Success! Integrated 12v battery to 350x electrical system...

[fyi]

As some of you may know, I've been toying around with the idea of adding a 12v ATV battery to the electrical system of my '85 350x to run future electrical items I plan on adding. I've already purchased new 2004 450R electrical components, wiring harnesses, etc, etc, etc. for my machine to upgrade it later, but I still wanted to see if I could figure this out for the existing stock harness on this machine now.

Well, today I tested it thoroughly on my machine and it works...it works *VERY* well! The electrical components of the 1999 machine had the same basic electrical testing specs, outputs, wire gauge, etc. of the 350x, which is why I chose to use those parts. Plus it's Honda parts on Honda parts~ easy....

The components I used were from my wifes 1999 Honda Foreman 450s 4x4 (she doesn't know it yet...shhhhh! ) and I figured if I burned this stuff up, at least it wasn't new.... From that machine, I used the voltage regulator/rectifier, battery, starter relay, various inline fuses and the ignition switch.

I omitted the stock voltage regulator from the 350x wiring harness, adapted the new voltage regulator/rectifier (VR/R for short..) from the 4x4 (it's a combination module that does both) and simply wired in the the same inputs to the new VR/R as the old one was, added the ignition switch, added the battery and installed the starter relay just to include it into the circuit, but didn't really need that though...for now.

Turned on the ignition key and the lights lit right up...BRIGHT! Flipped on the kill switch, kicked it over a couple of times and VRROOOMMM! It works very well and is charging evenly and controlled just like the 4x4 was, which is approx. 13.9v-14.4v @ 5000 RPM. I can kill the engine by either turning the ignition switch off or by flipping the kill switch off~ Just like O.E.

I haven't got to ride it yet because there are wires hanging all over the place and I would probably end up walking back if I tried from all the wires snagging everything everywhere.... What I can say is that there is less "popping" of the engine and the exhaust smells like it's burning a bit cleaner. Other than those simple tests, that's all I know for now.

It was really quite easy and as soon as I get time, I'll download that wiring diagram from the wiring schematic area on this site, modify it with Corell Draw and re-post it here in case any others want to upgrade their electrical system the same.

Movin' on.....!

[brendan802]

Let me know were and how this was wired. I was going to look over wiring specs for my Big red regulator setup and try to apply it to my 200x for the same reasons. Sounds like it works awesome and glad to hear your success. I hope I am abl;e to do the same.

[fyi]

I'll do that. The Big Red system should work also, but I'll look at that one too for you when I get a chance just to be sure.

[brendan802]

Sweet thanks man I'd love to have this up and going asap. I've got a big atv / atc get together with friends this weekend and want to stay out late without having to worry about not being able to see well. With the battery it should be bright as hell. And I do beileve it will ignite better at low rpms like you said. You have to figure everything is running of the stator coil and at low rpms it isn't getting a constant steady supply of voltage. It like with my big red it starts easy when the battery is charged using the recoil then when the battery is dead. I try to use the recoil more since it will prolong the life of my starter. Awesome stuff your doing and keep that brain thinking of ways to mod trikes. Thanks