Negative ground conversion

MikeG

MikeG

Mikeg
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Im thinking of converting to negative ground so I can run aftermarket LED turnsignals and tail light. I have Powerarc ignition and Podtronics regulator that I know need to be switched over. I cant think of anything else that might be polarity sensitive but thought I'd ask anyway. My wire harness is home made, everything on its own fused circuit and all grounds go to a common buss bar before hooking to battery. Anything else I might have overlooked?
 
I'd be tempted to use a 20A polarity-reversing adapter, as I see on eBay for $11 or so. Maybe someone has tried and will chime in.
 
Most LED lights can now be had polarity insensitive so thats not a reason to switch to neg 'erf. There are some devices that do require it, like turn signal cancel or brake light flashers etc.
 
There are plenty of positive earth bulbs around, even the ones that do not mention it are dual polarity due to the voltage protection circuitry. I changed my Commando to negative earth back in the 80's to allow fitment of an alarm that grounded through its case, as soon as it broke I converted back. Having to carry a dedicated circuit diagram around was a pain as was having to think about all the changes I had done including the zener.
 
Mike, if you built your own harness and made all those connections/confgurations yourself I think you would be able to see gremlin lurking in there. All I could suggest is to crawl through all of it one more time to look for a wiring or connection ambush you missed or forgot.
I left my system pos+ ground and bought LED bulbs/fixtures already adapted for such.
 
MikeG said:
Im thinking of converting to negative ground so I can run aftermarket LED turnsignals and tail light. I have Powerarc ignition and Podtronics regulator that I know need to be switched over. I cant think of anything else that might be polarity sensitive but thought I'd ask anyway. My wire harness is home made, everything on its own fused circuit and all grounds go to a common buss bar before hooking to battery. Anything else I might have overlooked?
Click to expand...
Contact Greg Marsh. He either has or can refer you to, LED bulbs for headlight, taillight, turn signals and indicator lights that are inexpensive and work for positive ground. There is a minor mod for the turn signal indicator that he can walk you through.
 
MikeG said:
Im thinking of converting to negative ground so I can run aftermarket LED turnsignals and tail light. I have Powerarc ignition and Podtronics regulator that I know need to be switched over. I cant think of anything else that might be polarity sensitive but thought I'd ask anyway. My wire harness is home made, everything on its own fused circuit and all grounds go to a common buss bar before hooking to battery. Anything else I might have overlooked?
Click to expand...
Andover Norton has the complete LED kit for Pos or Neg including the flasher. My bike is a 74 with Neg earth and the kit worked perfectly. The kits they sell are specific to your model and year depending on what you have.
 
I've run Powerarc since I got the bike over 10 years ago. Starts very easily if you know how ,the secret was in the instructions Fred and Ella sent with it! As far as positive ground, I am not running stock Norton turn signals, I'm using smaller ones with halogen bulbs and the bike shakes the bulbs to death in a short while. I have neg ground warning lights now and know how to isolate them, just looking to simplify things a bit more is all.
 
MikeG said:
I've run Powerarc since I got the bike over 10 years ago. Starts very easily if you know how ,the secret was in the instructions Fred and Ella sent with it! As far as positive ground, I am not running stock Norton turn signals, I'm using smaller ones with halogen bulbs and the bike shakes the bulbs to death in a short while. I have neg ground warning lights now and know how to isolate them, just looking to simplify things a bit more is all.
Click to expand...
Shakes like a whore in church you say?

www.cyclopsadventuresports.com

Tuff Light full flex Blinkers-Tuff

www.cyclopsadventuresports.com
 
Negative ground conversion
Negative ground conversion
 
MikeG said:
I've run Powerarc since I got the bike over 10 years ago. Starts very easily if you know how ,the secret was in the instructions Fred and Ella sent with it! As far as positive ground, I am not running stock Norton turn signals, I'm using smaller ones with halogen bulbs and the bike shakes the bulbs to death in a short while. I have neg ground warning lights now and know how to isolate them, just looking to simplify things a bit more is all.
Click to expand...
explain the secret, please
 
Step one is to make sure its set up properly. Set pistons at TDC with a dial indicator before aligning timing disc. Step two...its in the directions...the unit must see TDC once before it will time itself properly. On a cold engine start ,turn the key on and kick through compression twice before priming and choke then give a good kick. Do the same on a warm engine if youre afraid of a kickback but mine never does. Mine is a bone stock 71 750 and will always start 1 or 2 kicks using this procedure.
 
concours said:
Not a big presence here, I have seen a magazine ad though.

Tell us everything you know about them please....🗣️
Click to expand...
Exactly the same spec as trispark
But a separate CDI basically
I have one fitted to my t160 it has the idle stabilization a choice of 4 advance curves and rev limiter
Will still run at low voltage
Mine uses the red Lucas high power 12v coils
 
baz said:
Exactly the same spec as trispark
But a separate CDI basically
I have one fitted to my t160 it has the idle stabilization a choice of 4 advance curves and rev limiter
Will still run at low voltage
Mine uses the red Lucas high power 12v coils
Click to expand...
Sounds interesting!
 

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