Power to the BMW R1250GS | Installing the ThunderBox Power Module from HealTech

[@phildibb914]

Best explanation of the ThunderBox I’ve seen. Thank you !

[@gsd32i]

Glad it was helpful!

[@117PC]

Just great… many tanks for your several videos, I made some of your suggestions in my bike, so now I go working in Fire Fighting helicopter season with a huge smile!

[@gsd32i]

Pedro thank you for the comments and be safe in that helicopter .

[@ConciergeMed]

Ah! So you got one! Glad you like it. Mine is set to only turn on all my equipment, including my camera system, when the ignition starts the engine. Cheers.

[@gsd32i]

I have ordered a 2nd one for my Triumph 1200 Speed Twin 😁

[@williamjones6478]

A cracking bit of electronic wizardry explained very simply excellent 👍

[@gsd32i]

Many thanks!

[@stevecockton6624]

Whenever I watch your videos my wallet starts twitching and my bank balance becomes a bit lighter 😂😂. A very well explained video, probably the best I've seen 👍. An interesting product which could be next on the shopping list - look forward to an update after a month or two.

[@gsd32i]

Hahaha thanks Steve . Sadly for you Chigee will be sending me their AI05 lite to review . That’s going to go on the Speed twin and I have just by coincidence ordered a 2nd Thunderbox to put on that bike ….. it must have known something else was on the way and needed a power module !!! 😂

[@TheDervMan]

I have one of these fitted to my X-ADV. Just be aware that the Oxford Grips fitted to my bike was causing the Thunderbox to take a few minutes to auto switch off. I spoke to Healtech and apparently some heated grips confuse the Thunderbox. I've since removed the Oxford grips as couldn't bear looking at the ugly controller. Since then it's worked perfectly. I tried mose options to provide a switched live and this is bar far the easiest. I also liked the PDM60 as you can configure various options on it. 😊 Oh I should add that connecting the optional switched live trigger wire should have fixed it but I never tried that.

[@gsd32i]

Appreciate the input 😁

[@cyclingbikerwholovestotinker]

great detailed review, sounds like a handy little gadget which as you say will help to tidy up the battery terminals.

[@peetee5229]

Used one of these for many years faultlessly 👍

[@gsd32i]

Great to hear that , am ordering a 2nd unit for my Triumph Speed Twin 👍

[@clivebishop8757]

great explanation and video, so much so I bought one.

[@gsd32i]

I ordered another one today for my Triumph. If you need to find the switched live I spoke about...there is a link in the description to Steve at a bike things video that I got the info from.

[@mizunomp5916]

Great video, with loads of information. 👍

[@gsd32i]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@GS_riders1250]

Looks great apart from 1 point, no fuse on the positive cable 50cm of no protection 🤔 so if it gets damaged and shorts out that wire will glow nicely so I’d get a fuse holder fitted if that was going on my bike 👍

[@gsd32i]

Hopefully HealTech know what they are doing then?👍

[@GS_riders1250]

@@gsd32i absolutely 🫣 but if you look on any accessories that fit direct to the battery it’ll have a short tail from the battery to a fuse before the cable runs to the accessory.

[@gsd32i]

@@GS_riders1250 I looked at numerous KZbin videos and all were fitted without cutting and splicing an inline fuse onto the positive cable . Leaves me to believe that the module itself will act as the fuse . Haven’t heard any issues and they distribute these in the USA ! I am no expert in the field of electronics and so do as I am told ,especially by my wife ! 😂

[@mengaw-yong2490]

It’s great for easy fit tidying up battery I have one on each bike

[@williamjones6478]

A cracking bit of electronic wizardry explained very simply excallent👍

[@nickbas10]

Very good video well presented. If connect the thunderbox direct to battery, when charging the battery the thunderbox would sense 14volt from the charger and switch on the outputs. The stay off mode you said to connect to the earth wago (black wire). If you connect an inline switch on the white wire this would stop the thunderbox sensing the charger voltage, ie. it can now charge the battery without activating the thunderbox outputs. Not tried this myself but has anyone else tried this method.

[@gsd32i]

So far with the Triumph and BMW the thunder box doesn’t “switch on” when I connect the optimate battery conditioner/charger . So all good .

[@nickbas10]

@@gsd32i thanks for the info. I have a honda deauville. I am due to get one soon. I will wire up straight to battery first and see what result i get when i charge the battery. Cheers

[@milosbosnjak4278]

Does WAGO work with stranded wires? I thought it was only for solid wires. I didn't understand what yellow wire was. Can we use any wire that is getting current on turning the key contact on?

[@norhell3495]

The wago connectors work with solid conductor, stranded conductor, and fine-stranded conductor according to their details and description.

[@gsd32i]

Works fine with stranded wires . The yellow wire was for a trigger wire.

[@SimonWatson-nx1kt]

Fitted one a couple of days ago ... 20 mins job, couldn't be easier. would still like to find a switched live that doesn't affect the canbus though!

[@gsd32i]

The one I used doesn't effect the canbus . Glad I got it as I have a few more bits to add to the bike now that I am off work for a few weeks 😂

[@michaelneve3223]

Really good vid, very clear. I’m going to follow your previous vid and fit a zumo XT2 by replacing the nav cradle so that gives me a switched live. However, I have been thinking about my Keis heated gear and was thinking it would be better to use the thunder box to power it. At the moment I have the connection straight to the battery but the healtech seems like a safer option. Am I over engineering this and spending cash I don’t need to?

[@gsd32i]

Always good to spend a bit of cash !😂 just ordered a 2nd one for my triumph and that has the Keis plug direct to the battery so I will connect it to the healtech too 😁

[@greengarth]

Great Video as always! Did you connect your HEXcan to this unit or keep it direct to the battery?

[@gsd32i]

Battery.

[@leonardotaggio6995]

how does the thunder box work with a Optimate battery charger? Or is it still the case of attaching the leads to the battery for charging purposes

[@gsd32i]

Hi, I have had no issues with my optimate with the thunder box and I have them on my GS and Triumph.

[@ludovicbourg9361]

H thanks for (as usual) your very helpful videos. I have a question regarding the solution to tidy up the battery connection. I have actually two Hex ezCan + different things connected to the battery . I thought I was connecting everything to the thunderbox but it seems you kept the ezcan connected directly yo the battery - any reason so far ? thanks

[@gsd32i]

Hi . Hex ezycan gives me control over my lights etc intensity that kind of thing whereas the thunder box simply provides power and nothing more . 😁

[@ludovicbourg9361]

@@gsd32i thanks but I was not comparing hex vs thunderbox . I’m using my ezcan as you’re doing I’m just wondering if there is any issue while connectting ezcans + other devices i haveto the thunderbox so i have then only the thunderbox connected to the battery Any thoughts on this?

[@gsd32i]

@@ludovicbourg9361 Ok I see what you mean. I can't see an issue , you could always send Hex product support an e mail as they have answered some of my questions in the past.

[@sd2305]

Great vid I will order tonight, however I would like to know where the switch live you connect to ?

[@gsd32i]

Have a look in the description below....I added a link to another KZbinr video who I got the info from ref switched live. I've also ordered another one for my Triumph Speed Twin.😁

[@sd2305]

Thunder box arrived and fitted. I opted for the bigger unit for an extra €20. Quad lock charger installed today and all works great. Looking at connecting the remaining toys over the next couple of weeks. Great product and thanks for the suggestion.

[@gsd32i]

@@sd2305 thanks for posting . I would have got the bigger unit but there’s only so many toys one can fit 😂 plus I have the hex ezcan with a spare plug . Next to be fitted on Monday is the innov 3 rd eye blind spot unit and the thunder box will be used for that too . Enjoy weekend 👍

[@Richard-dh8ny]

Great unit, however all accessories still require fuses....correct? There's other Power Distribution Units that are fused, but they're more expensive.

[@gsd32i]

The user manual does state that if the accessory came with a fuse not to cut it off . A great little device that I have fitted on both my bikes . Certainly makes connecting accessories for reviewing a lot easier . 👍

[@paulbooth5668]

Hi. Will the use of an Optimate battery charger wired directly to the battery cause any issues when the Thunderbox is also wired to it? Thanks

[@gsd32i]

If you mean both wired to the battery then no. Its what I have done on my GS

[@crazybearmotorcycletouring]

I’m think of a thunder box now, could the optimate not be run through the thunder box as well or is it best to leave straight to the battery ?

[@jimariel6785]

Where did you attach switch live on a bmw r1250gs

[@gsd32i]

The wiring loom near the base of the tank . I tapped into that for my Vantrue F1 camera system and just tapped into that the F1's trigger wire which was tapped into the BMW's wire🙈 as per the video . I have put a link in the description to the reference video that I used.

[@smrtazz101]

Would the stay off mode be used when you hook up a trickle charger for winter? So it dosen't trigger the thunderbox to turn on with the charger

[@gsd32i]

Hi, Ive just had a look at the user manual: Stay-off mode: The White control wire is connected to the TB’s Black wire terminal block (either directly or via an on/off switch). The TB will keep the outputs OFF even if the engine is running.

[@Martin3869]

`do you still have the Hex EZ Can installed as well? I have a Denali Soundbomb running through the E can, just wondering if I could bin the EZ can off and use one of these?

[@gsd32i]

Hi, yes I have both , the hex gives the ability to programme things whereas the TB is simply to supply power.

[@arnoldtm31]

Does it work with lithium battery ? Resting voltage 13.3 volts ?

[@gsd32i]

Hi . Not sure . Just send them an e mail www.healtech-electronics.com/contact/

[@ESSA20]

For dashcam parking mode do we use the white wire or no? I think parking mode on the unit uses it own battery Correct?

[@gsd32i]

I believe that if you want the unit to be able to use the parking/guard mode then there has to be a permanent power supply to the dash camera and you have to power it via the bikes battery terminals. But I may be wrong.

[@ESSA20]

@@gsd32i by the way forgot to mention in previous comment in using the vantrue f1 dascam. Hmm in bit of dilimer so I can't use the thunderbox if I want to run parking mode aswhile. Need to find where to hook the acc cable on the Kawasaki Z1000 if that's the case.

[@gsd32i]

@@ESSA20 Yes I believe so.

[@richardbriggs1335]

would this be suitable to power the Colights? thanks

[@gsd32i]

Yes, each colight from the ones that were sent to me were drew 2.5 amps each. So hooked up to the thunder box with it being switched live you could have the lights on all the time when the ignition is turned on, albeit angled low down to not dazzle oncoming road users especially at night....unless you hooked them up to the high beam somehow, even better.

[@shopaccount6446]

Looks good sensible price from reputable manufacturer... Certainly compared to crazy Denali prices...

[@genuinecomments4008]

If the unit is potted then great, the only issue is if something goes wrong you generally can’t repair the unit.

[@gsd32i]

2 year warranty . Sealed in resin inside . Fingers crossed nothing can go wrong . But at £65 just buy another one .

[@pituchahayabusa200]

Ola aonde se liga o fio acc amarelo?

[@gsd32i]

há um link para um vídeo sobre isso na seção abaixo 😁

[@gnmurray5955]

Shame the Healtech website is down….

[@gsd32i]

Seems fine now 😁

[@Nightrod66]

I dont understand manufacturer that provides rubish connectors with theyr products. The Tunderbox itself have an IP68 and then they provide non waterproof connectors on the wires out of it????? The tap connector and the Wago connector should not been used on motorbikes. They are not waterproof and will make problems in the future. Tap connectors should been trown in the bin. This is often the reason why you get voltage drop in a curcuit. Use a proper waterproof connector like the Deutch connector. Wago connector can be used in a dry inviroment, but not under the seat of a motorcycle.

[@gsd32i]

So far, so good.

[@paulabraham8724]

Who dont you show how you actually identify and then tap into a live feed? It’s the only thing I don’t understand from your film.

[@gsd32i]

Hi, have a look at this video, scroll to 11:17 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHnXmnaoZaZ7qNUsi=s947UDC7UfFSdB8t, its the blue and Orange wire that I tapped into, but not sure if other bikes will be the same model year/country etc . Its the plug at the from of the seat/base of the tank.

[@paulabraham8724]

@@gsd32i thanks.

[@joe2479]

Gee I thought you were going to tell us what you were going to do 50 times - before actually doing it. Let's see you are going to install a Thunder Box. Would you mind repeating that another 100 times.

[@gsd32i]

Have a great week and ride safe 😁