Powerlet plug issues

[Saddletramp]

Last fall I bought a used 2008 FJR. The previous owner had installed three Powerlet outlets on the bike. Earlier this spring, my wife & I took a 300 miles round trip in cool weather. Our Gerbing gear did not work. I came home & plugged our Gerbing controllers into my Super Tenere & they both lit right up.

This weekend, in anticipation of a 1300 mile ride to Eastern Idaho I attempted to fix the problem. I checked all the fuses & none were blown. I traced the wires & all appeared okay. The one plug is direct to the battery & it does charge my battery when a battery tender is plugged into it, but it won't light up my controller. Weird?

Any other ideas?

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Did those two outlets ever work to your knowledge? Or have they since quit working on thier own? If the first, the installation may be the issue. Perhaps thru a relay that failed, or ??

I only have one on mine and its wired to the battery (fused). IME, for what your using it for, it can be wired the same as the other. (when you get off the bike, so does the heated gear, thus no draw).

With both sockets NOT working, I strongly suspect the installation is questionable.. Check you ground for that line as well. It HAS TO BE NICE AND CLEAN...

Powerlets come with either a plastic plug that plugs into the back of the socket or it has hard wires soldiered directly to the rear of the socket.

Take a test light, start at the battery (or hot terminal/fuse box) and work back until you loose power. The plastic connector may not be on correctly.

Also, if you look closly inside the socket, there is a SMALL DRAIN HOLE. If it is NOT facing downward(to allow drainage) you WILL get green corrosion inside. Simply loosen the large nut and rotate untii it faces down. You can clean it up inside if its corroded, just un-power it before hand. A little bit of dilectric grease inside will prevent later corrosion issues.

Please post what you find, good luck.

 

[BigOgre]

From past experience, do you use the same connectors for the Ten as the FJR? I have a couple of short SAE-to-Powerlet adapters that I use for both my heated gear and for a Battery Tender on one bike. Awhile ago noticed the bike wasn't taking a charge and traced everything, including adding a SAE pigtail to confirm the BT was doing what it was supposed to. Finally swapped out the adapters and after realizing that was the problem, discovered one soldered wire pulled loose inside the Powerlet end. Should have checked the easy stuff first but that bad adapter looked fine and never left the garage, simply stayed on the end of the BT.

 

[Ignacio]

discovered one soldered wire pulled loose inside the Powerlet end.

I've had that happen too. Nice thing is you can take them apart easily and reconnect.

 

[SLK50]

And now for something completely different:

Check polarity. Gerbings won't work reversed.

Might explain why it works on Tenere.

To explain further: the jackets don't care

but the controllers do.

 

[Saddletramp]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll check the soldered ends. The previous owner said he also used Gerbing gear but don't know how much he used them.

If I can't figure it out I'll probably just take the Super Tenere. I bought the FJR for the longer trps but the Tenere rolls down the road just fine.

It's going to be in the 40's in the mornings in Idaho & I guess I'm a wuss but I want to be able to use heated gear.

I'll return & report.

 

[Uncle Hud]

40s? Wuss? Hell no! I am in four layers with the heated grips cranked up if it falls below 60.

If you have a voltmeter, make sure there's voltage at each, and that the polarity matches the Super Ten -- as SLK50 mentioned. (If you don't have a voltmeter, they're cheap and VERY effective at diagnostics.)

If there's no voltage, check connections along the Powerlet cable. Most electrical issues come from bad connections.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Powerlet sockets are prone to the inner conductor "blades" spreading apart. I've had exactly the scenario you describe several times. I have had some success using a wooden or plastic (non-conductive) tool to bend the inner conductor blades closer together. But eventually, after a couple failed heated gear sessions when I really needed them... it was time to buy new sockets.

As others stated above, do make sure the drain hole is positioned to the bottom side, and check all the usual stuff too. But my advice is if you don't find anything obvious, replace the sockets.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

BTW, on my old 2004 was the first time I used them. Several years later, they upgraded the hinges and one of mine had a crack in it.

They replaced the socket, sight unseen, many years out of warranty. Excellent company to work with....