Hi,
When I did my tail chop I made it so I can remove the taillight assembly and turn signals using just the taillight bolts. This saves time before and after track days but I still need to unplug/plug everything individually and the connectors don't look that sturdy. I've been thinking about running the wires for the tail light, brake light, and turn signals through a single connector which would make setting up for track days super convenient. In order to use a smaller connector, could I run both turn signals to a common ground (either joining both grounds or using only one), or would that blow something up or give me the fast blink?
Could I go even further and run the tail/brake light to the same ground?
Thanks!
PS. 2002 M750S i.e.
[popcorn]
(same track day issue)
Should work fine to run both turn signals and even tail/brake light to the same ground. Everything is switched on the power side (at least it is for my 2000 M750), so having a common ground shouldn't be a problem.
Ground...is.
I can't see any issues.
Just make sure that you do not ground your side covers.......
Ground by its nature is common. That's why a lot of times those words are interchangeable.
Just don't use some super flimsy wiring because you need to carry the combined current of the brake light and the turn signals back.
Just something normal like 14-16 gauge multi stranded copper is beyond safe.
A koan on the essential nature of ground:
A student approached a master and asked: "Master, I am troubled by my contemplation of the essential nature of ground. Is ground like a river, which may join and fork but nonetheless retain its essential river-ness until it peacefully joins the ocean? Or is ground like a proud and combative goldfish which will fight to the death any of its kind that it comes in contact with?" The master pondered the question and replied:
Quote from: ducpainter on April 18, 2015, 04:51:00 PM
Ground...is.
Thanks, everyone! [thumbsup] Sounds like I'm overcomplicating things. Not uncommon for me.
I'll mock it up and report back.
Quote from: EEL on April 19, 2015, 06:06:51 AM
Ground by its nature is common.
Quote from: caboteria on April 19, 2015, 07:48:17 AM
Sounds like I'm overcomplicating things. Not uncommon for me.
Ground is by its nature common, but it is not always connected, so you aren't overcomplicating things too much. In many automotive systems, the positive voltage is always connected, and the ground is only connected in order to turn the component on. This is called ground side switching, and is particularly common in modern cars when components are switched with transistors rather than relays. We don't have that on our bikes, but if we did, connecting all of the ground wires together wouldn't work right, so it was a good idea to double check.