2004 R1150R thoughts on fuses

[HikerGlenn]

Has anyone on here got rid of the chinzy looking factory fuses and replaced with Buss fuses or the like? I was just trying to check my gel battery's voltage last night, hooked up the tender leads to the accessory outlet, then touching the leads, with the correct polarity I might add, the fuse for the outlet popped! I'm really not sure why- I did this once before, right after I unplugged the tender, and it worked fine. Watched the voltage slowly drop down and stabilize to about 12.8volts at that time. But now, trying to just read the voltage after the bike has sat a few days-pop goes the fuse! I don't get it-inserted a new fuse-same thing-inserted another new fuse and hooked the tender up, that all went fine. The battery tender switched to float mode within about 15 minutes. But upon further examination of all the fuses, some did'nt even have the little clear windows on top of them-just bare element, out in the open! Should I replace all the fuses with better looking Buss automotive fuses, all nice and molded housings? Any input would sure be appreciated. -Glenn

[HikerGlenn]

P.S. didn't touch leads together-hooked up voltmeter to them-forgot to mention that!

[ruddy]

I'm at a loss on this one. I check the battery voltage like you did all the time and have never popped a fuse. I did once trying to insert the probes in the accessory socket, which is why I plug the battery charger leads in first and insert the voltmeter probes in the cable plug. In my case I have a cigarette lighter to BMW plug adapter, and I have a charger lead with a cigarette lighter plug on the end.

[HikerGlenn]

Yeh ,I don't get it either. I did insert probes of voltmeter into the tender lead plug-not the accessory socket itself. One thing-the leads on the voltmeter were plugged into the unfused side-maybe there in no resistance to the meter and it acts like a dead short? You think it would have fried the meter though. I don't know-Glenn

[HikerGlenn]

One last post. Apparently it was the cheap digital multimeter I was using. Got ahold of a nice analog (meter) unit and am able to check battery voltage with out the fuse blowing! I file 13'd the digital multimeter! Thanks!