Shift-Light GP Installation Instructions

Preparation
Parts needed
Tools
Step 1 - Find a suitable mounting location
Step 2 - Mount the Shift-Light GP
Step 3 - Run wire loom
Step 4 - Connect earth wire
Step 5 - Connect power wire
Step 6 - Connect signal wire
Step 7 - Tidy up
Step 8 - Test
Step 9 - Configuration
Quick Installation Guides

Previous model
Differences to current model
Quick install guides

Preparation

1) Check the contents of the Shift-Light GP package. It should contain:

  • The Shift-Light GP unit (with black cable)
  • Cable set (three wires (red, black, and yellow)) with connector
  • USB communication cable
  • Mounting clip
  • CD with BITS-Studio Configuration Software
  • Quick Install Guide with installation instructions
  • Two BITS labels

2) Get an electrical wire diagram of your vehicle (vehicle schematic diagram)

Parts needed

  • Some screws and nuts
  • Soldering ion, multi core solder with activated non-corrosive 'Ersin' resin flux; heat shrinkable tubes and an appropriate heat source
    and/or
    Fast-on terminals and a crimp-tool
    and/or
    Snap-on connectors (scotch-lock, 3M or similar brand)
  • Cable ties
  • Maybe needed:
  • Spiral wrapping band
  • Some length of light duty wire.

Tools

  • Bull nose pliers.
  • Fork spanners and screw driver
  • Knife
  • Wire stripper
  • Soldering ion or crimp pliers.
  • Multi-meter or test lamp

Step 1 - Find a suitable mounting location
The first thing to do is deciding on the best location to mount the Shift-Light. When the LEDs are active, you will see them from the corner of your eye. So you do not have to mount the Shift-Light GP in the center of your view (where it can block eye sight). The view on the Shift-Light GP should not be blocked by the steering wheel or any other object; all 7 LEDs should be visible from your normal driving position.

Step 2 - Mount the Shift-Light GP
Included in de Shift-Light GP kit you find a mounting clip. You can use this clip to fixate the Shift-Light GP, for example, onto your dashboard. If you want to integrate the Shift-Light GP into your dashboard, you will need to do some manual labour.
At the Shift-Light GP rear site the programming connector is located. To mount or dismount the programming cable, the connector needs to be reachable. If this is not possible, the programming cable can be permanently connected. You will need to find a storage place for the part of the cable that is not behind the dashboard.

Step 3 - Run wire loom
Once you have mounted the Shift-Light GP successfully, it is time to run the wire loom through the dash, being careful not to run past any sharp edges that may cut or short out any of the wires in the loom. There should be enough wire length attached to the Shift-Light GP to reach the rear of the dash.

Car
Locate the fuse box under the dashboard or the wiring behind the ignition switch if the fuse box is mounted elsewhere. Your power (Red) and ground/earth (Blue) wires should terminate here. You will also need to run the signal (yellow) wire towards the rear of your dashboard instrument cluster or the main plug on your ECU. If the supplied length of wire isn't long enough to do a neat installation, please use a similar gauge of wire and the appropriate male and female connectors to lengthen this wire.
Leave the green wire unconnected

Motorbike
At the rear of the teller unit a big wire loom is connected. This loom contains all necessary wires were the Shift-Light GP cables should connect to. Remove the insulation tape from the loom on a carefully chosen spot over a length of 6 cm (2 inches). This spot should be accessible, not vulnerable for sharp edges, not interfere with gas and/or clutch cables and preferable outside direct water spray. Pull the wires a little bit from each other, so the required wires can be located. The wires are color coded. The wire diagram of your bike explains the function each wire.

Step 4 - Connect ground/earth wire
In general, the chassis is not a good earth 'wire'. The vehicle manufactures use an earth wire in their looms, which is connected to the chassis at some position. Using the chassis as earth 'wire' can cause reliability problems.
To connect the Shift-Light GP earth wire, it is preferred to locate a vehicle earth wire and tap into it. Look into the vehicle wiring diagram to find the color code of the earth wire. The most reliable connection is made using professional connectors and crimping tools. These are not commonly available. The second best is soldering. Cut the wire, put a piece of heat shrinkable tube over one end, strip both ends, cut the Shift-Light GP earth wire to appropriate length and also strip this wire. Join the three wires and solder them together. Use only multi core with activated non-corrosive 'Ersin' resin flux. DO NOT USE SEPARATE SOLDER FLUX!!! (as for example S39). Solder flux will certainly corrodate your wires and cause problems over time. Solder flux should only be used to solder plumbing tubes. Slide the heat shrinkable tube over the connection and shrink the tube with an appropriate heat source (electrical heat gun for example).
If you do not like the soldering the wires, you can use fast-on terminals or snap-on connector (scotch lock) to connect the vehicle earth wire to the Shift-Light GP earth wire. When using fast-on terminals, use a quality crimp pliers to do the crimping. When using a snap-on connector, crimp it onto the wire using a bull nose pliers until it is fully closed. After making the connection, use tape to protect the connection from disjoining forces and humidity.
If it is not possible to connect to a vehicle earth wire, connect the earth wire to the chassis. In your car, locate any screw or bolt within the general vicinity of the fuse box that you can see screws into a metal surface, preferable non-painted. On your bike, find a screw or bolt on your frame. Do not use a screw or bold on your front fork, since the fork is separated from the frame by ball bearings which introduce an unwanted electrical resistance.
If too much paint surrounds this screw/bolt you may need to remove some to get a good earth connection.
Using the ring type earth terminal, crimp this onto the earth (blue) wire and securely tighten the screw/bolt you have selected as your earth.

Step 5 - Connect power wire
Car:
With the power (red) wire terminating near the fuse box beneath your dashboard, you need to locate the correct power wire to tap into the Accessories circuit. Look on the Fuse Box for the fuse marked "Accessories" and check with your multimeter or test lamp that this is switched off and on by the ignition switch in the accessories position. Once you have located the correct wire, connect the Shift-Light GP power wire (red) to it (see step 4 for a description how to make the connection). If the fuse box in your car is not located close to the steering column, then using your multimeter or test lamp you will need to find the accessories wire off the back of the ignition switch and tap into this directly.

Motorbike:
Locate in the teller unit loom the power wire (see schematic diagram for color code). This wire will in general by part of the bikes accessory circuit and is for sure fused. Check with your multimeter or test lamp if you have the right wire (ignition switched on: measure 12..16V or test lamp on; ignition switched off: 0V or test lamp off). Connect the Shift-Light GP power (red) wire to the located wire. For how to make the connection, see the description in step 4.

NOTE: The Shift-Light GP only draws a few milliamps, so you will not need to increase the value of fuse of the circuit it is connected to.

Step 6 - Connect signal wire
Car:
The ECU will probably have an RPM output signal. It is likely that this signal will be connected to your revision counter in the dashboard. Locate this wire and join the Shift-Light GP signal wire (Yellow).
If it is not possible to locate the ECU engine revision signal, you can hook the Shift-Light GP signal wire to the negative terminal (-) on an ignition coil. If you have more then one ignition coil, just pick one. You can make a cable junction or use a spade fast-on terminal mounted directly on to the coils negative terminal. If you have to run the wire to the engine department, please keep all wiring as neat and tidy as possible as this will ensure a longer life installation. Also be careful of heat sources and sharp edges.

Motorbike:
The CDI/ECU engine revision signal wire will also be in the loom to the teller unit. Locate this wire and join the Shift-Light signal wire (Yellow). For a description how to join the wires, see step 4.
If you have a pre-CDI unit bike, you can connect the Shift-Light GP signal (Yellow) wire to the negative terminal (-) on an ignition coil. If you have more then one ignition coil, just pick one. You can make a cable junction or use a spade fast-on terminal mounted directly on to the coils negative terminal (-).

Step 7 - Tidy up
Now all wires are connected, use tape to secure the connections. Route the cables in a neat and secure way, while keeping steering and paddle movements in mind. Use cable ties to fixate the wires and spiral wrapping band to protect the wires on vulnerable places.

Step 8 - Test
When you switch on the ignition, the Shift-Light GP will power up. The Shift-Light GP will flash to indicate a power up. If the Shift-Light GP does not flash, you have to check the wiring.
Further testing of the Shift-Light GP can be done while configuring with the PC.

Step 9 - Configuration
To configure the Shift-Light GP, you need BITS-Studio software program. See "Config Software" section how to install and use this software.

Quick Installation Guides
Quick installation guides are available in several languages (file format: Adobe PDF files). You can download them in the Support/Download section.

Previous model

Differences to current model

Quick install guides
The Quick installation guides of the previous model are still available (file format: Adobe PDF files). Also, you can download them in the Support/Download section.