at the connector for the accessory ports.  This is the one that has the thicker (10 gauge?) wire going to it.  I'm going to pick up the negative 12V connection from the SAE accessory plug.  Then I'm going to run the positive and negative leads to a terminal block mounted behind the right side tank panel then run all of my accessories (heated grips, Stebel horn, power outlet, etc.) to the terminal block.  I plan to also install a 25A inline fuse in the positive lead coming off of the fuse box.  In theory this should work, but we shall see.