Auxiliary Socket

[Fudpucker]

Hi.
I know some of you clever people out there have wired your GPS into the under seat auxiliary socket. Is it Difficult? I have just been looking at mine and apart from the plug I'm not sure how to get into the socket to connect wires. Does it involve cutting the original wires? And is the socket still water proof ? ...............F

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

Err, if you are going to use the socket under the seat then why not get a power lead with the correct BWM connector rather than 'hard wiring'.

I have this set up. The cable is cable tied under the tank (yes you have to take the tank off, but it is very easy) but I put the connector under the seat when not using the GPS.

Kai

 

[Fudpucker]

Cheers Kai. I know that is an option, also the socket at the front which seems more expensive judging by what I have rear on the forum. Unless I can buy just a plug for the front and connect to my cable..........F

 

[tustinr]

Mate. buy yourself a powerlet accessory socket for the USA and wire it to your battery leading up behind your tank to the cockpit - takes 5 minutes, do not have to take your tanks off and costs app $30 US. See www.powerletproducts.com
Rich

 

[andyclift]

Use BMW's GPS socket

If you look at the wiring harness where it routes down the left hand side of the headstock you should find the socket for the BMW satnav hidden under the wrapping tape. It's easiest to use this for your satnav.

It takes a `special' plug' which I guess that you can buy from a dealer but I found that if I soldered over about 5mm of the satnav wires they neatly fitted into the small pin holes in the socket. It is then possible to push the socket's dust cover back on to hold the wires and wrap with self amalgamating or insulating tape. As this socket in conveniently near the bars it saves all the hassle of finding a decent cable routing from halfway down the bike.,

If you want to use the aux. socket (can't think why) I would not go for the suggestion of using a plug as it seems pointless to tie up the socket with something that's always on the bike. If you feel around the back of the socket you can unplug the feed cable. Now carefully strip the insulation from a few mm of the wires, solder your own wires on and cover with tape. Suggest using a little insulating tape then cover with self amalgmating to keep the weather out. I have used this method for my Autocom as that is also a permanent fixture and positioned under the seat, close to the socket and it still leaves the socket free for heated vest, charging phone, etc.

 

[Happyhenry]

I bought a purpose-made cable from Motorad Concepts that has a canbus plug for the socket near the headstock. Easy wiring route to the GPS mount - no under-tank messing. Leave it plugged in all the time and just tuck the GPS end down behind the instruments when not in use. Works a treat and powers down about 30 seconds after the ignition is turned off.

 

[Mike Murphy]

Aux Socket

Ditto Happyhenry.
This is the way you should do it. Wire it directly to the battery and if you have a fire, you will lose your Guarantee and also your ‘Fire’ insurance
Mike

 

[Technopole]

Motorrad Concepts Powerlead

+1 for the Motorrad Concepts powerlead. I am entirely crap at bike maintenance, but I had it wired in in 5 minutes.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Fit another socket

Better to have a socket from which you can easliy unplug & remove your GPS. There are positions marked either side of the tank and you can wire a standard BMW plug straight back to the battery terminals (with a fuse of course) poking the wires carefully in a stiff tube under the tank.Your socket will not switch off with the ignition & can be used for other accessories - even a battery charger (optimate type) if you are too lazy to take off the seat!
There has been a lot on this subject but cannot find it! ( I fitted the Touratech dash panel which has a plug incorporated and seemed like a better idea as it cost very little more than the BMW plug alone - however it was a reazl struggle to fit it and i would not reccommend it!)

 

[andyclift]

Better to have a socket from which you can easliy unplug & remove your GPS

So where is the problem with unplugging from the GPS end??

Seems daft to take up a socket and/or having wires running around the bike when a much more professional, SAFE and practical job can be done by hard wiring and neatly routing the cable and securing with cable ties.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

The problem

"So where is the problem with unplugging from the GPS end??" you ask.... I suppose it depends on your particular GPS. Mine is a Gamin 2610 and the plug to it is not the sort to leave 'waving in the breeze.'

 

[andyclift]

Mine is a 2720 - same construction and the plug does not `wave in the breeze'.

Both the Garmin and Touratech brackets have dinky little holders to put the plug into when the gps is not fitted

 

[Brian ROSEN]

NOT waving in the breeze!!!

Well, can you believe it! I just checked and my Garmin support also has a "dinky little holder" for the plug when not in use - and I never noticed it! I even CUT OFF the plug that could have gone into the socket on the 'headstock' because I thought I would have to keep unplugging it. Oh well at least I have the dashboard - which only took me hours of struggling to fit!

 

[andyclift]

Brian,

These forums are great aren't they. You can always find out how to do it just after you have finished doing smething else.