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ignition light problems,banham speedster

24 Aug 2009, 9:57am
hi, just joined the site, ive brought a banham speedster kit,halve done,,its metro based running gear and loom,problem is replacing the dash cluster to more tradititional smith guages,wiring the ign light up one wire from the alternator brown and yellow, other wire white from ign barrel,start it up works ok, turn it off engine carrys on running but light comes on, put the old dash back in everything runs good, whats happening,please help,anyone building a banham speedster?
25 Aug 2009, 1:12pm
Sounds wierd... If it's still running when you turn it off, have you got a short around the ignition switch? Something that's allowing current to flow across the switch even when off?

Unless the engine was running, you woudn't notice it untill you had a flat battery.

Has the old instrument cluster got some sort of relay in it that you're missing when you connect up you new dials?

Not the same as your issue, but I had a problem with my Sportster as I'd snipped a wire in the harness that I didn't think I needed, which was fed from the old BMW instrument cluster - until I realised it was the main relay energizer! It would never have started without it... :)

I'm sure some of the more knowledgable auto electricians will be along in a moment. I'm still messing with my knitting as they call it. ;)
25 Aug 2009, 2:38pm
I think I managed to do the same thing. It was because I connected the main output from the Alternator to the switched side of the ignition switch. When you turn the switch off the alternator keeps everything running.

The output from the alternator should go back to the battery (or at least the side of the ignition switch that is connected to the battery).
24 Sep 2009, 12:55pm
sad to say that i experience the same problems like your.check your wirings may be this is grounded.
28 Sep 2009, 8:43am
problem solved

hi guys, thanks for youre help,sorted the problem,instead of using the ignition live on the back of barrel,used a live that was on the instrument main jack plug,that obviosly is the correct wire for the job,everything working brill,cheers