Fuse issues

[evilhomer]

Hey guys


So I had the headlight assembly contact issue resolved and everything and working great until this morning when I went for a little ride. Turned the bike on and no headlights, no Hi beam indicator, no passing light this time either. Turn signals and rear running light/brake light works fine. So I go to the fuse box and find that the "Phares" 10-A fuse has gone. No biggie, I pop in a new one and turn the bike on.

Lights work fine, but then as I hit the passing switch, they flicker and die. Same thing as before.

Now, when I first got the bike, I noticed that the fuse box contained a 10 A, 10A, 15A, 15A. When I read the manual, and looked at the inside of the fuse box, it says it should be 3 10A fuses and a 15A. Is the reason I'm burning 10A fuses because I should have a 15A there instead? I'm also curious as to what the 10A, 15A refers to exactly. Is that the maximum current allowed through that fuse before it goes or is it the current which that circuit is running on?


Thanks guys

[Stormforce8]

The 10A and 15A refers to the Amperage that the fuse is rated for.

"A fuse is kind of like a weak link in a chain. If too much pressure (electricity) is put on it then it breaks. While you don't want weak links in chains, you do want them to protect your house wiring, stereo, Christmas tree lights a countless other devices. Never install a higher amperage fuse than the circuit was designed for. Using a higher amp fuse than the one that was removed is dangerous. This protection is eliminated when a higher amperage fuse is installed."

"Fuses blow due to electrical overloads (too many devices plugged into the electrical circuit) or short circuits. Prior to replacing the fuse, determine what caused the fuse to open."

There's also a good explanation here.

[evilhomer]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking.

It seems that the bike was using a 15A fuse instead of 10A, and now every time I put in a 10A fuse, it blows. Seems like the previous owner tried to resolve this problem by just upping the amperage of the lights circuit.

With that being said, any ideas on what could cause these fuses to go out in the light circuit? Is there a regulator or resistor somewhere in there that could have gone bad?

Thank you much!

[StumpyFingers]

I would star with the basics.
Check the plug and lights to ensure they are (plugs clean no loose connections) (lights bulbs are the correct type rating )
If you have a multimeter then check for continuity, as there is a possible overload or short somewhere on the system. Check also the fuse box if the higher fuse was being used it is possible the connections have melted or burned.

[evilhomer]

So I was reading that some models of ATs were made as dual-burning headlights, and some were single-burning. As it happens, my headlights are dual-burning. However, I don't know if this is on accident and a relay is going bad or if it is suppose to be doing this.

Does anyone know if the 1989 RD03's were dual-burning headlights?

Thanks

[GSPD750]

In your 1st post you mentioned you had a "contact issue" that you fixed supposedly...and now you have a short circuit that is blowing fuses. I would check the entire headlight circuit wiring and watch for damaged or burnt wiring insulation. You have current shorting to ground...somewhere.