Suzuki V-Strom 650 Accessory Fuse Block Installation
As I added more electrical accessories to my Suzuki V-Strom 650XT, I wanted a cleaner solution than connecting everything directly to the battery. I installed a 4-way switched fuse block under the seat, giving me individually fused circuits for USB charging, navigation and future accessories, with the relay automatically shutting everything down with the ignition.
Why I installed an accessory fuse block As I’ve been setting up my Suzuki V-Strom 650XT for longer rides and weekend escapes, I’ve gradually started adding more electrical accessories. First came a USB power socket and navigation screen. With auxiliary lights and other accessories likely to follow, I didn't want to keep adding separate connections directly to the battery. Once you start doing that, you can end up with multiple ring terminals stacked on the battery, separate inline fuses and wiring running in different directions. I wanted something cleaner. The solution I chose was an inexpensive BJbird 4-way 12V motorcycle fuse block with an integrated relay. It gives me four individually fused circuits from one central location. More importantly, the relay means the accessory circuits can automatically switch on and off with the motorcycle's ignition. Mounting the fuse block I installed the fuse block underneath the seat, close to the battery. There's enough room for it, it's reasonably well protected and I can still get to the fuses easily if I need to replace one. Rather than permanently attaching it, I used a small amount of double-sided tape. That keeps it in position but also means I can easily remove or reposition it if my electrical setup changes later. Each of the accessory circuits I'm currently using has a 5 amp fuse. Adding some extra protection from water I've noticed that a little water can sometimes find its way under the seat when I'm washing the bike. Because of that, I added electrical tape around parts of the fuse block to cover some of the openings where water could potentially splash into the unit. This doesn't make the fuse block waterproof. It's simply an extra bit of protection in an area where I've already seen occasional moisture. Wiring the ignition-switched relay The relay needs an ignition-switched trigger so it knows when to turn the accessory circuits on and off. On my 2020 V-Strom 650XT, I tapped into the tail-light wiring. The switched wire on my particular bike was the brown wire. Don't simply assume the brown wire will be correct…