Accessory Socket Power

[Lofty]

Hi, Currently fitting a fuse panel to my 04 GS and want to have the panel only powered up from the battery when the ignition is on so I intend putting a relay in circuit. I read somewhere here to switch the relay using the supply from the under seat accesory socket which becomes live when the ignition is switched on. Only problem is that mine appears to be live all the time.

Any thoughts on where I can get a suitable feed for the relay (in the location of the seat/battery) that only becomes live when the ignition is switched on.

Cheers, Mark

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

I think the sockets are supposed to detect whether there is anything demanding power from the socket, and turn it off only if there is nothing there. There have been problems - various different software updates have been around which are rumoured to correct this.

I know I suffered from the socket by the seat cutting out occasionally, even though my satnav was trying to use it. This went away after a service.

There is also a switched socket up near the headstock somewhere. Needs a special fittign, I think. I haven't used it, so can't comment further.

Apologies if you know all this. (This post represents every last thing I know about 1200GS electrics!)

 

[wilbjr21]

It won't be alive all the time unless it's be altered. It may stay live for up to 15mins after switch off (on your model as long as the hazard switch is illuminated). It's a good place to draw power for a relay unless you are going to use the BMW charger connected to this socket.

 

[andyclift]

The accessory socket becomes live when the ignition is turned on and stays live for a short time when the ignition is turned off. If there is a load on the socket when the ignition is turned off it will stay live but eventually a timer turns it off to stop accidentally draining the battery.

The satnav socket by the headstock seems to work the same way and I use that to power a relay for my fuse panel and it works OK but if you want it to turn off as soon as you turn of the ignition I guess you need to power it from something like the headlight. It's no big deal to run a light cable from the headlight under the tank or side panel.

 

[badgerrrrrr]

http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?fa=contentGeneric.obxaszqugbllbuna&pageId=119031


Have a look here for taking power from the connection at the head for the BMW sat nav power socket

cheers Badger

 

[Lofty]

Thanks all, problem solved.

 

[Geordie Steve]

I took mine from the tail light. It has a standard 6.4mm spade terminal, so it's a dead easy job to fit a piggyback spade connector. Also has the advantage that you don't have to chop into any existing wiring, so everything can be put back to standard within minutes.

Of course, I got the wrong wire at the first attempt. So the relay only switched on when the brakes were pressed.

Mine's an '05 bike and the correct terminal was the one on the right as you sit on the bike.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[wilbjr21]

I took mine from the tail light. It has a standard 6.4mm spade terminal, so it's a dead easy job to fit a piggyback spade connector. Also has the advantage that you don't have to chop into any existing wiring, so everything can be put back to standard within minutes.

Of course, I got the wrong wire at the first attempt. So the relay only switched on when the brakes were pressed.

Mine's an '05 bike and the correct terminal was the one on the right as you sit on the bike.

Cheers,

Steve

That's a good idea .............. much better than using the front light