Carb Heater Cut-out Switch

[V7Goose]

I know it is way to warm to be thinking about the juice the carb heaters pull if they EVER come on again, but what better time to prepare for the coming cold weather?

 

In case you don't know, the carb heaters on the RSV pull a total of 60 watts of power, and that is an awful lot when you are riding in cold weather and want to use other stuff like extra lights or heated clothing. Here is a very simple mod you can do that will let you turn off the carb heaters any time you like - typically this would only be in very cold weather after the bike has finished warming up.

 

the carb heater thermo switch is under the right battery cover, right next to the radiator overflow tank. In this picture it is the nondescript item in the rubber cover on the right side:

[ATTACH]19342[/ATTACH]

 

The blue item on the left side in that picture is the carb heater relay. This is a "normally closed" relay which is activated by the neutral switch. When this relay comes on in neutral, it cuts the power to the carb heaters.

 

The two black wires coming out of the thermo switch connect through bullet connections to a black/white and a black/yellow wire. It really makes no difference which one you chose, but I unplugged the black/yellow wire (it is the wire running directly to the carb heaters). You can see the new blue wires I used to connect a small toggle switch in -line. The toggle switch is mounted in the black plastic cover behind the battery on the right side, near the rear shock air valve.

[ATTACH]19340[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]19341[/ATTACH]

 

That is all there is to it! Just make sure that the switch you buy can handle 10 amps at 12 volts DC (if you can only find a switch rated at 125VAC and 250VAC, you are generally safe with a 10A @ 125VAC rating). By using bullet connectors on the new wires you can just insert the switch in the circuit without cutting any wires or making any permanent change to the bike wiring.

Goose

[Eck]

Now that is pretty dang nifty there VGoose...I like it..

One small change I would do is ensure I used a water proof (sealed) switch..

This could even be a push button on/ off switch under a rubber boot.

Excellent tech article.

Oh, Guess what I'm going to do to my bike this weekend now.. thanks!

[1BigDog]

Very nice Goose. Here in FL I really have no need for a carb heater most of the year. This gives me a good option. Thanks!

 

By the way, that location directly below is where I mounted the relay for the Stebel horn.

[SaltyDawg]

Or you could pull the fuse to the carb heaters and be done with it. Mine has been pulled for over a year with no adverse effects. I rode year round this season with temps down to 14 degrees.