DickB,

I too, have a RadRover5.  So, where the battery plugs into the bike there appears to be a 5 pin connector, but on the bike side, there are only two electrical terminals used (these are the largest two pins.)  Since you have done some reverse engineering-- Do you know if/how these three terminals are connected on the battery side, if at all?

Bob

Quote from: DickB on December 24, 2021, 03:46:16 PM
The recent Standard batteries have diodes in the charger circuit which prevents current from flowing from the battery to the charger. (I know this from reverse-engineering my Rover 5 battery.) I don't think that earlier batteries had these diodes. The diodes do allow minuscule current to flow, which is why you can get a higher voltage reading at the charge port with a multimeter.

Use care with motorcycle batteries, as they may not be able to operate with the high battery voltage (up to 54.6V).

I don't have a plug-and-play solution, but minor disassembly of the battery tray would expose the connector and permit additional wiring to be added.

Quote from: DickB on December 26, 2021, 06:41:55 AM

Quote from: Radding Along on December 26, 2021, 06:34:27 AM
I realize it's a nice thought to add a second headlight powered off the bike's battery, but I wouldn't do it. Why risk the bike's circuitry, especially the controller, when there are so many rechargable headlight options out there?

There is no risk to the controller. It is much more convenient to not need to recharge a light separately.

DickB  has exactly stated the point.  I already have a battery on the bike that I recharge.  I don't have to remember to place and replace and check the state of charge on a second device.  I think people who are considering Rad Modifications (the name of this thread) can make judgements about their competence and the risks.   Use of the charging port was an approach I had read somebody doing elsewhere, and it is remarkably convenient, if it were possible with the modern battery.  But DaveB clearly pointed out with his circuit model that it is more complicated.   

Thanks DickB!

I don't intend to use any motorcycle batteries--was exactly just looking for some plug and play--I thought maybe folks that run batteries in parallel might have a source for a splitting arrangement--and maybe instead of a second battery, I could use those terminals to interface to the motorcycle lights I found on amazon that can run on the battery voltage.

Hi,

I wanted to add some lighting to my Rad Rover that could operate off the battery voltage, and there are a number of motorcycle lights set-up to do that that draw maybe 15W or so.    I thought that I could perhaps access the battery terminals through the charging port, and just run my accessories from there.  But I think there must be some kind of series resistance, because a small load pulls the terminal voltages there down to 3V.   

So, I was wondering if anybody has found a clever way to tap into the battery terminals.  Some kind of a splitter that mates to the factory connections somewhere? 

Thanks!