ABS Question

[mogu83]

I'm fighting a weird ABS failure lamp. I know it's a false failure somehow associated with aftermarket driving lights.

The question. I've always assumed the ABS pickup (sensor) was magnetic, is their any chance that it's optical?

[Jed]

I don't see how. Optical would require 1) a light source (not neccessarily visible light) and 2) a light detector as well as the slotted "ABS" ring. Magnetic makes the most sense.

cheers,

[deilenberger]

Magnetic.

Do the aftermarket lights have some sort of controller involved? If so - the controller may be emitting RF noise that the ABS sensors could pick up. Shielding the controller may be in order in that case. Google "Faraday Cage"..

[David R]

Are the wires for the lights near the ABS sensor wire? Its a small signal and could get interference if the wire for the lights runs parallel to it. So just try re routing the wires for the lights.

David

[mogu83]

I didn't want to get into all the particulars but. If I start bike and turn lights on ,it fails about 1 out of 5 times. If I turn lights on first and start bike fails about 1 out of five times. If I start bike and run it up to 4K (battery Bug showing 14.5 volts) and turn lights on it fails about 1 out of five times. Only thing that lessens the failure rate is to turn lights on , start bike and move right away.

I have another set of driving lights that are wired exactly the same as the ones that fail (cree leds). They are a set of 35W Piaa lights and I can turn them on and off and NEVER have a failure. I'm taking that as an indication the battery is up to the task.

I've swapped the control relays that sit side by side under the seat. I've rerun the wiring to the lights down the other side of the bike. I've rewired with shielded wire and grounded the shield at both ends.

What got me thinking about the sensor is that the lights are mounted on the crash (engine protection) bars and the left one does throw some light on the sensor.

Not a major problem, but annoying. SO I guess the answer to my question is the pickup is magnetic.

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

Harry, Why don't you try an experiment by putting a piece of cardboard (or similar) to shade the sensor from the light? Then see if the failure modes change.

[Newportcycle]

SO I guess the answer to my question is the pickup is magnetic.

Yes that is the answer, the pickup is magnetic and not affected by light. How do you have the lights wired? Do they go through the CANBUS or direct to the battery?

[mogu83]

Bob - shield is half finished in the garage. This had degenerated into a 'when I feel like it' project. It's not a major issue more of an annoyance.

As far as wiring two sets of driving lights into the can bus system. I should have mentioned. I've been working on motorcycles for 50+ years, started working on computers in 1966 and made a living for 35 years troubleshooting DC control circuits and computer problems. So all the obvious problems have been covered. I'm now into the realm of solemn high theory (which usually isn't the answer), I'm sure it's a KISS issue that I'll stumble onto sooner or later.

Thanks for the input.