Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Some info on Spark Plug

Last Saturday, I tend to replace my stock spark plug as my odo reading is already at arond 11K+ kms.
As per Honda, spark plug replacement should be done when the odo reaches 8K, thus I am already way off in replacing my sp.

So, going to a motorcycle shop (not a Honda 3S shop) to purchase a new SP, I asked how much does is the sp for a CB110, was informed that it is PHP 100.00 (whoaaa....cheap, compared to Honda 3S). Then the seller gave me the sp, looking at the SP if found out that it has a different part number, the OEM SP is NGK CPR7EA-9 while the one I am purchasing is CPR6EA-9. The seller assured that other CB110 owner are purchasing the same SP.

Since I really have to replace my sp, I purchase the CPR6EA-9 but has some doubt in my mind. Nevertheless, I replace my old sp with the new one and my motorcycle seems to be fine.

Further, I consulted with my fellow tambay (http://motorsiklotambayan.forummate.com) if there will be any effect of not using the required SP and was assured that it is ok.

Just today, I researched about the CPR6EA and CPR7EA and found out that the number is the heat range of NGK spark plug (the "6" and "7"). Below are the link that explain the NGK part number.

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/docs/tech/design_symbols_plugs.pdf


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

DEFENSIVE DRIVER KA BA?


as posted by boss dark knight

The 10 Commandments Of Defensive Driving

All motorists need to read this!

1. Be attentive

Always pay attention. Always check your side mirrors and look far enough to see other cars not just the one in front of you. Be alert when you are near intersections and pay attention to road signals and signs. If the sign tells you it’s slippery when wet, don’t speed up or else… Pay attention to fast cars because you’ll never know if the person driving is drunk or not.

2. Yield and give way.

Yep, you are on the right way and what you are doing is just fine. But if you see one car which is running way too fast it’s wiser to give way. Because if you get hit, you may end up dead or injured, too. It pays to be forgiving and calm when you are on the road just to increase your chances of not getting hurt or killed.

3. Don’t trust the other driver.

The third rule is another cardinal rule – don’t trust the other driver. Because you’ll never really know whether the other driver is cautious or not, it’s better to pay attention and be alert at all times.

4. No alcohol, please!

Plain and simple don’t drive when you’re drunk! You need not ask the reason because that’s plain common sense and it will not take an Einstein to realize how dangerous it is to drive while one is drunk. Defensive driving is being clean from intoxicating substances.

5. Buckle up for safety. (4-wheels above).

Yeah, that’s right buckle up for safety. Use your seatbelt. Don’t worry about your pants or shirt being slightly folded when you wear seatbelt because at least you can do something to fix it because you are still alive. But if you are dead, you’ll never really know the difference between a well-pressed and a not so well-pressed shirt.

6. Wear helmet.

For motorists, always make sure that you wear your helmets on because experiences of many people will tell you how many lives were already saved by the mere act of wearing helmets. Defensive driving also means wearing your gears.

7. Never beat the red light.

Simply put, if you try beating the red light for sure you are going to give yourself a headache if are caught doing it. So, as a piece of advice don’t.

8. Be cool.

If someone overtakes or somebody honks… be cool. It’s not the end of the world anyway. Being defensive is always better.

9. Use signals.

Use your flashers and lights properly to relay your intentions. When you will be turning left it is not hard to turn on the left signal light to alert the other driver.

10. Never Play Chicken with a Train!

If you are in the Hamlet like “to be or not to be” situation, just don’t if the train is coming. A few minutes of waiting is better than not being able to experience the next minute anymore. Defensive driving is all about being patient.

Remember all these simple things on defensive driving. By following these defensive driving tips you are sure to enjoy your trips more.

For your safety and the peace of mind of those who love you, make the most of your riding safety.

VOLTAGE STABILIZER


Here is the instruction of how to make a voltage stabilizer for our cars. Although it has many names such as hypervoltage system, ground or volt stabilizer, they are all the same. Their prices range from $60-$220, but you can do it yourself for less than $40. . Personally, I don't know exactly what is inside the box. So what I describe below is based on my knowledge as an electrical engineer.
The voltage stabilizer is used as a filter and a secondary voltage storage for your car. Although the battery itself acts as a large capacitor, it doesn't respond to all current fluxuation in your car. Voltage stabilizer help supplying or absorbing transient current so that electrical inteference is suppressed and more energy from the alternator is stored.
As a result, the engine will run smoother and quiter. Its throttle response will improve. You also get more miles from your gas.
It consists of capacitors connected in parallel. High capacitor value should be use to maximize the filtering effect. Both electrolyict and ceramic capacitors should be use to cover broad frequency range. For battery protection, I add a 3-5A fuse. You can dress it up with some LED lights, but it will just drain up your battery a bit.
Here is the part list:
1. 3-foot 4 or 8AWG wire and 2 ring terminals
2. Plastic enclosure
3. 4 16V Electrolytic capacitors (10,000uF)
4. 4 16V Ceramic capacitors (100uF)
5. a fuse and a fuse holder
6. 2-side sticky tape
7. pre-drilled PCB board

First, Cut the wire and connect each wire with a ring terminal. Then drill 2 holes on the plastic box. Align capacitors in parallel on the PCB board and solder them. Be aware that the electrolytic capacitors have polarity. You should connect all the capacitor's negative terminals to the same point of the PCB board and similary for the positive terminal as shown in the schematic.

Then connect one of the fuse holder port to the positive terminal of the capacitors. Insert the positive wire though the box and solder it the PCB board at the other end of the fuse holder. Afterthat, insert the negative wire though the box and solder it the PCB board. Close the box's lid and your voltage stabilizer will look some thing like this:

Installation: Just connect its + terminal to the + battery terminal and then connect - terminal to the - battery terminal. You will see some spark :twisted: . It would be best to charge the unit with a power supply before you hook it up to the battery. I stick my voltage stabilizer on top of the fuse box using a piece of sticky tape. The ECU needs about 1-2 days to adjust itself once you install the your voltage stabilizer, but you should see some improvement immediately.

The system should last for at least 3-5 years.

Here is the diagram:

DIY 12 LEDS TAILLIGHT AND BRAKELIGHT


Parts:
R1______________10K 1/4WResistor
R2______________33R 1/4W Resistor (See Notes)
R3______________15R 1/4W Resistor (See Notes)
D1___________1N5819 40V 1A Schottky-barrier Diode (See Notes)
D2--D13________LEDs High brightness, high efficiency red types (See Notes)
Q1____________BC547 45V 100mA NPN Transistor
Q2____________BC337 45V 800mA NPN Transistor
SW1____________SPST Tail Light Switch
SW2____________SPST Brake Light Switch

Notes:
This circuit was designed on request to drive a Light-cluster formed by several LEDs that can be mounted in the vehicle as a tail and brake light.
When SW1 is on, the cluster will illuminate at medium brightness. When brakes are operated, SW2 will be closed and the cluster will shine at maximum brightness.
These two brightness levels of the cluster are obtained by a constant current source drive formed by Q1 and Q2. The two constant current levels are set by R2 and R3 values.

The cluster can be formed by up to 12 LEDs as shown in the circuit diagram. Common cluster types usually range from 5 to 10 LEDs.Using the values shown above, stand-by current was 1mA; SW1 on = 20mA, SW2 on = 60mA.Constant output current value can be changed by varying R2 and/or R3.
The formula is: R = 0.6/I (in Amperes).Please note that the brake current is obtained by paralleling R2 and R3 values.Use high brightness, high efficiency red LED types of suitable size and change R2 and R3 values to suit LED's Absolute Maximum Ratings.Any Schottky-barrier type diode can be used in place of the 1N5819: the BAT46 type will be a very good choice.

Importance of AHO

Why Honda motorcycle in the Philippines are equipped with AHO.

Part 1
Part 2