Boyer Power Box grounding question

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my question is not about a boyer ignition but about the power box

the two yellow wires out of the power box connect to the alternator wires, got it

there is a red and black wire

on my positive ground system am I correct the black wire connects to my negative batt terminal?

and the red wire is the ground, and it is best to ground it to the positive battery terminal or does it have to be grounded to the frame instead, and if so why?
 
1up3down said:
on my positive ground system am I correct the black wire connects to my negative batt terminal?
Yes, Or through the ignition switch.

1up3down said:
and the red wire is the ground, and it is best to ground it to the positive battery terminal or does it have to be grounded to the frame instead, and if so why

Either way. To the frame is good as long as the frame is well grounded to the positive terminal. Virtually one in the same.
 
If every surface on the frame is painted, you will have to assume it wont pass current, so unless you are happy to chip all the paint of round all the earth connections, [ like someone I know did on a pre-war Indian restoration ] which I would not do. Run Earth wires to everything and you wont have trouble.
Dereck
ps follow all you instructions from Boyer
 
ah, thanks Pete!

the instructions I found online say to connect the red power box wire to the frame, but I have had nothing but problems using the frame as a ground with other stuff so you saying I can connect the red wire directly to my positive battery terminal, my ground terminal and that is does not HAVE to connected to the frame? Is so that would be preferable.

Connect the black wire to the negative battery terminal, check

thanks!
 
You may need a kill switch to shut the bike off . With a Boyer "power box" the engines will continue to run after the key is turned off.It has something to do with the Powerbox's ability to allow you to run without a battery. I have a 3phase Powerbox in my Triumph Hardtail and it needs a kill switch to shut off.
 
You may need a kill switch to shut the bike off . With a Boyer "power box" the engines will continue to run after the key is turned off

I have been running a Boyer Power Box for 20 years on my Commando and have no kill switch, the power to my ignition is turned on and off when I turn my key, just like everyone else.

The Boyer simply converts AC to DC to keep your battery charged along with handling excess current.

If one still had points and a capacitor set up then yes it may have enough current to allow the bike to be started but with a modern electronic ignition it does not have enough stored current to start without a battery.
 
Same here Highdesert, mines been on the bike for about 15 years and I've never needed a kill switch.
As for the original question the earthing to the frame is just for convenience really, otherwise earth leads could be run from everything back to the battery terminal, not very practical though!
 
No one ever needs a kill switch but very few in almost once in life time events. Yoose guys don't seem to follow enough m/c forums to hear the various events of kill switches saving the day. Mike Tagaleri moderator of Brit Iron email list had a close one this week in thick fast NY traffic with throttle stuck WOT so had to control like ancient air craft switching power on off in time for some time/distance. So make your best choices and try to live with it. Only avoiding all m/c activity makes any real life logic so we are all in denial to ever ride again.
 
The kill switch on the Commando does amuse me, the button has to be held in to kill the motor, let go of it and it fires up again, so as you're sliding along the road the engine won't fire up as long as you keep your thumb on the button!
 
Ugh, yep the spring toggle kill is only good if rider able to hold on long enough to kill engine, which almost killed me when neck broken and limbs fractured to about useless and bike above me on road side me trapped under it by sheared of peg stuck in boot sole seam and gas trickling out over points cover and blinding pain and mangled state of me and LH bar end bent away out of easy reach so could only hold it a couple seconds before touch failed and dam enough kept on idling most a minute before will to survive forced me to tear ankle and hip and neck further to finally kill it before flames got us. Then took 20 more min after this extra injury that stopped breathing action and heart only vibrating in cycles but not pumping. Only heavy duty psychedelics and yogic practices kept me conscious or would of passed out and frozen hard before found with dead bike and deer next day.

I use kill a lot when pulling up to mail box to reach for mail or closed gates on steeps you can't stay on brake or let go of both grips or just fall over or roll-tumble down hill. M'c should have 4 kill switches, key, jerk cord, non spring toggle on/off and a spring toggle momentary on/off. I decided to forgo a key in next Peel to simplify wiring faults. Hope none of you ever have the need of a good handy kill switch - but until ya do you may ignorantly think or even publicly state that those that do don't know much...

9/7/2014 11:20 PM

Slight exaggeration perhaps, but I went to the beach in Sandy Hook, NJ, today on my bike, and once again the throttle stuck wide open, this time on NJ Route 36, a divided highway with two lanes each way and strip mall type stores on both sides. (I was in the fast lane of course).

As in a similar incident several years ago, I kept the bike under control by rapidly flicking the kill switch on and off until I got to a place where I could look at things. (I expected a sticky slide, but it turned out to be a problem in the cable). It would have been utterly impossible to control the bike by turning the key on and off a some have suggested (except maybe on a MK 3, where the let is right on front of you).

So those of you who think kill switches are useless, etc., I hope this never happens to you.

Mike Taglieri
 
To Highdesert and Dave.....Keep in mind that my Power Box is not on a "stock" Norton with Norton wiring. It is on a Triumph Hardtail with my "home made" negative ground wiring harness. I will be more than happy to make a short video of this phenomenon to demonstrate the validity of my post. It will be my pleasure.....PhillySkip
 
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