Where to get power for gps from?

Started by duckb0y, June 07, 2008, 08:50:34 PM

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duckb0y

I am installing my gps onto the bike.  The mount I got came with a fused power adapter, to which I soldered a spare SAE connector (the battery tender type thing).  The idea was that I would be able to disconnect the gps power when I was in town.  When I plug the thing into the bike, the fuse in the adapter blows immediately.  When I plug it into a different 12v source, such as a computer, it works fine.  It also works fine plugged into the yellow and black wires in the headlight housing.   I am just curious why you cannot take power directly from the battery, and is it ok if I get some wire tap type things to steal power from the yellow and black wires in the headlight?  Here is a picture of my adapter:

Howley

Headlight should be fine, that's what I would suggest (never done GPS wiring before).

roy-nexus-6

What voltage is the license plate light? 

If you replaced the stock tail light lens with the one from a buell ($10), you could remove the license plate light altogether... and potentially use that wiring.  [moto]

Qfactor

I strongly suggest wiring it to the battery w/ a relay activated by your headlight/tailight.

a simple 30A relay available at most autoparts store ($5).

Q
"If your mom's got a schlong, run away, she's not your mom...."

duckb0y

Quote from: Qfactor on June 08, 2008, 09:51:55 AM
I strongly suggest wiring it to the battery w/ a relay activated by your headlight/tailight.

a simple 30A relay available at most autoparts store ($5).

Q

See thats just it... I can't wire it to the battery.  After the relay is thrown it will be connected to the battery directly and then it will blow.  Thats why this makes no sense to me.  It works fine with other 12v sources, just not the moto battery.

Thanks for the replies guys.  [beer]  I wish I would have remembered to get the buell light... I just bought a new red one because I didn't like the clear one that was on the bike when I got it :(


Howie

If you are hooking it directly to the battery and the fuse is blowing something is wrong, either with your hook up or the GPS itself.

duckb0y

Quote from: howie on June 08, 2008, 07:12:03 PM
If you are hooking it directly to the battery and the fuse is blowing something is wrong, either with your hook up or the GPS itself.

Well I think its probably just a shitty design for the power adapter.  Probably the battery has so much amperage its forcing its way through the adapter, causing the fuse to blow.  This happens when the gps isnt even plugged in, so the circuit shouldn't even be complete. 
Anyways, I stole power off of the high beam, seems to work well:

Thanks to everyone for your advice.

Howley

Just make sure it works with the hi-beam switched off  ;)

CDawg

Sounds like you are done, so this is a little too late.  I tapped the parking light circuit so you can switch the key to "P" and the Nav can still be powered.