Stebel relay failure

[Biggles]

Some time after I got home from Ballarat I found my Stebel Nautilus horn wasn't working.  I checked the obvious- fuse and switch.  Sadly, to investigate further I had to pull the RH fairing off- not my favourite job.  The relay was clicking fine, but wasn't passing the power to the horn.  So I replaced it and solved the problem.

The original relay looked unwell.



Perhaps cleaning off the corrosion would have fixed it, but I had a spare relay, so didn't bother with the old one.  I suspect the torrential rain on the way past Sydney was the last straw.  I had it positioned with the base facing forward.  There's no guarantee they're waterproof, and the innards might be toast. 

So I positioned the new one in the opposite direction in the hope it will better resist the rain.



And I only ended up with one 5mm Allen keyed shouldered bolt that wouldn't fit anywhere, so now I have a spare.   

That might help someone installing their Stebel, or if someone else theirs quits.

[Brock]

Should always mount the relays with the feet down Biggles, water dont run up hill.....

[Abe]

You can get a relay with a fuse, in one.  All my relays that I have installed face rearwards and/or downwards like Brock said.

I NEVER place fuses or relays in difficult places.

UNDER THE SEAT, for fuses and/or replays, just think about problems at night???? or need to be found and replace quickly ???


Think smarter, not harder 

My two cents.

[Biggles]

UNDER THE SEAT, for fuses and/or replays, just think about problems at night???? or need to be found and replace quickly ???

Good point.  Obviously I put the relay where I did because that's where the switch wires terminated, rather than run the wires back to the seat and then the switched power wire forward.  I was probably naively thinking the relay was waterproof since it came with the horn which only specified being mounted pointed down to avoid ingesting water.  The fuse on the power line for the horn is with the others (GPS etc) under the seat.

Anyway, my lessons can save someone else having to learn the hard way.  That was the point of sharing.

[tj189]

.....and thank you for sharing Biggles, always good bits of information for someone 

[Brock]

And its nice to have some one to pick at..

 

[Biggles]

This would tend to confirm Brock's suggestion that water might have a deleterious effect on relays.



It took three years to get to that stage.

[StinkyPete]

Thanks for the info, and that's a great photo Biggles.   Good focus and exposure.  A little reflected light into the shadows would make it perfect.   

[Biggles]

Thanks for the info, and that's a great photo Biggles.   Good focus and exposure.  A little reflected light into the shadows would make it perfect.   

I'll get one of those blondes who hold the white umbrella during outdoor interviews
to join my retinue.   

[saaz]

With relays that exposed I position them out of the direct water, facing so they don't collect water, and wrap them in tape or something waterproof.  Might last another few years, but if you get an umbrella holder I would make mine fail a lot......