Were you applying 12 volts directly to the gps? GPS does not use 12 volts.I searched but couldn't find much help for my question, anyway. I was wanting to hookup a garmin gps to my 09' ultra. I first attempted hooking into the aux headlight connections with an older gps. I cut the cigar lighter plug off and spade connected to the aux wires. They were correctly hooked to neg and pos. Well I think it fried the gps. I then started reading up that there may be a transformer inside the cigar plug that takes the voltage down to 5v for the gps. True?? So if I can't cut off the cigar plug, how should I hardwire the gps up? Not true? Whats the best way to hardwire? Thanks for any help!
GPS hardwire help
I searched but couldn't find much help for my question, anyway. I was wanting to hookup a garmin gps to my 09' ultra. I first attempted hooking into the aux headlight connections with an older gps. I cut the cigar lighter plug off and spade connected to the aux wires. They were correctly hooked to neg and pos. Well I think it fried the gps. I then started reading up that there may be a transformer inside the cigar plug that takes the voltage down to 5v for the gps. True?? So if I can't cut off the cigar plug, how should I hardwire the gps up? Not true? Whats the best way to hardwire? Thanks for any help!
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Were you applying 12 volts directly to the gps? GPS does not use 12 volts.
Yes. The accessory plug drops the voltage to 5V. YOU fried your GPS. On one bike, I took the plug apart and resealed the circuit board with the wires hanging out of both ends. Then made quick disconnect plugs and viola it worked. On another bike, I just soldered wires to the side of the plug and center protruding plug and soldered those wires to a keyed item on the bike. My current bike, I just wired an accessory plug to the bike and routed the wiring to have it sit in the windshield bag. I use a Ram Mount on the handlebar for the GPS, and it plugs into the plug in the bag. The wires all coiled and tie wrapped really neat inside the bag.
Ok, well that's what I figured I did. I'm thinking of getting a battery tender cigar lighter adapter and just running the gps cable to it and bring it up in front of the tank somewhere. Thanks guys!
I just bought one of those cheap adaptors from China, plugged it into cig lighter & plugged the short computer cord into it. Worked great for 3 days & then battery died. Make sure you bring the charger cord with you & charge it overnite when parked.
I found a harness that had a transformer in line, not in the lighter plug. I cut the plug off and connected it to the bike harness.
Google Hardwire Garmin GPS and you will find what you need.
Make sure you fuse protect this circuit.
Google Hardwire Garmin GPS and you will find what you need.
Make sure you fuse protect this circuit.
I found the hardwire kit. Think I'll go that route. Thanks guys!!
I hardwired my Garmin into my wiring harness and "poofed" my GPS. I bought and installed a new GPS battery, hoping that I had just fried the 3.7v battery. No joy, it was the GPS itself. Now I have a new GPS and hid the clunky plug under the tank.
Standard plug should be a mini or micro usb, ussually 5 volt input to run and charge the 3.7v battery.GPS requires 3.7 volts (?)
I plan on still hardwiring to my headlight acc. wires. I heard this would be a good way as it will only power when the bike is on.
"stupid is as stupid does" Forrest Gump (1994)
Just throwing this out there for dake of argument:I plan on still hardwiring to my headlight acc. wires. I heard this would be a good way as it will only power when the bike is on.
Personally.....for the small amount a GPS uses, I'd want it powered on all the time. You turn it off with the switch on the unit. This allows for constant charging and updates when not in use.
If you're using a battery tender, it's not an issue. your alarm and radio use more juice with their memory.
Discuss.
I have my GPS wired (with the orig. plug) to my ACC dash switch on my E.Glide. Every time I turn the ign. on or off, the GPS wants to know if it should stay on or turn off. I always remove it when leaving the bike unattended, so the infinitesimal battery draw is not a concern. Some rainy day, I think I will wire it into a always Hot circuit.Just throwing this out there for dake of argument:
Personally.....for the small amount a GPS uses, I'd want it powered on all the time. You turn it off with the switch on the unit. This allows for constant charging and updates when not in use.
If you're using a battery tender, it's not an issue. your alarm and radio use more juice with their memory.
Discuss.
I have mine wired with the factory harness to the cigarette lighter .I have my GPS wired (with the orig. plug) to my ACC dash switch on my E.Glide. Every time I turn the ign. on or off, the GPS wants to know if it should stay on or turn off. I always remove it when leaving the bike unattended, so the infinitesimal battery draw is not a concern. Some rainy day, I think I will wire it into a always Hot circuit.
Only on when the bike is . :thumbsup
Well first off, if it's only being used when the bike is running it will charge to full max. That being said, I can still turn the the gps on if I need to program a location if the bike isn't on as the battery will be charged. I really don't see why it would need an active hot to it. If something was to go wrong on the gps internally, I wouldn't want it to drain my battery while parked. If you're around a lot of other people such as a rally, most people are going to take the gps off and secure it anyway. Plus if I need a quick charge for some reason, I still will have the 12v plugin to charge it elsewhere should I purchase the hardwire kit.
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