SPYDER Modifications

[joe]

Finish 1st modifications on my Can Am Spyder which included; black Carbon Fiber trim panels, new spyder emblems, and custom built speakers. I installed a 50watts/channel RMS amp in the front trunk and wired it with an A/B dual battery mode switch on the dash. My logic is that if I take it to an event an want to play the mp3 player or my led accent lights, I simply switch to Batt-2. No drain on main battery that was just replaced with a gel-type. Added digital volt meter which Can Am still hasn't added after 9 years of production. Now I can monitor the voltage of either battery continuously. When I first began investigating speaker cabinets, I came across the proprietary 6" speakers for the Spyder that cost a mere $700. Time to get creative, picked up 2 metal cans which fit the 6" marine grade speakers I purchased on ebay. Designed & welded up a strong support bracket that picks up chassis mounts on each side of the mirrors. The finished speakers hang off the two sides looking better than the $700 pair. Material all total with amp, wiring, push-reset circuit breaker, dual usb port, etc. was less than $160.

[joe]

Finished the CAD Layout of the electrical wiring. Went to a car show and used the dual battery to operate LEDs and stereo with voltage drain issues.

[DaveJ98092]

Nice Joe. But I do hope that is a typo on the relays being SPDT 5A/120v rated. Common SPDT relays are 30, 40 and 50 Amp. I use a lot of 40 Amp SPDT for the pin 87a being constant hot and switched off when the relay is activated. A common SPST does not have pin 87a.

For motorcycles that have turnsignals dark while riding I use pin 87a as a power on to light up the bulb and trigger it with the turnsignals power. When the turnsignal goes on it pulls the relay off pin 87a and that bulb goes dark, and when the signal cycles off that bulb gets power again.

[joe]

There was a typo in the 2nd sentence, meant to say NO voltage drain issues using a 2nd battery. This schematic is a totally independent circuit form the factory electrical, that's why it has its own circuit breaker, there are no relays involved just four SPDT micro switches that are rated 5a at 120v or approximately 15a at 12vdc which is less than the maximum current draw with everything on that circuit. The LEDs draw less than a .1 ampere. The largest current draw is the audio amplifier, which has a 2nd inline 7.5a fuse. Thanks Dave for commenting, at least its good to know somebody's reading these posts! Working on an extension bar on the existing brake pedal,Can Am only has a tiny 1.5" square surface to activate at three brakes, its too easy to slip off the pedal. The pedal extension will be about 5" long, allowing the entire front of you foot to step on it safely, I will post pic's soon almost done making it.

[DaveJ98092]

OK. I thought you were using relays. I use relays as power switches for lots of things, mostly to keep amperage off of a switch. You'd be surprised at how many high amp draw items are running thru the ignition switches small contacts without a relay. Some bikes have very high failure rates in the ignition switch. Being in telephone repair for 44 years, electrical comes easy to me. Plumbing, NOT SO MUCH!


And YES, I try to read everything. Most of you guys are so amazing on your builds. I am only glad to be able to help with advice from time to time.

[joe]

I appreciate where you're coming from, I worked for a relay manufacturer for 5 yrs back in the 80s as a Mfg. Engineer. They made tiny hermetically sealed relays used in aerospace to large mechanical contactors used for starting high amperage motors. I have a couple of rental properties where the water heater is located in a closet adjacent to wood flooring, to prevent a future catastrophe I installed a supply line electric shutoff valve, relay and overflow pan float switch. Even though the pan has a PVC drain existing to outside, I have seen situations where the incoming water volume still makes the pan overflow, i.e. destroying flooring and flooding the premises. Yes, relays are great for switching large electric  loads with a low current switch.

[joe]

Fabricated a brake pedal extension, with my flat feet there is a tendency that only a small portion of my toe area makes contact with the brake pedal. The Spyder has no hand brake only a foot pedal for all three wheels that is about 2" square. The extension piece is a formed steel U channel that extends the pedal 2.5 times longer. The original rubber molded pedal cover has a steel insert with 2 mounting bolts that attaches to the end of the bar. It definitely feels a lot safer and more comfortable since I don't have to feel for that small old pedal !

[DaveJ98092]

Only the weak use brakes. Over rated equipment.

[joe]

BEFORE & AFTER: Finalized Spyder design modifications with illuminated 140 LED acrylic aerodynamicl curved speaker fronts, stainless steel grill & yellow paint accents.



Now back to working on T- Rex CF trike, will add more posts on that soon!