Installing Centech box and SmarTire TPMS (DETAILS)

[Graf]

Hi all......after a search on this and other forums and even google, i was very disapointed with lack of complete instructions on the install of the Centech fuse box. since i did not have any experience with motorcycle electrical systems this was a task i was really afraid of. thanks to some people on this and other forums, i finally found currage to do it myself and i wanted to share my installation procedure of the Centech AP-1 box with relay harness.
so....here it goes.

What you need:
1. Centech box. http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/ ... /ap-1.html
2. Wire harness with relay. http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/ ... /ap-1.html
3. Screws to screw the box to the bike
4. Zip ties, cutters, screw driver, etc....

What to do:
1st you will need to identify the wire on the bike that has switched power. this means when the key is off, the fuse box has no power and the the key is on the power flows to the box.....i have used the diagnostic port wires...(the green/blue wire is the one you need...(some people use the parking light wire at the front of the bike)...


2nd you will need to find a place to mount the fuse box. i have mounted it towards the back of the bike, under the seat


3rd you will need to identify a place to mount the relay.......i have used a screw to the plastic post that already has a hole in it....this is located on the right of the bike unter the seat toward a middle


Now after everything is mounted, you are ready to hook up all the wiring.....

I have used a very nice PosiTap connector supplied with the harness http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Pro ... -lock.html
This tap enables you to tap into the wire with no damage to the wire or insulation.....the tap has a thin needle that punctures the insulation and gets in between the strands of wire. I would suggest to read full instructions on how to use this connector as you will need to dissaseble it first, tap into the wite and the re-asseble it....here is the link to instructions....follow it http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Pro ... stall.html

Now connect the 2 power leads to the Centech box....make sure that the positive end is connected to the positive terminal and the nagative to the negative terminal....


Make sure that the fuse is out on the lead wire that you will connect to the battery on the other end of the harness.
Make sure that you follow this order of disconnecting and reconnecting the battery cables.
1. disconnect the negative (black) cable
2. disconnect the positive (red) cable
3. asseble a connectin on the positive cable (red) (the fuse box red wire should be together with red battery cable) and connect it to the battery
4. repeat the same for the negative (black) cable.
you should end up with this:


Now install the fuse on the power lead that goes from the battery positive terminal to the relay.
After you everything is done.....my setup looks like this.


I have also purchased the SmarTire TPMS from these guys http://www.vulcantire.com/smartire_mc_sys.htm
I am yet to put the sensors into the wheels (appointment on Saturday....the place close to my home is charging me $35 per wheel including install and ballabcing.......sure beats $250 quote i got from the dealer) but i already installed the display and hooked it up to the Centech box....


I hope this helps people like me who are doing all this for the first time......
PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE WHEN FOLLOWING THIS INSTALL PROCEDURE.....I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONCIBLE FOR ANY MISTAKES I MAY HAVE MADE DESCRIBING THIS PROCEDURE...

thex.....alex

[deilenberger]

Alex,

Nice posting. Wonder how hard it would be to change the SmartTire readout to an amber background.. (mulling this over..)

[famousperson]

Thanks, Alex! You made simple something that to me seemed very complex. Simple enough that I am now ready to do it myself to get rid of a dog's breakfast of did-it-myself wiring under the seat.

[Graf]

Alex,

Nice posting. Wonder how hard it would be to change the SmartTire readout to an amber background.. (mulling this over..)

......i would guess it would take taking it apart and changing the LED.....i've seen people do this (on other electronics...not on this one)....should not be that hard to do....for now, i am ok with blue......

[celticus]

"a dog's breakfast of did-it-myself wiring under the seat."
Interesting.
Mark

[Graf]

Continuation.........
.....i finally got to the shop this saturday and they have put the sensors for the TPMS into the wheels......takes about 5 minutes per wheel for the sensor.....basically painless. I have made the mechanic read the install manual at every step and I was there watching his every move (he did not mind though...very professional).....you need to follow the instruction carefully or you WILL destroy the sensor when mounting/dismounting the tire from the wheel.....
I paid $70 for install of the sensors and ballancing of the wheels......decent price considering BMW of SF quoted me $250 for the same job.

How it works.......
AS soon as I turn the key, the display comes to life and does it's fault checks......when you ride over 6mi/h the the sensors in wheels turn on and you start to see the data on the display.....it shows front wheel temp and pressure and then shows back wheel temp and pressure...it will cycle thrugh once and then will just show 2 vertical bars...all you need is to press a small button for the display to cycle the info again so you can see it..the rest of the stuff is like having a BMW system..including compensating he difference in pressure as the temps rise....if the pressure falls below sertain treshhold, the big yellow icon lights up....nice device.....exactly what i expected....for me it definately worth $169
alex.