Electrical nightmare

[jdavidakins]

Alright so I planned on doing some major renovations to my 79 gs425 this winter. Now that I am in the process of putting it back together I have run into some issues. I put the wiring harness back in today (just as it came out) and I can't get any lights. I can get voltage at all my connectors.

Pretty much I have a couple of questions.

Can the battery be the issue? I am getting 12 volts everywhere but can it still be related?

Could it be a ground that doesn't have good contact?

It's starting to warm up in Alabama and I am aching to ride.

 

[Keiff Hardcore]

if the battery is reading 12V, you should be getting something.

the best way is follow the wires and see where your not getting voltage.

all you have to do is ground the multimeter to the - terminal on the battery and prod around at connections.

 

[Sonreir]

If your multimeter is reading 12V at all of the connections but you're not getting any lights I can almost guarantee that it's a ground issue.

 

[jdavidakins]

Electrical nightmare

Is there any way to check a ground other than continuity?

 

[Sonreir]

I prefer to use a resistance (Ohm) reading. It's possible to still get a good continuity check, even if the resistance is really high. The higher the resistance, the lower the current. The lower the current, the dimmer the lights.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Re: Electrical nightmare

Is there any way to check a ground other than continuity?

Yes, put your meter lead (red) on the Positive battery terminal then touch the other (black) lead to grounds and you should read your 12v. If you don't the path to ground is bad.

 

[jdavidakins]

Electrical nightmare

Thanks for the help everyone she fired right up after 3 kicks.

 

[Sonreir]

Bad ground?

 

[jdavidakins]

Electrical nightmare

Yes. The way that ground is set up it uses one leg to hop to another part of the bike that I didn't realize. Once I realized what I had done it was a oh dub moment.