GPS/electronic accessories, relays, fuse blocks, etc: What's your setup?

[jfoley]

I'm going to get a RAM mount and put a GPS on my bike, but my TOMTOM currently doesn't last longer than two hours without a charge. So I am also going to hook up a usb wire with a relay. I've never done any electrical work before, so I am wondering how people have their relays and fuse blocks setup for their electronic accesories.

Also, what switched power source are you running the relay off of? I would preferably be interested in something that is non-essential, but I know the GS is minimalist so that will be difficult to do.

So if you could just write about your setup and experiences that would be great!

[Paulcet]

12v "cigarette lighter" adapter wired into the orange wire.  That's it.  (Oh, I do have the Battery Tender cable on the battery, so I might use that SAE connector and run a wire into a tail bag some day)

[tt_four]

I just hook mine up to the battery tender cable. If I used a gps constantly I'd consider hard wiring it to my bike, but I don't, and the battery tender cable is already hooked up to my battery so I just bought a USB plug off of someone on this forum, not sure if she's still selling them or not. You can buy them online also. Then I wired up the other end to another SAE plug. I happened to have a spare battery tender cable I cut up, but you can get them at pepboys or any car store. Just look in the section with all the trailer wires and extensions. They sell SAE extensions with 2 plugs for about $2, just cut it in half and wire one up. They're wired opposite from each other so make sure you test it out before you solder it up.

EDIT: just for reference, you can do the same with a cigarette lighter adaptor, I just liked the USB because it's smaller.