Elec'trickery' and GPS

[Gecko]

I have had my GPS V 'hard wired' for 2 years - no problems. The feed comes from the auxialliary socket and is fused. Now I have a new 60c I tried it tonight - nothing - no power......? Hmmm....Fuse ok, multimeter confirms a nice 12 volt current exists through the whole circuit so I think it must be the garmin connector. I check this and I still have a nice 12 volt current running through.

Now I'm beginning to wonder is it the GPS unit so I reconnect the GPS V - nothing....no power either.

Off to check in the car - no problem , the fag lighter power cable works fine on both the GPS V and the 60c so the units are OK.

Now I'm getting confused and am convinced it must be the Garmin cable so I take of the fag lighter plug off the car cable and put on a BMW plug so I can try it in my auxilliary socket on the bike....guess what....nothing - no power ??? BUT THERE IS POWER the multimeter confirms it.

Any ideas anyone ?

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

There's a difference between voltage present and power available.

Power requires a load - make sure something isn't giving out under load - try a bulb across it to give the voltage something to 'power'.

check all the connections to see if they are tight - if not they'll show voltage but won't drive the load.

 

[PanEuropean]

Gecko, I've had similar problems to yours recently. I couldn't get the 12 volt power cable thing for my new GPSMAP 296 to work in the power outlet on my motorcycle.

I dicked around with it a bit and found out that the male plug on the end of the Garmin cable somehow wasn't quite making proper contact with the part inside the power outlet on my moto. But, just like you, I found that the same cable worked just fine in my VW Golf.

I don't think the design specifications for those connectors and 12 volt recepticles (be they the SAE cigarette lighter ones, or the fancy BMW 'Hella' or 'Powerlet' ones) are consistent all around the world.

I eventually just cut the friggin' end off the cable, and hardwired (screwed) the cable ends onto the motorcycle - to a known ground (black wire) and a known 12 volt source (red wire). Now it works... mind you, I have three different GPS power cables up at the front of my moto (SP III, SP 26xx and 296) - looks a bit silly, but might deter the thieves when I go into Eastern Europe this summer - fear of possible electrocution...

PanEuropean

 

[Gecko]

There's a difference between voltage present and power available.

Power requires a load - make sure something isn't giving out under load - try a bulb across it to give the voltage something to 'power'.

check all the connections to see if they are tight - if not they'll show voltage but won't drive the load.

Phil
Whoa....!! Now you have blown my fuse

What do you mean 'giving out under load ? ....and voltage present and power available aren't the same....?

There is a 0.5amp fuse in the circuit so I would have hoped that would pop if anything was untoward. I rechecked the connections where I took the feed from on the auxilliary socket and they look fine. I'm wondering if there could be some damage to the cable somewhere along the circuit - do you think this may be a cause ?

All advice gratefully received cause I'm supposed to be heading to Germany tomorrow and I would rather have my GPS power sorted before I go.

 

[Gecko]

might deter the thieves when I go into Eastern Europe this summer - fear of possible electrocution...

PanEuropean

It's great when electricity works for you and not against you .

I stopped using the standard cigar lighter fittings a long while back but I'm still trying to figure out what's up with mine - it's very strange

 

[Gecko]

Finally managed to sort it out by resoldering the connections where I took the power feed and replacing the socket that I plug the Garmin cable into. It seemed that ther socket had corroded internally after 2 years of abuse. The new set up wprked fine and didn't miss a beat during 900km of monsson underwater riding this weekend into Germany and back

 

[waterhouse]

My SPIII has taken to freezing or turning off when on the GS but behaves perfectly in the car. I think its a lead problem, so I'm changing it.

 

[PanEuropean]

Simon, I experienced a failure of a SP III power cord on my moto as well, this was about two years ago and I documented it on a post at another BB. The info and pictures might be of use to you.

GPS Power Cable Failure

The posts and pictures at the top of the page address the cable failure. NB if you want to read the whole conversation, this particular BB archives from the bottom up, so scroll down to the bottom of the page to begin reading.

PanEuropean