charging 12 volt accessories

Ok, so I use my mobile as a gps while I'm riding. I have a handle bar mount which the phone sits in. It actually works really well for me but on longer rides it goes flat so i want to install a 12 volt cigarette socket underneath the seat to plug in the phone charger. From here I would run the cable (somewhere) to where the phone is mounted so it can be plugged in easily. I'm happy for the connection to be live without the ignition on but to be safe, i would want to ensure a fuse is built into the socket somewhere.....

Who has done this?

Do you have any photos? Where did you get the parts from (supacheap) ?

Thanks in advance.

I reckon there are better ways to set up bike electrics but if all you want is a cig lighter outlet under the seat then a cheap and simple way using SCA bits you could get yourself
*extension lead Cut the wires near the female end yet long enough so you can put it where you want it and still attach the wires to the pos and neg batt terminals.
*mini blade fuze holder (Pretty sure bandit uses mini blade fuzes, this keeps it all the same) Put this inline with the pos terminal to the female cig plug (my preference is to solder and heat shrink but you could use cable joiners if need be)
*5 amp fuze I wouldn't expect the phone to draw more than 5 amps. Maybe it does tho so chooze an appropriate rating if need be
*eye terminals Make sure to choose an eye diameter the right size for the battery bolts. Not too big, not too small.

As cig lighter fittings are not positively retained type fittings, you will need to devise some way to ensure the phone charger stays put while you ride or it will vibrate it's way out of the female end. I've used elec tape in the past to do this on a similar set up

chips wrote: Where did you get the parts from (supacheap) ?

Look for a Jaycar store. They cater for electronic DIY.

You could always get the main bits off ebay, if you're not in a hurry.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-Volt-Extension-Cord-Battery-Clip-Adapter-w-Socket-/120686067567?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c19733f6f

i just bought a narva weather proof lighter/aux socket some wire and a waterproof fusible link, cut a neat hole on the black part of the fairing refer to pic

I like the look of that Jim.... but....

When not in use I think maybe it would be a bit ugly... And I know it says waterproof but what about rust damage over time?

I was thinking I could just run the cable from under the seat hidden in the frame to the phone on the handle bars, that way when I'm not using ti which is 99% of the time it can be hidden away where no one needs to see it....

Where did you access power for the accessory slot Jim?

G'day Chips
I've powered my GPS in a similar way as has been suggested allready.
My set up differs in the cigarette socket is powered from the horn circuit (controlled by the ignition switch & is up near where the socket is placed) & i made a small bracket to hold the cigarette socket that was then cable tied to the left fork leg between the triple clamps. Can only be seen if you look for it.
My socket has a weather proof cover for when not needed.
Hope this gives you another option.
Silverfox111

silverfox111 wrote:G'day Chips
I've powered my GPS in a similar way as has been suggested allready.
My set up differs in the cigarette socket is powered from the horn circuit (controlled by the ignition switch & is up near where the socket is placed) & i made a small bracket to hold the cigarette socket that was then cable tied to the left fork leg between the triple clamps. Can only be seen if you look for it.
My socket has a weather proof cover for when not needed.
Hope this gives you another option.
Silverfox111

You wouldn't have any photos of the install and where you linked in with the horn circuit?

I just put a 12v supply in mine for the same reason.
I have a fused relay under the seat that is energised by the tail light circuit and then ran the wires to the left side of the fairing. Cut a hole in the black plastic to fit a marine grade socket, run 2 wires back to the relay and "Bob's your mother's brother". Probably cost $40 all up and about 20 minutes playing time inside the house to get the connectors on and 15 minutes to get it on the bike. Did have the 10 year old daughter helping on both occasions so the times might be a bit slow.
Did the fitting on the bike when it was about 35C and realised that a black bike gets a bit hot in the sun.
Will get some photos when I get home and find the camera.
Mark

surfacc wrote:I just put a 12v supply in mine for the same reason.
I have a fused relay under the seat that is energised by the tail light circuit and then ran the wires to the left side of the fairing. Cut a hole in the black plastic to fit a marine grade socket, run 2 wires back to the relay and "Bob's your mother's brother". Probably cost $40 all up and about 20 minutes playing time inside the house to get the connectors on and 15 minutes to get it on the bike. Did have the 10 year old daughter helping on both occasions so the times might be a bit slow.
Did the fitting on the bike when it was about 35C and realised that a black bike gets a bit hot in the sun.
Will get some photos when I get home and find the camera.
Mark

would be much appreciated, would like to do this on friday before a ride on the weekend :-)

Just had a Super Cheap catalogue delivered and they have weather proof 12v plugs starting from $3.99 with caps.

4wheelsagain wrote:Just had a Super Cheap catalogue delivered and they have weather proof 12v plugs starting from $3.99 with caps.

I'll pop in tomorrow

chips wrote:

4wheelsagain wrote:Just had a Super Cheap catalogue delivered and they have weather proof 12v plugs starting from $3.99 with caps.

I'll pop in tomorrow

Sale on from 5th to 20th

If you don't want to cut your fairing, use this:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-VOLT-HANDLEBAR-MOUNTED-POWER-POINT-/110798982281?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item19cc224c89#ht_618wt_698

If you do, use a marine 12V socket. Stainless steel contacts and a rubber covered cap. Check out the pic lower in the page:
http://kewwibike.blogspot.com/2010/09/suzuki-bandit-1250.html

4wheelsagain wrote:

chips wrote:

4wheelsagain wrote:Just had a Super Cheap catalogue delivered and they have weather proof 12v plugs starting from $3.99 with caps.

I'll pop in tomorrow

Sale on from 5th to 20th

lol, went intoday and she said come back tomorrow :-(

Gday Chips
I actually wired mine into the heated handgrips which in turn are fed from the taillight (wiring into the horn circuit was on my last bike).
I've included some photos of my set-up but they are a bit difficult to make out cause it is fairly well hidden. The socket is the round thing near the middle of the photo.
Silverfox111[url][/url]

give these guys a look

they do a number of power mods for many different bikes and have direct power supply units. I picked up a 3 way power unit which plugs straight into the rear break light ensuring that power is turned of when the ignition is turned off. No splicing of wires required just plug, play and drive away.

http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Powerlet/Power_Cords/power_cords.html

Mpottsy wrote:give these guys a look

they do a number of power mods for many different bikes and have direct power supply units. I picked up a 3 way power unit which plugs straight into the rear break light ensuring that power is turned of when the ignition is turned off. No splicing of wires required just plug, play and drive away.

http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Powerlet/Power_Cords/power_cords.html

I have sent him an email to check delivery eta's etc. Thanks.

chips wrote:

Mpottsy wrote:give these guys a look

they do a number of power mods for many different bikes and have direct power supply units. I picked up a 3 way power unit which plugs straight into the rear break light ensuring that power is turned of when the ignition is turned off. No splicing of wires required just plug, play and drive away.

http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Powerlet/Power_Cords/power_cords.html

I have sent him an email to check delivery eta's etc. Thanks.

I have their PC-8 power distro board and a pair of the smaller Powerlet adaptors (one front one rear), best and simplist wiring solution going.

The PC-8 (like Mpottsy 3-way) plugs directly into the tail circuit and another pair of heavy duty wires to the battery - you end up with 2 always on circuits and 6 ignition switched circuits all fused. You just run a wire from you accessory to the screw terminals and it is all plumbed in.

The Powerlet connectors are smaller than standard cigarette lighter style, look much better IMHO, are more water proof and have better elecrical contacts, well worth the additional cost.

I just installed a 2.1amp TAPP USB Powerport from the guys at 3BR Powersports (USA). There is also a 1 amp version if that's all you need.

I fitted it up using instructions posted in the Canyon Chasers Forum ( Thanks to Rabid_Canine for the original post ).

The Powerport is not a ciggy outlet, but does the job on most smart phones and GPS units that can use USB charges. Both versions have a weather proof cap and are weather proof themselves.

I got a 30 Amp 12-way Screw Terminal Strip and an 30 Amp Automotive Fused Relay from Jaycar for under $10. You could go smaller on both of these if you don't need high current. My theory was that I can add other gadgets if I need to later without any fuss.

I mounted the Powerport on the bars. As can be seen, the unit clips into a cradle to hold in in place. You can also see the weather proof cap.



I put the relay under the seat, its a snug fit so it just sits there. Under all that insulation tape, all terminal connections have heat-shrink over them. That 30 amp fuse BTW can be swapped out for a smaller value if you're not hooking up lights or other high current draw accessories.



The distribution block is located under the left side cover above the fuse box. I used black Nico pen to indicate the negative side, but in reality you could find ground (the frame or something) closer to the gadget you're installing if you wanted to do away with the negative side. In which case the terminal block would distribute positive only (note to self by a red Nico pen and finish the job ). The power port BTW has its own 7.5 amp inline fuse which is that black thing behind the red wire on the right hand side of the photo.



Note the jumper-ed terminals on the back of the distribution block.



As an aside, Adventuremoto in Sydney sell the Powerports, but the 2.1 amp version was not available in AU at the time of purchase.