Fitting a power outlet to the bike

Hi people,

I have a few things I'm considering powering from the bike - including an
MP3 player (part of an intercom) for those longer country rides. I really
can't imagine *anything* better than cruising along a beautiful
coastal/rural road listening to the appropriate music - and I mean
*anything*! After all I have been married for over 7 years now. (Lisa
would kill me!). I'm not comfortable with the idea of riding in the city
with headphones/music but will have to be careful - I remember years ago
driving at something over 230 km/h out in the middle of NSW somewhere in the
car listening to Floyd without realising it. Lisa did kill me that time.
I can only imagine what we'd be doing on the XX...

I'm thinking of attaching a female cigarette lighter to the bike and
powering thing(s) from that - perhaps a lead into the tankbag would make the
most sense. Is there a recommended condenser arrangement or similar that I
should be integrating?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Dave ZZR600 => ST2 (stolen) => '03 XX

 

Dave,

I would suggest something more like these Deans plugs. I used them for years
on my Radio Controlled cars. Low power loss and nice and small. About the
size of your thumb nail.

You can pick them up in any model/hobby shop for around $7-10 a pair.

http://www.wsdeans.com/products/plugs/ultra_plug.html

 

"Geoff and Jodie" wrote

Bosch (and probably others) make a commercial plug and socket that is far
better than a ciggie lighter, and a ciggie plug will still fit into it.
There is one fitted to my trailer that I use for extra lights and for the
air-mattress pump.

Theo

 

BMW style plugs and sockets are much more resistant to vibration;
http://www.powerletproducts.com/products.html

Use a fuse and if it is below 1 amp then you can probably just run it
from the headlight circuit.

 

"Burnie M" wrote

One amp is only 12 watts. Not enough for anything.

Theo

 

It is enough for 2 GPSs

 

You could take a look at how they do in on a BMW, probably you could
even order one of the BMW socket & Plug combinations and fit it to
your bike, perhaps to a part of the fairing or instrument cluster.

Most non auto items that you would run off this probably need a
different voltage so you will need to make a voltage regulator. If
your handy with a soldering iron it will cost you about 10 dollars to
make, otherwise most electronic shops (Jaycar or Dicksmith) will have
something.

An MP3 player will not drain your battery so you could connect it
directly to the terminals and add an inline fuse to your socket, say a
5 amp fuse. Otherwise connect it to your turn signal circuit (better
than ignition or lights, both of which you might need in the even of a
short circuit - The BMW has a circuit for accessories with its own
fuse).

Tim.

 

"Burnie M" wrote

You don't trust one?

Theo

 

Most modern battery powered stuff is made with miserly power consumption in
mind so you shouldn't need to run most things from live power while you're
riding. Just give everything a charge at night. If you usually stay in
motels (does Lisa kill you if you suggest camping or cheap hotels?) and you
will have access to 240 volts most nights then it's might not even be
necessary to worry about a bike-mounted charging system, just pack one less
pair of her shoes and throw the chargers in your luggage .

I wired up a ciggy lighter plug on my XX with a metre of cheap power cable, a
fuse holder (use the same size mini-fuses which Honda use so they're
interchangeable as spares, and eye-connectors at the battery end. A bit of
solder and a few burns later I had it all sorted out. Cable tied the wire to
the subframe up the the rear of the seat compartment and the cable is long
enough to reach the panniers.

Nev..

 

Goaty has a marine ciggie lighter on his road train

 

You guys really need to buy a BMW in the first place my K1100LT came
standard with two general purpose power outlets and a cigarette lighter.

Boxer

 

The BMW-type socket with lid, and BMW-type plug are good, but expensive.
There is a John Deere equivalent available thru rural farm supply places
which are identical but only a fraction of the price.

Do a search on one of the three million BMW user-group sites.

 

OUCH!

 

Or you can buy the Hella one through any Repco shop, the socket comes in two
versions, one with the hinged cover, one without.
--
Al

"Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. "

Remove *ME* before replying

 

When handling is necessary I use the R1100S.

Boxer

 

Even if one gave a different reading.....?

 

Bring three, then, and let 'em vote!

-----sharks

 

Amen!!!