How can I power a GPS?

[Nemo]

I bought a holder to place the GPS on the Trike handlebars, but since there is no cigarette lighter outlet, how are you getting the power for yours? Need suggestions. Owen.

[midnightrider1300]

buy an A/C outlet that you can mount on the handle bars or somewhere and run wires from battery, be sure and add a fuse to the line....

Edited June 22, 2014 by midnightrider1300

[M61A1MECH]

There should be a cigarette lighter outlet on the left inside of the fairing, unless they started adding that after 99, every Venture I seen has one.

 

maybe I am confused or missing something?

[Nemo]

I know this sounds dumb, but I've never paid attention as to what was behind that round rubber disc on the left side on the fairing. Hey, you're right! Wow, there's a cigarette lighter under there. Thank You! Problem solved, simple as that. Owen.

[M61A1MECH]

Magic, now if you ever want to power anything else up front and it is a low current draw I make a 2-pin jumper that plugs in to the back side (in side the fairing) of the aux power outlet, I used one to to power my Kuryaken LED volt meter, works great.

Check out my add on the member vendors section in the classifieds.

[Kirby]

Just don't try to power anything like a air pump with it. It'll blow the fuse. I think all it will allow is 5 amps max. Maybe someone else will correct me if I'm wrong.

[Bert2006]

Just don't try to power anything like a air pump with it. It'll blow the fuse. I think all it will allow is 5 amps max. Maybe someone else will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Yup that is correct

 

[IronMike]

And I am going to use his tap to trigger a relay and bump up the power to whate er I want. Like another cig lighter 20 amp.

 

Magic, now if you ever want to power anything else up front and it is a low current draw I make a 2-pin jumper that plugs in to the back side (in side the fairing) of the aux power outlet, I used one to to power my Kuryaken LED volt meter, works great.

Check out my add on the member vendors section in the classifieds.

[Max]

how not to wire a Garmin 1440 GPS.. not wanting a cigarette lighter on the dash, circumvent both plugs and connect GPS power/data cable directly to 12v battery. That little GPS will blow in a micro second. Apparently there is a circuit board in the gps plug that drops voltage to 3.7V. I have never done this and will never admit to ever doing this.

However, if you ever tried this, it is possible to purchase a new power cable and have unit replaced under warranty.

Better idea bundling cigarette lighter with adapter and inline fuse behind left side frame and side of gas tank out of sight to easy access.

[IronMike]

I have a little Garmin 760 LMT Trucking version, I have it plugged into a USB direct. For a long time. a 2 amp one. So that does work. I don't need all that cord and traffic alerts on the bike.

[Flyinfool]

I just ordered a cord made by Garmin for hard wiring into a 12-24V system. Yes it does contain a circuit to drop the voltage down to the 5V that a GPS wants to see. Not using a proper cord and sending 12 V into a GPS will let ALL of the magic blue smoke out, and we all know that electric stuff runs on that magic blue smoke, so don't let it leak out.

[djh3]

I just ordered a cord off e-bay for mine. I made the nifty screen cover thing as suggested by a member. Well I had been using the side plug in traffic cord. I cant think of once that the traffic thing has done anything for me. So the new cord plugs into the mini-usb port on bottom.

I had read somewhere that direct wiring a GPS was not a good idea.

[Flyinfool]

I have seen when some one cut the cigarette lighter plug off the power cord and then used those wires to direct wire, THAT kind of a direct wire would be bad, VERY bad.

There is no differnce in the power between using the proper Garmin direct power cord or the Garmin cigarette lighter adapter, they are both connected to the same 14V power source, they both have a regulator built in to drop the voltage down to the 5 VDC that the GPS wants to see.

[BratmanXj]

I have seen when some one cut the cigarette lighter plug off the power cord and then used those wires to direct wire, THAT kind of a direct wire would be bad, VERY bad.

 

Certain model Garmin GPS are 12v to the cradle then the voltage drop is handled between the cradle & gps. I think the old Nuvi 7x5 & 8x5 models and various Zumo models are cradle powered.

[Triple J]

New to the site and been searching for how to install a cigarette lighter.

 

Found this thread and had to go look. Never been up under that side of the fairing before.

 

Not a great spot to put one but at least it's there.

 

Once I install the bar risers it should be easier to get to.

 

Great info

[djh3]

As mentioned. There should be a cig lighter type plug on the left hand side of fairing, right under the step down. It is kind of hiding up under there.

As mentioned if doing a direct wire you need the manufactures correct wire, you can not simply cut off the plug of the cig type adapter and wire it in.

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

There should be a cigarette lighter outlet on the left inside of the fairing, unless they started adding that after 99, every Venture I seen has one.

 

maybe I am confused or missing something?

 

:sign yeah that: :goodpost: :sign yeah that: or maybe

[XV1100SE]

Left side of bike back of the side cover below the seat.... there is a round plastic "cover" that you can knock out and is the perfect size for a cigarette/accessory outlet. I installed one there and with an inline fuse to the battery and have fuse and heavy enough wiring to be able to run an air compressor.

 

VERY easy install. I didn't get a marine accessory outlet and just put in a regular car cigarette lighter. Haven't shorted it out yet in 3 years of all weather riding.