GPS accessory socket - giving back

Ok, as so many of you have been kind enough to offer my advice on GPS and wiring in the past, I thought its about time I gave a little back. Today I tested out wiring the Zumo to the GPS accesory socket at the headstock, and thoguht I would post some picture of my effort to help anyone else that might be trying. I've still not been able to find any step by step pictures on t'inernet, only after pictures, so though I'd fill the gap.

As a background, I intend buying the BMw accesory socket to plug this in the future, but its going to take my local dealer about a month to get it for me. In the mean time, I want to test this socket out before my trip to the alps in august and see if there are any issues with it.

So here goes

Step 1:
The GPS socket is fairly easy to spot when looking down from the side of the tank. it has a black cap on it and is secured in pretty tight to the other cabling. To remove the cap, you need to 'unhitch' the catch on it and pull it off. I found the easiest way to to this was with a small watchmakers screwdriver. From there I pushed the black (ground) wire from the zumo lead into port 1 (ground) of the GPS socket. I then did the same with the red (live) wire from the zumo lead into port 3 (live) of the GPS socket. Note port two on the gps socket is 'speed pulse' and isn't used.


next picture shows a longer range view of the socket to help locate (note zumo wires hanging over side of tank panels):




Step 2:
punched a couple of small holes in the cap to feed the cables through. I did this using thin nail (is that a pin?) and a hammer. Dead easy. Tried to judge the distance from the edge of the actual socket so the wires would go into the socket fairly straight without any pinching:




Step 3:
Hooked up the cradle and cable onto the dash to test out the wiring, and lo and behold it worked like a treat. Ignition on, the unit powers up and runs as normal. Ignition off, and the unit stay on from about 30 seconds before prompting to use battery or switch off.

Ignition on:


Ignition off:



Next Steps:
I'm going to use some silicon sealant on the top of the cap to keep it watertight and prevent the wires from pulling out. this can be seen below and is pretty cheap from maplin. I'm going to road test it then to see if it runs into any problems with vibration etc. Eventualy I'll then replace it with the BMW plug.

Silicon glue:


hope that helps.

Hi JD. I think thats going to help a lot of sat nav people out. My dealer was looking £45 for the little plug you were referring to. Great pictures thankyou.

OBisss

no problems, you should be able to get the plug from BMW for under a tenner, which I intend to do. Still need to raod test this yet, but it seems a lot of people use this approach and with the cap in place it all feels fairly tight. I called a couple of dealers localy and they were all quoting a minimum of £100 to fit it!

Johnny, I did the same as you a while back, but on an older 1200. I found that all worked fine as you have described - until you start the engine!

At this point the CANBUS or the Zumo throw its toys out of the pram and the unit falls back to battery power. I found that earthing the Zumo to the frame kind of solves the problem. I can now take power from the socket as long as I have started the engine before the Zumo gets too far through its boot-up.

Leave it too long and it drops back to battery - no music, no announcements.

Did similar with my GS but first ran a little solder on the wire end to make it stiffer. It then makes a perfect pin to push into the socket. didn't bother to drill out the cap although that seems like a good idea. I just pushed the cap back with the wire along the edge then covered it all with self amalgamating tape.

Its run like that since march 2006 and no problems. As the socket is ignition controlled it also runs a relay through a centech panel to run other kit.

Any idea where I can get a power cable like you describe for a Streetpilot III

Just what I needed, - Thanks!

Just as a follow up, I definately have no problems with the engine running. Works as before when the engine starts, pwered by the socket. When I switch the engine off, it stays powered for about 30 seconds, then prompts for battery usage.

looks like my BMW dealer can get the part quicker than thought, so I'll be changing to the correct plug as soon as I can. Had a bit of an issue with the ground wire coming loose yesterday, but a generous blob of the silicon adhesive seems to hold it in place fairly well.

As a reference, the plug I've ordered is based on AndyW's reply at the end of this post. dealer has quoted less than £9 for it, and should make it a neat job.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108881&page=2&highlight=accesory

If only ...

... you had been a sponsor I'd have pm'd you with an offer of a freebie plug

ahh its ok, just ordered one from my dealer and it should be here by next week.....but the subscriptions on its way in the next few days. trying to calm the waters with the wife at the moment as there have been a lot of 'GS related' items appearing on the credit card! Thought I'd wait until the card cut off before whacking on another one. defo signing up though, this site has been a godsend

thanks for the offer though.

Hi Oblertone
if the plug is still available I'll pay you something for it. For some reason I can't find the PM icons today, otherwise I'd pm you

ooo er I seem to have lost my 'Subscribed Tosser' status. That explains why the email icon has gone. Just need to find out why I'm no longer listed as a subscriber.

Johnny (plus anyone else who may know)

Can I ask a dumb question? I'm seriously looking at getting a Zumo 550 for a forthcoming jaunt to France and I just wondered whether I had to hard wire the unit into the battery or via the GPS socket as you did?

Can't I just use the accessory socket to the left of the fairing on my Adventure? Or is that a no-no?

You can use the power socket in the nose - no problem

Al