Healtech Thunderbox TB-U01 - Slightly Technical Review
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- Опубліковано 4 січ 2023
- Codger Biker reviews the first of his Xmas presents - cheers SWMBO!
Definitely much easier with just one connection to the battery. One drawback has come to light, is due to the current pulsing of some heated grips, there is a possibility of it not turning off until the grips are turned off. I'm guessing it is fooled into assuming the engine is running due to voltage/current fluctuations caused by supplying the grips.
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Just thinking....would it fire up when you put your bike on the battery charger? That would be something not wished for. So wondering if it would be the better solution to use the white wire to have it fire up with the ignition?
Yes I wondered the same after uploading the video. It would be easy to connect the white wire to the black which disables it for charging- just snap it into the black terminal block. I could even just fit a switch under the seat if it became an issue. I ride regularly so I don't ever really charge the battery, even in winter. DrJ has run the box 2 winters and had no problem. But it is a good point 👍👍
Great explanation video thanks just bought the Thunderbox 👍
Cheers 👍
Great video which has confirmed my intention to purchase a Thunderbox. Will be connecting ride lights to my RT1200
Glad it was useful 👍
Nice video Pommie Codger. Thank you, was good to view before I buy.
No problem. DrJ's still works great a couple of years on 👍
@@CodgerBiker Goodluck in the coming Ashes (if you follow at all)......!
Oh yes! Ex-coach. Nice to watch it when it’s here. Not so much when it’s with you in recent times. Should be close. 🏏👍
@@CodgerBiker ^^^Goodstuff!
Interesting, was thinking about getting one and your demo was very satisfying, thank you! Why are bikes not fitted with a similar master unit which would do the same job and save all the trickle chargers littering up peoples garages/sheds?
Well some bikes have switched accessory lines which are better. But this is a good option for those bikes without. If charging the battery you'd probably have to disconnect it, or use the white wire connection, which a switched Acc line doesn't need. So I'd still prefer bikes with several switched lines in an ideal world. 👍
Installed the thunderbox on my 2023 Triumph Tiger to power my Garmin. If worked for the first couple of rides, then it stopped powering on the Garmin, however after riding about an hour the Garmin powered up. Healtech advised connecting the white wire to a switched wire. Used the wire from plug to phone charger under the seat and it now works perfectly. Of course I could have done the same thing to power up the Garmin without the Thunderbox, but at least I have some extra circuits I can connect if I ever need to.
Sounds a bit odd. You could connect the Garmin direct to the switched Acc under the seat. You'd not need the Thunderbox then. There is definitely a switched Acc on the 2021 Tiger 850 Sport.
Very interesting, thanks very much.
I've been looking into these for a few days. The Heal Tech websit is a little confusing (or poor if you prefer). Are there different variants for particular bike models? Their website would suggest so but my brain, backed by your video would suggest one size fits all, unless you dont have a 12V system. Any ideas?
From memory there are two versions. Both 12v, so no go on a 6v or 24v system. Only difference appears to be 2x output on the more expensive version. Mine was the cheaper, single output. So you can put more things on the larger version so long as you don’t overload each of the 2 outputs. They are useable on any bike as they just bolt to the 12v battery - well that is my understanding. Also some have said they do not work well with heated grips, I have not tested this. What I can say is my friend has used one of these to power his spotlights and GPS for a couple of years and it has worked perfectly. These are just my opinions, I have no connection to them, and I do not use one. So take it with that advisory 👍
Nice video!!!! So do i understand you correctly? My heated gear when connected, no longer requires any in-line fuse? If so, this thunderbox is a true winner
Hmm, not sure about that. It's rated at 10amps I think, or 2x10 amps with the larger version. I'd probably fit a fuse anyway, why is it an issue?
Hi. Any update on this as thinking of getting one. Do you still have it connected? Regards
DrJ uses it every ride on his Triumph Tiger to power spotlights. It has been flawless in that role.
@@CodgerBiker appreciate the reply 😁
The cat seems a bit self conscious about you revealing it’s weight 😂🤣
Yes, I'm sorry Ernie, but maybe he'll ease off a bit now. Got to say also, I feel a bit of a hypocrite after the Xmas I had 😉😂👍👍
Really useful video. Thank you for posting it. Just wondered do you still have to have the inline fuses for each item or is that all protected within the unit.
Cheers. Personally I'd install the fuses, though I suspect it would limit the current if the worst happened. I'm a belts and braces guy.
Will do thanks for the quick reply
Was going to fit one to my Husky 501 that dosnt have ignition switch. Leaving the heated grips on is the biggest issue i have as GPS and Lights are obvious when left on and yet heated grips trick the unit into thinking its being charged or something and it stays on so really i dont see the point. It becomes nothing more than a hub.
Yes that's something that has come up. It does simplify wiring, and turns DRL on and off. But, as you say, it's not ideal with heated grips, though most of them turn off eventually if connected direct , so not needed. 👍
I have two sae leads one for heated gear one for trickle charger so wondering if I can clean up cables by putting all through thunderbox
I wouldn't expect it to work. Also, there's a chance the Optimate might make the Thunderbox think the engine is running and turn on whatever is attached to it, as the voltage rises. Just a thought. So I'd maybe disconnect the TB while charging the battery. Only my feeling. Not gospel.
@@CodgerBiker I think so I will leave the trickle charger cable out of the box but good tip ordering 2 next week
Can i use an on/off switch in this setup? How to wire a switch (in your video wiring), to be able to turn on/off aux lights while engine running?
From memory, there is a wire provided, to make it switchable. See manual on the healtech website.
@@CodgerBiker What i meant was to add a handlebar on/off switch for the aux lights
It’s the same as any other supply. If you put a switch inline with the lights then you can turn them on/off. So long as you have electrical experience, or get a mechanic to do it. The manual is on the site, it’s easy to understand, if you have technical ability. If not, then get a mechanic to do the job.
Hi Codger, Good News - my Tiger 850 has been brought forward and should be with me in early April. Please can you provide a link to the Auxiliary lights you and DrJ have fitted to your bikes, as they look to be excellent value. I intend to fit a Thunderbox for a Sat Nav & Aux Lights as the DIN socket below the dash is live all the time and will flatten the battery. Many thanks, the Kalamity Ken aka The Kalamitous One.
I'll try and find them, Amazon jobs. Don't forget there is already a switched socket under the 850 seat, I found it during the actual install. I'll post the link in this message as an edit if I can find them. Fitting same to my 500x soon 👍 PS best name on YT! 👍🤣
The exact ones we bought are no longer on Amazon. These look to be exactly the same. I’ve ordered them as well for spares. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B082PPDDBL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
@@CodgerBiker Many thanks for the replies & Info. Like you I am the big 6-0 this year. My name comes from when I did Track Days in my 40's in a kit car. I did them with my BF Dave and together we became known as Kalamity Ken & Dave Doom or Kalamity Doom for short. Those were the days!
Top names! 👌
But no switch to turn lights on off manually? Are the accessories switchable ?
Easy to fit a switch if required. Buy one with the lights.
Can I connect my optimate trickle charger lead to the unit ?
Why? I can't see any reason to. I'm pretty sure It won't charge the battery through it.
You mention that you prefer to still put an inkine fuse for each connected unit, and I can buy that. But doesnt also that remove a large reason to use this item? You can probably get a fuse box for 1/3 of the cost, fulfilling the same role?
Good point. However after 3 years faultless use I'd probably just leave an inline fuse in if the lead already had one. Secondly, heated grips apart which 'pulse', it will auto switch on/off anything connected to it, a few seconds after start up. So no battery drain if DrJ forgets to turn the lights etc off. Basically it's a versatile thing. 👍
Not cheap but it's easily the best accessory I have ever bought coz it simplifies the safe installation of dashcams, additional USB + 12v charging sockets & auxiliary lights without the need for a factory accessory plug. As idiot-proof as they come, absolutely no need to faff around tapping into a switched 12v supply to trigger a relay circuit. Those clip connectors are a genius addition as they idiot-proof the thing even more -- they're not waterproof, but it's a simple matter of plastic-bagging them if you're worried about them getting wet.
Definitely much easier with just one connection to the battery. One drawback has come to light, is due to the current pulsing of some heated grips, there is a possibility of it not turning off until the grips are turned off. I'm guessing it is fooled into assuming the engine is running due to voltage/current fluctuations caused by supplying the grips. 👍
These WAGO clips are not designed for automotive/motorcycle use, as they're not moist proof or vibration resistant.
are there fuses for each wire?
It's protected against short circuit, but personally I'd install a fuse in any accessory line attached to it.
HealTech Thunderbox lets clean up messy wiring and start the engine in one go 👍
It's neat! 👍
Can you fit denali drl to it
Basically it is a solid state 'switch/relay' so anything that does not take more than its rated current should work.
How do you wire in an accessory that comes with its own relay and trigger wire?
You wouldn't need this then 👍
@@CodgerBiker Does its own relay mean...like I've gotten what the Chinese are calling "smart wire", which is basically two wires (instead of 3) with a box, that detects when the bike is on. Is that box the relay (the relay detects the voltage?)? And also, you reckon it would still work fine if plugged into HealTech? (It makes sense it would work, but not sure) Just for sake of keeping everything off the battery terminal and not having to faff with the negative and positive screws, I'm already going to have a battery tender quick connect and this Thunderbox connected to the terminal, AND the bike's own electrics, don't want a 4th or 5th thing ring or prong on the terminals.
It MIGHT work. It depends how the unit is designed to turn on. Without specs you'd just have to try it. The voltage regulation on the Thunderbox, assuming it has some, MIGHT prevent the unit triggering if it was looking for a particular spike, but I suspect it'd be ok. Only testing would answer... if it is heated grips you may have an issue with the TB turning off. Suck it and see is all you can do. Too many unknowns...👍
@@CodgerBiker Fair dos, I reckoned that was the answer as well, just have to try it. It's a dashcam. Weirdly it turns on just by being connected to the battery (taken out of the bike), and it read 12.9 - 13v.
After I stripped the connector and connected it into Thunderbox, it wouldn't even turn on when I connected the battery tender to the battery. I'll have to try just putting everything back on the bike, turn it on, and rev it, and see what happens.
Cheers for the reply mate. Oh and yeah I saw the various comments about the heated grips.
Good luck! 👍 Just a thought, is there any option in the camera menu to adjust how it triggers?
Ahh, now I see how the lights connect to the Thunderbox, but would still like to understand the front-of-the-bike brackets used to mount the lights, what wires run between the lights and the box (front to back), and such niggling details. "...obese cat...", too hilarious!
He is obese it is true, but happy and cares not a jot. I try to shame him, wasting my time. This video might help also. As you can see a simple wiring ‘harness’ (just a piece of twin cable, the lights connect in parallel. Plugs can be used or just solder and heat shrink to make watertight).
ua-cam.com/video/PpQiY4da4Gs/v-deo.html
I got a Thunderbox yesterday and I´m very happy with it. I have my fog lights and heated grips wired to it. I only have one problem:
Whenever my heated grips are turned on and I kill the engine, everything stays on indefinitely. When I had them turned off, my other accessories switch off after 10 seconds, just how it´s supposed to be. Did you have any similar problems?
For your information, I use Koso heated grips. I don´t know why this happens but the Thunderbox should overrule everything.
Seems odd. I have Koso grips on my KTM. They are attached to a switched line. But I thought the Koso also self switched off if they detected battery drain? So that is doubly odd. I did notice when measuring the Oxford grips they modulate the current. Only thing I can think of is the Koso do the same and it’s somehow fooling the Thunderbox into thinking charging is going on, as the current fluctuates. Maybe it waits for a steady drain before shutting off, and the Koso is tricking it into thinking that charging is happening (wild guess on my part) - unlikely as they sell it as useable for heated grips. If you have a switched Acc socket on your bike, I’d attach the Koso to that on their own. Best I can think of. 🤔👍 Also, before that, I’d swap the connection block of lights and grips and see if when just the grips are connected they go off. In other words just go over it carefully, because it should be off.
@@CodgerBiker Thank you.
I also contacted the healtech support and they basically said the same.
Somehow the grips trick the box into thinking that the engine is still running.
They told me to connect the white wire to an ignition switched feed, which I did.
It‘s not ideal as I‘d rather have the engine running before my gear turns on but it works now.
I‘ll try out your suggestions tomorrow
Hello. Thanks for that information. I would have thought they’d have had that covered as I know Oxford heated grips work the same way and they are the biggest selling. And they sell the Thunderbox as compatible with grips. But thanks for getting back to me. I suspect the on/off of the heated grips looks like charging pulses to the Healtech. But as it is on the output you’d think they would cover this. Anyhow you know the cause. Not so bad to have the on/off wire control if you have to. Glad you have sorted it. 👍 I doubt swapping it will help now Healtech have said the reason.
How big is the dessert spoon 🤔
Normal 👍
I bought one of these and hooked it up to my electric motorcycle. I figured when I turned it on and the headlight, taillight, dash etc lit up it would trigger and come on, but it didnt.. I thought ok, maybe I just have to engage the motor and move the bike a little, nope.
It works, as I understand it, by sensing the battery is charging. The one we installed switches on a few seconds after the engine starts, and the charging begins. That won't happen on electric bike. Best return it.
You could use the trigger wire to activate it if there is a switched 12v line. But I think its main design is for bikes with an engine.
Yeah the website says "will work on any vehicle that uses a 12v system" on an EV when the 12v needs juice it gets it from the main battery pack instead of from a stator or an alternator. In theory it should have still worked, but i think the threshold it needs to trigger is just too high.. I emailed them to see what they say.. Maybe at the least they will add something to the website that states this can not be used on anything but an ICE engine vehicle.
It's a good point. You could trigger it with the 3rd wire to a 12v switched line. I guess that covers them. From what I could tell the auto-trigger is by sensed AC from charging. So, some people, have reported it stays on if heated grips are used - they also pulse mimicking AC. 👍
"Positive experience" 🤦🏻♂️😂
Works well 👍😉