|Honeymoon's over

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:06:19 +0000,
chateau.murraySPAMKILL DeleteThis @dsl.pipex.com (The Older Gentleman) wrote:

>Pip Luscher <pips.computer DeleteThis @spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> I'd forgotten that the clocks draw current.
>
>
>Why?

To keep the clock (as in time) running, and the memory up. The memory
keeps the various trip meter functions and set-up, like kph/mph and
shift light (bloody thing defaults to kph and the shif light at
6000rpm, which is exactly where the engine hits the real power).

It's a bastard when it loses it 'cos I have to go through the
rigmarole of resetting everything manually, and it does this every
time the engine kicks back or hesitates on the starter.

A planned mod, when I find a tuit, is to put a schottky diode in
series with the clocks' permanent 12V feed, and a wodging great
capacitor on the clock side of it. This *might* cure the reset
problem.

--
-Pip
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

Pip Luscher <pips.computer.TakeThisOut@spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:

> On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:06:19 +0000,
> chateau.murraySPAMKILL.TakeThisOut@dsl.pipex.com (The Older Gentleman) wrote:
>
> >Pip Luscher <pips.computer.TakeThisOut@spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> >> I'd forgotten that the clocks draw current.
> >
> >
> >Why?
>
> To keep the clock (as in time) running, and the memory up. The memory
> keeps the various trip meter functions and set-up, like kph/mph and
> shift light (bloody thing defaults to kph and the shif light at
> 6000rpm, which is exactly where the engine hits the real power).
>
> It's a bastard when it loses it 'cos I have to go through the
> rigmarole of resetting everything manually, and it does this every
> time the engine kicks back or hesitates on the starter.
>
> A planned mod, when I find a tuit, is to put a schottky diode in
> series with the clocks' permanent 12V feed, and a wodging great
> capacitor on the clock side of it. This *might* cure the reset
> problem.

<Thinks>

Not a Windows product, is it?


--
BMW K1100LT 750SS CB400F CD250 Z650
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3
BOF#30 WUSS#5 The bells, the bells.....
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

Pip Luscher <pips.computer RemoveThis @spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote in
news:aiifk29cvm1k2cf5nbfj991s7bj865ib3i@4ax.com:

> On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:06:19 +0000,
> chateau.murraySPAMKILL RemoveThis @dsl.pipex.com (The Older Gentleman) wrote:
>
>>Pip Luscher <pips.computer RemoveThis @spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> I'd forgotten that the clocks draw current.
>>
>>
>>Why?
>
> To keep the clock (as in time) running, and the memory up. The memory
> keeps the various trip meter functions and set-up, like kph/mph and
> shift light (bloody thing defaults to kph and the shif light at
> 6000rpm, which is exactly where the engine hits the real power).
>
> It's a bastard when it loses it 'cos I have to go through the
> rigmarole of resetting everything manually, and it does this every
> time the engine kicks back or hesitates on the starter.
>
> A planned mod, when I find a tuit, is to put a schottky diode in
> series with the clocks' permanent 12V feed, and a wodging great
> capacitor on the clock side of it. This *might* cure the reset
> problem.
>

fit a Hawker Odyssey[1] battery: after my OE battery was 3 years old the
voltage would drop below the ABS computer's fail threshold when cranking
the engine. Apparently, the AGM construction results in a lower voltage
drop compared to conventional batteries. They are less likely to go flat
when unused for some time too: this seems to be my observation as I have
not used my Optimate in 18 months. Well, except for the time I left the
parking light on...
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/

[1] or Westco from http://www.motorbikebatteries.co.uk/

--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

Pip Luscher <pips.computer DeleteThis @spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:

> Bastard wouldn't start, would it? I'd been living under the illusion
> that since it has no alarm, the battery wouldn't go flat.
>
> I'd forgotten that the clocks draw current.

Considering that a silver oxide cell can power a watch for more than 3
years[1]; there might perhaps be other reasons the battey drains?

[1] insert alternative examples of battery-driven clocks as relevant
--
T Sandvik // to send e-mail, remove vehicle
K-RS 8v
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

exbn-ppin.TakeThisOut@deavolvo.spamcon.org (ts) wrote in news:1ho3lid.ln0pqfctjp72N%
exbn-ppin.TakeThisOut@deavolvo.spamcon.org:

> Pip Luscher <pips.computer.TakeThisOut@spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Bastard wouldn't start, would it? I'd been living under the illusion
>> that since it has no alarm, the battery wouldn't go flat.
>>
>> I'd forgotten that the clocks draw current.
>
> Considering that a silver oxide cell can power a watch for more than 3
> years[1]; there might perhaps be other reasons the battey drains?
>

It's Italian so that's a given.

> [1] insert alternative examples of battery-driven clocks as relevant



--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

wessie wrote
>Pip Luscher <pips.computer RemoveThis @spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote in
>news:aiifk29cvm1k2cf5nbfj991s7bj865ib3i@4ax.com:
>
>>>
>>>> I'd forgotten that the clocks draw current.
>>>
>
>fit a Hawker Odyssey[1] battery: after my OE battery was 3 years old the
>voltage would drop below the ABS computer's fail threshold when cranking
>the engine. Apparently, the AGM construction results in a lower voltage
>drop compared to conventional batteries. They are less likely to go flat
>when unused for some time too: this seems to be my observation as I have
>not used my Optimate in 18 months. Well, except for the time I left the
>parking light on...
>http://www.odysseyfactory.com/
>
>[1] or Westco from http://www.motorbikebatteries.co.uk/

And get yourself a cheapo solar panel from Maplin to keep it topped up.
Very eco friendly and years ahead of the fashion.

--
steve auvache
i rate dates
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

Dan L wrote:
> Pip Luscher tossed off:
>
>> The Tuono's clutch slave cylinder has developed a slight weep.
>
> Welcome to the club. My shite-old-Hyundai slave cylinder gave up on
> Thursday, in the rush hour in Bracknell. Popular I was not.

Clutchless changes. Not that difficult.

--
platypus

ooh, how I sighed
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

Pip Luscher <pips.computer RemoveThis @spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> I'd forgotten that the clocks draw current.
>>
>>Why?
>
> To keep the clock (as in time) running, and the memory up. The memory
> keeps the various trip meter functions and set-up, like kph/mph and
> shift light (bloody thing defaults to kph and the shif light at
> 6000rpm, which is exactly where the engine hits the real power).

Unless it was built using 1940s technology, it should only draw micro
amps - as in a couple of watch batteries should keep it runnning for a
few years.

Did they let a student-gibbon design it or something?
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

wessie <putmynamehere RemoveThis @tesco.net> wrote:

> It's Italian so that's a given.

Even worse combination, Italian bike in damp, cold, Atlantic climate . .

--
T Sandvik // to send e-mail, remove vehicle
K-RS 8v
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

On Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:32:41 -0000, Simon Gates
<Simon DeleteThis @invalid.semi-evolved.org> wrote:

>Pip Luscher <pips.computer DeleteThis @spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'd forgotten that the clocks draw current.
>>>
>>>Why?
>>
>> To keep the clock (as in time) running, and the memory up. The memory
>> keeps the various trip meter functions and set-up, like kph/mph and
>> shift light (bloody thing defaults to kph and the shif light at
>> 6000rpm, which is exactly where the engine hits the real power).
>
>Unless it was built using 1940s technology, it should only draw micro
>amps - as in a couple of watch batteries should keep it runnning for a
>few years.

Well, you'd have thought so; I will check the current draw and the
battery condition. maybe it simply is a buggered battery.

Don't forget though that watches and bike instruments are rather
different applications; there's little obvious point in adding a low
current clock/memory circuit if there's a 17AH battery and charging
system bolted on. It would mean either adding an external clock/memory
chip, which adds expense, or the clocks' own microprocessor would have
to have a low-power RTC/memory retention mode, so a special chip might
be required. Maybe such chips are readily available, mind.

Another point is that a sports bike designer probably has other
priorities than his creation being left unused for a few weeks.

The nice thing about my Guzzi is that it draws _no_current at all when
parked and it will generally start easily after weeks without use.

Pity the charging system has proven so unreliable...

--
-Pip
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

On Thu, 02 Nov 2006 08:20:20 GMT, Pip Luscher
<pips.computer.TakeThisOut@spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote:

>Another point is that a sports bike designer probably has other
>priorities than his creation being left unused for a few weeks.

My gixxer (with clock) would happily hold charge for up to three
months at a time.

>The nice thing about my Guzzi is that it draws _no_current at all when
>parked and it will generally start easily after weeks without use.

As should the TL. I suspect your battery's shagged.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

On Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:32:41 -0000, Simon Gates
<Simon DeleteThis @invalid.semi-evolved.org> wrote:

>Unless it was built using 1940s technology, it should only draw micro
>amps - as in a couple of watch batteries should keep it runnning for a
>few years.

Just checked it: almost exactly 2mA at the battery if my elderly
moving-coil meter is to be believed.

That's not enough to explain the flat battery in the weeks that the
bike has been unused, though. Looks like it's 10AH nominal capacity,
so allowing 20% (this is a wild guess) of the nominal capacity to
actually start the bike, that's still almost six months.

The battery is currently on the Accumate, so I'll check it when it's
done. Oh, and the charging system, of course.

--
-Pip
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over 

On Wed, 1 Nov 2006 08:12:29 +0000, steve auvache
<dont_spam RemoveThis @thecow.me.uk> wrote:

>wessie wrote
>>Pip Luscher <pips.computer RemoveThis @spammers.foad.ntlworld.co.uk> wrote in
>>news:aiifk29cvm1k2cf5nbfj991s7bj865ib3i@4ax.com:
>>
>>>>
>>>>> I'd forgotten that the clocks draw current.
>>>>
>>
>>fit a Hawker Odyssey[1] battery: after my OE battery was 3 years old the
>>voltage would drop below the ABS computer's fail threshold when cranking
>>the engine. Apparently, the AGM construction results in a lower voltage
>>drop compared to conventional batteries. They are less likely to go flat
>>when unused for some time too: this seems to be my observation as I have
>>not used my Optimate in 18 months. Well, except for the time I left the
>>parking light on...
>>http://www.odysseyfactory.com/
>>
>>[1] or Westco from http://www.motorbikebatteries.co.uk/
>
>And get yourself a cheapo solar panel from Maplin to keep it topped up.
>Very eco friendly and years ahead of the fashion.

I got one of those for the last car, whose battery kept going flat due
to infrequent use.

The panel plugs into the cigarette lighter, which was fine except that
the socket was disconnected when the ignition was off.

On the new car, the same applies, with the bonus that when the panel
was plugged in, the alarm/central locking refused to work.

I will, tuits being available, make a rain-proof box for it and bolt
it to the shed, so it can charge a car battery for lighting.

--
-Pip
 >> Stay informed about: |Honeymoon's over