Power for GPS

island_dude · 04-11-2003, 05:03 AM

I just got a new used GPS complete with mount and all (Whizmo doesn't need directions). I am pondering how I might power the beast. I have a cable designed for hard wiring. Any suggestions for the best way to connect it that doesn't involve tearing the bike compleatly apart?

shannonnunley · 04-11-2003, 06:25 AM

there's a relay under the seat that you can wire into and is tied to the ignition. If you have trouble finding it, let me know and I'll send some pics.

Olaf · 04-11-2003, 06:29 AM

Can you Please send PIC's. I want to power my V1 and this might work for that?

Thanks,

Jon

island_dude · 04-11-2003, 07:00 AM

Thanks. Pics would help since I am new to the beast. This is a great location for the connection.

shannonnunley · 04-11-2003, 07:13 AM

when i get home, I'll take some pics and post them. I run an extra accessory outlet and my radar detector from this.

shannonnunley · 04-11-2003, 02:56 PM

shannonnunley · 04-11-2003, 02:57 PM

the power comes from the shoestring looking thingy

Olaf · 04-12-2003, 06:06 AM

Thanks for the PIC's. What is that shoestring looking Thingy. IE where does it come from and go to?.

Thanks

tominator · 04-12-2003, 05:18 PM

Why go through all that trouble. I soldered mine to the parking light inside the headlight. Its on everytime the ignition switch is on and its fused! (actually soldered it on where the connector attaches to the rh alum sub frame)

Thanks to a fellow pelican board member for the suggestion!

Tomas

ctwise · 04-13-2003, 03:25 PM

I went to the Helge Pedersen GPS presentation that BMW NA sponsored at Daytona. Pedersen recommends wiring GPS to a circuit that is hot all the time (not on the ignition switch) so that the GPS can be used when the bike is stopped and not running. If anyone knows, he's the one.

island_dude · 04-14-2003, 04:41 AM

I did a temporary jury rig for over the weekend. I got a accessory plug for the bike and wired the power cable to it. I routed the wire up through the fairing. The connector doesn't look pretty, but it worked great (even at 100MPH). I didn't get to test it out as much as I wanted since tax time has slowed me down. I am going to hard wire it as soon as I get a chance.

weshsu · 04-14-2003, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by island_dude
I did a temporary jury rig for over the weekend. I got a accessory plug for the bike and wired the power cable to it. I routed the wire up through the fairing. The connector doesn't look pretty, but it worked great (even at 100MPH). I didn't get to test it out as much as I wanted since tax time has slowed me down. I am going to hard wire it as soon as I get a chance.

I mounted my StreetPilot on a Martin Fabrication radar/GPS mount. I spliced the power cord (with pFranc connector) to the accessory socket harness (it's under the seat on the right side--looking from the rear). I put an inline fuse and it's always on, which is nice to have sometimes.

If anyone's interested, I can post pictures later this week when I return from my business trip.

Wes Hsu

Olaf · 04-15-2003, 05:12 AM

weshsu,

I would be very interested in seeing your setup. I was thinking of doing something simular as to what you have done. When you get a chance please post pictures.

Thanks

island_dude · 04-15-2003, 05:20 AM

I am not sure who makes the mount since I bought it used. Here are a couple of pictures of it. I am thinking that It might be a nice alternative to do something with a tank bag instead of the hard mount. It would be easier to pick it up a take it with me.

weshsu · 04-15-2003, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by island_dude
I am not sure who makes the mount since I bought it used.

You have a Martin Fabrication mount. I can see that it's an older style mount (it's not polished, like their newer ones). I'm a big fan of Martin Fabrication (no affiliation, just a very satisified customer). Their customer service is second to none (like Garmin). One of many examples: I bought my mount from them 2 years ago. Last fall I had an accident that damaged the mount pretty good. They asked me to ship back all the bits (and a $10 check to cover shipping) and they would look it over. I expected them to replace a few bits here and there. Nope, instead, they simply sent me a brand new mount. The new ones are polished and are adjustable (laterally). Their mount isn't the cheapest out there, but I think it looks very nice and it comes with great support. That's worth it in my book.

I have the GPS/radar detector version. There's an additional horizontal plate for a radar detector. I DualLock my garage door opener to the underside of that plate. I live in VA, so I don't have a radar detector. But a friend noticed that it's the right size for my MP3 player, so I might DualLock it to the top of the plate.

I'm returning home tomorrow night, so I'll post pictures of the mount and how I hard-wired it, hopefully by Thursday. In the pictures, you will see how I've secured the GPS to the mount. I don't use Velcro like in island_dude's setup. All I need is a nifty tether. Hopefully that will prevent my grayscale unit from becoming a color unit like when I had my accident.

Wes Hsu

island_dude · 04-15-2003, 02:13 PM

Actually, mine is secured with velcro and two bolts with cotter pins. The previous owner didn't like the idea of the velcro being the only think holding the unit on. I agree!

weshsu · 04-17-2003, 07:01 PM

OK, here are some pics of my setup.

Here is how I tapped into the power to the accessory outlet harness:

This shows how the GPS is secured to the mount. I need to redo the cable. This was my first attempt. I've sinced learned how to do a better job.

This is the new version of the Martin Fabrication mount. Notice the slot in the middle to allow you to adjust the location of the GPS mount and the radar detector mount.

Since I don't have a radar detector, I decided to center the GPS. I will be adding the garage door opener to the bottom of the radar detector plate. I might add my MP3 player to the top of the radar detector mount (it's a small square unit that would fit nicely there), in which case, I'll just shift the GPS unit back to the right.

Since I don't like putting Velcro on any of my electronics, I used grommits instead. This serves two purposes. First, to keep the tether with the unit when I take the GPS with me. Second, it serves as a way to reduce vibration of the unit. Without it, there's a lot of slack space since the standoffs are quite long. The grommit seems to do a good job of what a strip of Velcro on the bottom would have also done.

Wes Hsu

island_dude · 04-17-2003, 07:37 PM

Your setup is very nice. I like the grommits. I get a lot of vibration (I also have cotter pins, but they are not held in place. Easy to lose. The velcro is something I don't realy trust. Thanks for the pictures.

markjenn · 04-18-2003, 03:43 PM

island_dude, I did the velcro just as an additional thing to help the stability and supplement the pins. You'd never want to depend on this alone.

Maybe it's just the scale, but it looks like Wes has pins with bigger holes which would accept larger cotter pins. And the grommit provides more cush. This looks like a nice way to go. Perhaps Martin Fabrication has changed the pins - you might give them a call and see. I don't have a number though. I think he's a local guy in the Seattle area. I bought the mount at Cascade BMW in Kirkland - I don't know if they're the sole distributor.

- Mark

weshsu · 04-18-2003, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by markjenn
it looks like Wes has pins with bigger holes which would accept larger cotter pins.

Mark,

You're correct. The holes and the standoffs themselves are larger than what they used to be. I was a bit shocked when I saw the size of the hitch pins compared to what was shipped with the mount when I first bought it 2 years ago from Cascades. Actually, when they replaced my mount, they forgot to ship the standoffs. I tried searching the local hardware stores, but I couldn't find a match. I then sent them an email and they said that they make them (well, I think they drill out the holes) and that they'd put some in the mail when they had more in stock (which was about 1/2 a week). They're top notch in my book.

Wes Hsu