Hi all, I just completed the install of the Accessory power outlet and it's great! I even found an easily accessible yet out-of-the-way/"hidden" spot for it.
I just got an all weather 12v power socket like this one.
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/12v-power-socket.jpg)
Some 14 Ga wire, black and red cause that crap drives me nuts.
Round terminals that I will use to ground the circuit.
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/12696d1235502403-comprehensive-guide-splicing-speaker-wire-crimp-terminal-1.jpg)
An inline blade fuse holder like this.
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/flexible-fuse-holder.jpg)
Some triple splice connectors.
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/84108_L.jpg)
And finally just simple wire splice connectors that you crimp (that were exorbitantly expensive).
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/3M-2094784.jpg)
I opted to have the power switched by the ignition cause I would be likely leave stuff plugged in, kill my battery, and look really silly Fred Flinstoning the bike to get it started it again. Searching the threads and taking a quick, baffling look at the wiring diagram, I seems I needed to hunt down a mysterious orange wire that would be powered only when the key was on. I uncovered the main wiring harness close to the rear of the tank just as it is going into a plastic wrap cause I figured more wires = < chance to find the orange one. I found a couple of orange wires so I used a volt meter to figure out which one was only powered when the key was on. Once found I snipped it and spliced on some extensions.
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/0321012318-1.jpg)
You can see in the pic where I removed the 17 year old electrical tape (yuck) just between the rear break master cylinder and the rear of the tank. I originally just twisted the wires together and elec. taped them but I decided to do this thing right so I wouldn't have to again and I then used the crimping splicers.
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/0321012343-1.jpg)
I ran the two leads from the orange on the harness to the outsides of my three wire splice. You just squeeze the splice closed with a pliers and there is some sort of goo inside that I assume protects the connection from water/moisture.
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/0321012344-1.jpg)
The wire in the middle goes to my inline blade fuse that I also found a handy spot for, zip-tied to the sub-frame just before the support that the battery box sits on.
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/0321012343-1.jpg)
This leads to the outlet which is actually zip-tied to the underside of the batery box support facing forward. BTW, The middle pin in the outlet should be +, and the surrounding cup should be -/ground. It was a little irksome that Kerry's install instructions pointed out that this must be correct but didn't tell which should be which!
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/0322010022-1.jpg)
Close-up
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/0322010021a.jpg)
I finally spliced on a bit of black wire and terminated it with the round terminal to the rear right engine bolt.
It wasn't very hard overall. A bit tedious to make it look good but it's always worth extra effort to make you feel better about it. I did have an issue in that it didn't work before. After some head scratching and a suggestion I checked the 10A fuse and it was blown. I replaced it with a 20A which I read is what is on the circuit anyways and it was perfect after that. Here's a final pic of the right rear plastic mocked up before I put it all together.
(http://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h443/4stringsrule/Accessory%20Power/0322010056-1.jpg)
The fairing even hides the zipties on the sub-frame. I am super happy with the mod and totally encourage others thinking of it to go ahead and spend a night doing it! :thumb:
Awesome mate, I'm going to a weekend course that teaches you about maintaining the motorbike, and servicing it, I read through the GSTwins Wiki but I'm not that confident at messing around too much with the bike yet so once I do the course hopefully I can hook my motorbike GPS up and maybe a 12v power socket for longer trips where I can charge my phone (my 'smartphone' only has so much brain power before it shuts down).
Good job ;)
Good write up, I'll check it out again as soon as I get home from work so I can actually see the pictures. I need to make one of these in the next few weeks before I take a road trip down to see my sister in DC, but I have NO idea what I'm doing. I think I'm just gonna make one that'll bolt onto my battery, or even better plug right into my battery tender connector that's already attached but I need to dig around and find out what I need to do for the fuse so I don't fry my GPS.
I was also debating trying to do the same thing only wiring up a USB port instead. Someone on another forum mentioned it and it sounds like a great idea because my GPS will charge with either, but a USB would be much less bulky on my bike somewhere.
Looks good. Just curious, why that location. I know people mount them in various spots (myself included) just wanted to know why you picked that specific spot
Interesting......to each his own, I guess....
I put a power port on my Honda , not on GS500 yet.
I opted to connect directly to the battery, with an inline fuse.....this way the circuit is always "hot" and I can use my gps for planning etc.... without running the engine....I can also charge the internal GPS battery while parked....
The GPS does not draw enough current to run down a good motorcycle battery...unless you leave it hooked up all day and night.
By connecting to the ignition on circuit you have to really nig-rig the whole harness.....disgusting mess! (IMHO)
I mounted the power port on the front fork near the handle bar, so the wire to the GPS is short and sweet...
You can plug in a battery minder/charger directly into the powerport, to keep the battery topped up during winter and off riding periods.
You have to worry about water and road crap and impact damage if you mount it too low in the frame, and what do you do with the wires to your devices??
Cookie
I liked that spot because it was kinda hidden but you can still get at it. I was planning on using it mainly for charging my gps on longer trips or my phone. Phone would probably be in a backpack in this case and the gps would be either in the backpack too or mounted up front. I'm sure I could do something clever w/ the charging cable in that case and if I win the lottery, I might get some heated clothing. The plug has a cap with a rubber seal so I'm not worried about gunk and It's facing forward so It won't get cast-off from the rear wheel. If it gets damaged by impact I'll have a whole lot more to worry about since it's chilling between the sub-frame and swing-arm.
Cool, its a worthy install no matter where you mount it. I too use my primarily for GPS and given where my GPS mounts and where my waterproof 12v is I can ride and have it connected and its nicely out of the way;
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=52776.0
http://i52.tinypic.com/14mqu7s.jpg"
I've found a 12v to be incredibly useful and frankly it should be standard equip from the factory. Hell my 2002 Honda ATV has one.
Just an FYI to create some type of anti vibration where the plug is located. I know when i built mine i didnt think about vibration and the damn thing kept coming out of the slot. i had to keep pushing it back in. Good write up.
tt_four, I took the easy way and bought one of those "pig tail 12v plugs instead" online for like $12? I always have my battery tender wires plugged into the battery, so it is very convenient. I wanted to do what 4strings did, but I didn't want to buy extra tools to find that damned orange wire.
Quote from: tt_four on March 23, 2011, 04:59:04 AM
Good write up, I'll check it out again as soon as I get home from work so I can actually see the pictures. I need to make one of these in the next few weeks before I take a road trip down to see my sister in DC, but I have NO idea what I'm doing. I think I'm just gonna make one that'll bolt onto my battery, or even better plug right into my battery tender connector that's already attached but I need to dig around and find out what I need to do for the fuse so I don't fry my GPS.
I was also debating trying to do the same thing only wiring up a USB port instead. Someone on another forum mentioned it and it sounds like a great idea because my GPS will charge with either, but a USB would be much less bulky on my bike somewhere.
Quote from: tt_four on March 23, 2011, 04:59:04 AM
Good write up, I'll check it out again as soon as I get home from work so I can actually see the pictures. I need to make one of these in the next few weeks before I take a road trip down to see my sister in DC, but I have NO idea what I'm doing. I think I'm just gonna make one that'll bolt onto my battery, or even better plug right into my battery tender connector that's already attached but I need to dig around and find out what I need to do for the fuse so I don't fry my GPS.
I was also debating trying to do the same thing only wiring up a USB port instead. Someone on another forum mentioned it and it sounds like a great idea because my GPS will charge with either, but a USB would be much less bulky on my bike somewhere.
FYI there are some mountable all-weather USB sockets for sale in the for sale forum: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=55192.0
Quote from: Anaconda on March 23, 2011, 01:12:28 PM
tt_four, I took the easy way and bought one of those "pig tail 12v plugs instead" online for like $12? I always have my battery tender wires plugged into the battery, so it is very convenient. I wanted to do what 4strings did, but I didn't want to buy extra tools to find that damned orange wire.
I just found out those existed! Found this online.... http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/extras/motorcycle+tools/deltran_female+power+port I don't see a fuse on that one though, does anyone who knows electrical stuff know if it will just work directly from my battery to my GPS without me having to put a fuse inline? I'm just very paranoid about blowing up my GPS.
Those all weather USB ports look great too. Same question though, when he says...
* Direct connect to 12 VDC system (Input voltage is DC 12V +/-4)
* Powers down to USB power requirements (DC 5V +/-0.25 and 1A max)
Does that mean I can hook this one straight from the battery to the GPS and it'll have the right power limit again??
The USB port would be much better if I was hardwiring it to the bike, but if I use the battery charger cable it's not as much of an issue.
One other question, I know most of those look like they're for the specific brand of battery tender. I bought mine at Sears, and has the same style connector. Are all of those dual male/female charger connecters the same between brands? Do I need to worry about mine fitting because it's not a "battery tender" charger, is that that just a standard plug? If it was a standard plug, it would be awesome to just get a mini USB connector and wire it straight to the battery charger connector. Then I wouldn't have 2 connections in the same line.
I have some extra USB to mini-USB cables, I wonder if I could just cut one, put in a fuse and wire it to a battery tender connector and save a step?? I wish I knew electrical stuff!
EDIT: looking at them, the connectors have 2 wire cables, and the usb cables all have single cable wires, so that's over my skill level.
You can see my water proof accessory outlet right at the back on the tail. I have used it a few times when I'm at a food stop and found my cell phone was near dead. I don't nearly use it as often as I thought though.
Cool add on!
(http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7111/philssuzuki2.jpg)
Quote from: tt_four on March 23, 2011, 02:33:00 PM
Quote from: Anaconda on March 23, 2011, 01:12:28 PM
tt_four, I took the easy way and bought one of those "pig tail 12v plugs instead" online for like $12? I always have my battery tender wires plugged into the battery, so it is very convenient. I wanted to do what 4strings did, but I didn't want to buy extra tools to find that damned orange wire.
I just found out those existed! Found this online.... http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/extras/motorcycle+tools/deltran_female+power+port I don't see a fuse on that one though, does anyone who knows electrical stuff know if it will just work directly from my battery to my GPS without me having to put a fuse inline? I'm just very paranoid about blowing up my GPS.
Those all weather USB ports look great too. Same question though, when he says...
* Direct connect to 12 VDC system (Input voltage is DC 12V +/-4)
* Powers down to USB power requirements (DC 5V +/-0.25 and 1A max)
Does that mean I can hook this one straight from the battery to the GPS and it'll have the right power limit again??
The USB port would be much better if I was hardwiring it to the bike, but if I use the battery charger cable it's not as much of an issue.
One other question, I know most of those look like they're for the specific brand of battery tender. I bought mine at Sears, and has the same style connector. Are all of those dual male/female charger connecters the same between brands? Do I need to worry about mine fitting because it's not a "battery tender" charger, is that that just a standard plug? If it was a standard plug, it would be awesome to just get a mini USB connector and wire it straight to the battery charger connector. Then I wouldn't have 2 connections in the same line.
I have some extra USB to mini-USB cables, I wonder if I could just cut one, put in a fuse and wire it to a battery tender connector and save a step?? I wish I knew electrical stuff!
EDIT: looking at them, the connectors have 2 wire cables, and the usb cables all have single cable wires, so that's over my skill level.
I don't think those USB sockets have a fuse, so yes you would want to put one inline. It doesn't protect your GPS, it protects your bike's wiring system and battery.
No you couldn't wire up a USB plug to your battery charger plug, USB is 5v, the bike is 12v so you'd fry whatever USB device you hooked up to it. Thats what this special USB plug does - it has a built in converter that reduces the 12v down to 5v.
Yes any battery charger with that plug should work just fine.
here are a couple of pictures of my 12 outlet
http://picasaweb.google.com/dohabee/12vOutlet?authkey=w0kSf1S1kyQ#5258269259245921122
I like the place you put yours too, seems like it might be easy to access while riding.
I wanted mine closer to the front since my gps/phone were always in my tank bag while charging.
I used my power outlet wiring to charge an R6's battery but it does run GPS normally quite well. Thats the only thing I use it for.
Quote from: zirconx on March 23, 2011, 04:13:19 PM
I don't think those USB sockets have a fuse, so yes you would want to put one inline. It doesn't protect your GPS, it protects your bike's wiring system and battery.
No you couldn't wire up a USB plug to your battery charger plug, USB is 5v, the bike is 12v so you'd fry whatever USB device you hooked up to it. Thats what this special USB plug does - it has a built in converter that reduces the 12v down to 5v.
Yes any battery charger with that plug should work just fine.
I already pretty much gave up on the USB cables I have because I wouldn't know how to wire the USB single wire up to the plugs 2 wires, but I'm still interested in those other ones. I'm leaning towards the normal cigarette lighter style though because if I ever needed I could also plug my phone into it, which I don't have a USB cable for. Quick question though, would the cigarette lighter plugs I posted a link for need a fuse put in line as well, or are they made to reduce the 12v to 5v?? I love my GPS but my phone has a headphone jack, so if I could plug it in and keep it charging I feel like I'd be more likely to use my phone for directions rather than the GPS because I could actually hear it.
The cig socket you posted would still need a fuse.
QuoteQuick question though, would the cigarette lighter plugs I posted a link for need a fuse put in line as well, or are they made to reduce the 12v to 5v??
Needing a fuse and reducing 12v to 5v have nothing to do with each other. Every thing powered off the battery (except the starter) needs a fuse.
It sounds like that cord will plug into your battery charger wire, so it would be an easy hookup, but it won't have a fuse. 99.9% of the time thats fine, but thats like saying you don't really need smoke alarms 99.9% of the time.
Are you sure your battery charger plug doesn't already have a fuse in it? It might look like this:
(http://www.journeyrider.com/images/Deltran%20SAE%20with%20rings%203(1).jpg)
If it does then you can use a socket like this one, without a fuse, because you've already got a fuse farther up the wire.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/319n3PWN-HL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
I've seen some like that one, but mine doesn't have the fuse. I'm actually kicking myself because when I bought my last bike it had one of those on it. I pulled it and it sat on my workbench for months. I think I just tossed it out about 2 months ago, but I could've saved that plug and fuse. Now I'll have to buy another one.
Now that I've thought about it, I don't have a cigarette lighter for my phone anyway, so I'll need to buy a new cable for my phone regardless. The usb cables for my phone are cheap online, so I'm just gonna buy a cable for my phone, buy one of those USB cables that someone on this forum is selling, then buy one of those battery tender plugs with the built in fuse and just wire the 2 together. If I have the USB parts I can easily stash those under my seat. I don't really have room for both ends of a cigarette adaptor under my seat. According to what I've gathered, sounds like that should work.
My last question... anyone know what size fuse I would want to use?
Quote from: tt_four on March 24, 2011, 07:48:39 AM
I've seen some like that one, but mine doesn't have the fuse. I'm actually kicking myself because when I bought my last bike it had one of those on it. I pulled it and it sat on my workbench for months. I think I just tossed it out about 2 months ago, but I could've saved that plug and fuse. Now I'll have to buy another one.
Now that I've thought about it, I don't have a cigarette lighter for my phone anyway, so I'll need to buy a new cable for my phone regardless. The usb cables for my phone are cheap online, so I'm just gonna buy a cable for my phone, buy one of those USB cables that someone on this forum is selling, then buy one of those battery tender plugs with the built in fuse and just wire the 2 together. If I have the USB parts I can easily stash those under my seat. I don't really have room for both ends of a cigarette adaptor under my seat. According to what I've gathered, sounds like that should work.
My last question... anyone know what size fuse I would want to use?
Sounds like that will work fine. The fuse should be sized for the size of wire you are using. You could find the size of wire, then use a chart to see how much current its rated for, then get a fuse of that size. Or just use a 5 amp fuse, thats small enough to protect any size of wire, and that USB port will only draw a max of around 1 amp anyway. Your new charger harness will probably come with a 10A fuse already installed, thats fine too.
Thanks! I'll order one and then find out what size wire they both come with.
Thanx for the website to order the Deltran power socket for my Battery Tender hookups. Now I can have an easy, inexpensive and portable power outlet, whenever I need one. Just hook it up and my cellphone can charge in a tankbag or saddlebag, while I drive.
You guys are the greatest! :kiss3:
I ordered the rest of the parts I needed last night to go with the usb socket. I ordered the battery tender plug with the built in fuse, a usb cable for my phone, and then I'll just have to buy the right size fuse and hopefully I'll be in business.