AVCC Controls

[BikerGeek99]

We just got back from SFO.

For any who were not aware, it rained, and rained, then poured, and rained some more.

On the way to SFO, my Audiovox CC was working fine. Roy and I rode the 700+ miles, mostly in rain, with no problem.

After SFO, on the way to Tulsa, I went to engage the CC and the dang thing wouldn't 'Set.'

I figured it was just my gloves.

Um, no. I think the control pad got hosed from the rain on Saturday.

The CC was already on the bike when I bought it. All I know for sure is where the control pad is on the clutch reservoir.

On the control pad, when the ignition is On, the little green light between the 'On' and 'Off' toggle lights up. There used to be a little green light between the 'Res' and 'Set' toggle, but that's out. If I turn the CC on, I still get the little green light in the center of the control pad.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm hoping it's just the control pad - I think I can handle replacing that. If it's something else, well, I'm not the most mechanical of people around, to say the least.

Thanks.

 

[dbx]

I would have thought the controls would work again after they dry out, but since it's been almost a week already, apparently I'm wrong about that.

If it were me, I would use this opportunity to replace the AVCC control pad with one or two toggle switches, which I think give a much cleaner look. I stole the idea from BrunDog, so you can Google him or me since both of us have posted pics before.

Alternatively, I have a new never-used AVCC control pad available if you'd like to just replace yours, or at least to try a replacement to see if it fixes the issues. Let me know and I'll send it. No charge, of course.

Clicky to a thread with pics.

 

[ionbeam]

The main servo unit is almost waterproof but under extreme conditions water can get in past the wires. The circuit board in the servo is environmentally encapsulated so it should be water resistant even if a few drops get in.

The key pad definitely is not waterproof, heck it's not even slightly water resistant unless you sealed it. If there was any contamination (dirt, road grime, soap residue) in the pad or around the openings it can get deposited on the switch circuit board causing it to quit working. Sealing the pad 90% will let water in but prevent it from drying out. If you think the pad is what is at fault you can replace it with momentary switches as dbx has documented for you. You can take dbx up on the kind offer for a freebie pad. If you want to send me the bad pad I can most likely fix it and reseal it. Freebie to you on the condition that you pay it forward should someone else need a control pad.

 

[Wicked Webby]

Second report in a week of the AVCC failing from rain/washing/water ect.....

:Snorkle: :help:

 

[rushes]

Second report in a week of the AVCC failing from rain/washing/water ect.....
:Snorkle: :help:

I'm thinkin' one of these electrical wizards 'round here ought to design and build some waterproof, plug-in kits they could break even selling....

:good:

edit..

Nevermind. Just read the DBX link.

Sounds purdy simple...

Thanks!

 

[Zorlac]

"If you want to send me the bad pad I can most likely fix it and reseal it. Freebie to you on the condition that you pay it forward should someone else need a control pad."

You're a good egg Alan, very gracious of you.

Maybe a 40 watt light bulb near or under the pad for a day or two would help, just not so close as to melt any plastic, warm is good.

I'm gonna be SOL for curing epoxy quick or drying paint and such when Congress bans incandescent light bulbs because of their poor efficiency. :angry2:

 

[Patriot]

If I didn't waterproof my pad, I'd pop it open and use a hair dryer on it on warm to hot, but not red hot or too hot to blow on ya hand

Has worked many times on other moisture sensitive electronics of moi's

 

[BikerGeek99]

dbx - thanks for the link and the offer. I had a PM from another board member offering me a pad. Hopefully that'll do it for me.

Alan - once I get the other pad and swap 'em out, I'll take you up on your offer. We're going to be in your neck of the woods in a few weeks. I'll be PM'ing you...

 

[radman]

My pad is rain proof, but not wash proof-pour water on it hard enough and long enough and you'll defeat my sealing job. Early on, I had to disassemble and re-water proof it, as the water found a way in somehow. Once wet, very unlikely it will dry out while assembled, and in any case, needs to come apart to be re-done anyway.

 

[ionbeam]

...Alan - once I get the other pad and swap 'em out, I'll take you up on your offer. We're going to be in your neck of the woods in a few weeks. I'll be PM'ing you...

Cool, waiting for the PM...

If the water entering the keypad was absolutely clean and pH neutral there wouldn't be much of a problem. If the water picks up any surface contamination, road slime or soap residue, the contamination will remain after the water has dried. The way the key pad switches work is not like conventional switches.

The following is excerpted from this thread.

The ‘switches’ are actually the little carbon dots on the back side of the membrane that short together the interlaced conductors completing the switch.

A water drop will do the same thing as the carbon dots, especially if it isn't clean water such as wash water. If water gets on the interlaced fingers, the switch will turn on and you won't be able to turn it off... (if a couple of switches are completed at the same time the AVCC will see an error condition and won't engage)

Thanks for the great pictures kaitsdad!

 

[v65]

Brundoggy that thing and get it over with.

 

[ionbeam]

Brundoggy that thing and get it over with.

Brun' loaded the left control pod with momentary buttons to take the place of the AVCC keypad. He did that ~4 years ago and it has worked completely reliably for the 42.7 miles he has ridden since

 

[rushes]

Brundoggy that thing and get it over with.

Brun' loaded the left control pod with momentary buttons to take the place of the AVCC keypad. He did that ~4 years ago and it has worked completely reliably for the 42.7 miles he has ridden since

So what set up does ionbeam use? :dntknw:

 

[ionbeam]

So what set up does ionbeam use? :dntknw:

Fast, easy, no imagination AVCC control pad that was very carefully sealed 5 years ago. No failures yet. I made a bracket to mount the pad for easy thumb actuation. The ugly black tube that goes into the right side of the control pad is sleeving for the control wires, it passes in front of the mounting bracket.

 

[rushes]

OK, Mine was Smittysealed, so I guess I'll leave it be until I get a failure...

And I don't wash my bike, so it otter last a purdy good while...

Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[dcarver]

Brundoggy that thing and get it over with.

Brun' loaded the left control pod with momentary buttons to take the place of the AVCC keypad. He did that ~4 years ago and it has worked completely reliably for the 42.7 miles he has ridden since

:rofl: Ouch!

 

[Harald]

Second report in a week of the AVCC failing from rain/washing/water ect.....
:Snorkle: :help:

I don't think it's a confirmed control pad water failure on this thread and the other was due to abuse (high pressure water aimed at the control pad). And this possible failure may be due to no sealing at all. So I don't think the control panels are much of a problem. FWIW, I installed mine over a year ago and I ride constantly in the rain. I sealed it up very thoroughly! No problems yet....

 

[v65]

Brundoggy that thing and get it over with.

Brun' loaded the left control pod with momentary buttons to take the place of the AVCC keypad. He did that ~4 years ago and it has worked completely reliably for the 42.7 miles he has ridden since

:lol:

v65 Brundoggied that thing a couple of years ago and has put many more than that on without a hitch. Well there was that girl down in Reno, but that's not really relevant.

 

[dbx]

Brundoggy that thing and get it over with.

Brun' loaded the left control pod with momentary buttons to take the place of the AVCC keypad. He did that ~4 years ago and it has worked completely reliably for the 42.7 miles he has ridden since

:yahoo: That may very well be, but I followed in Brun's footsteps and put 25k miles on my '05 without any problems**. I'll do my '07 the same way.

**Unless you count the fact that my Brundoggied AVCC didn't keep my bike from wrapping itself around a guardrail, but the AVCC was off at the time.