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R1200ST Best place to tap into switched-on 12v power?

rockreid

New member
The R1200ST wiring is probably pretty close to RT so perhaps I can get some advice on tapping into 12v switched-on power without throwing Can-Bus errors.

I just reconditioned some junkyard panniers and want to wire up led marker lights on them when they are mounted. All of the accessory outlets and connectors on the rear of my R1200ST test as being On all the time meaning I would have to physically unplug the panniers every time they are mounted on the bike.

The easiest thing that comes to mind would be to tap into the rear brake light that switches on with the bike but Can-Bus errors are likely I would guess. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Have a look at the bottom of the page in the Similar Threads pane. Might be a little help.
OM
 
Tap into a switched power wire to trigger a relay. The gray/black wire to the front parking lights is another trigger source option.

I'm not sure about using the taillight wire as a trigger source. Might work if the ST uses a dual filament bulb and has separate wires for brake and taillight. The RT uses a single filament bulb with full voltage for braking but switches the power on/off rapidly to produce lower apparent brightness as a taillight - not good for a relay.

Accessory outlet is another possible trigger source, but the lights will remain on for a time after turning off the ignition.
 
"Tapping in" to a CAN bus system is pretty risky ... so I'd suggest the "best place" is at the battery.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN_bus

The "CanBus" can handle some extra load. I pull a trailer with my R1200RT and put LEDs in the trailer lights and wire directly to the taillight and turns on the bike, with a Molex connector to disconnect the trailer wiring.

Also, you may be able to tie into the tail light with a relay, and run the loadside back to the battery with a fuse, but you might need to use a solid state relay, not an mechanical style with a coil and contacts. Such as,
https://www.amazon.com/Kyoto-Electric-KF0602D-Solid-State/dp/B00B888WVC/ref=sr_1_11?crid=2LHQXEQ4JOQEI&keywords=solid+state+relay&qid=1647042711&sprefix=solid+state+relay%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-11

Seriously, the CanBus is fairly forgiving. If you hook up something and it over loads it, it just stops working. The chances of frying something is pretty minute.
 
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