Fitting aux power socket on a 1200 GS

[Jumpjim]

I've just purchased an Aux power socket fro Jaythro with a view to having a neat way to plug my Optimate 4 in as well as powering the odd gadget.

Plug looks like this if you haven't seen it...

I was fumbling around under the plastic housing at the front of the bike and found what feels like two raised circular indentations exactly where I was looking to mount the weatherproof socket, one either side as shown below...


Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

Anybody got any views on putting one here and charging through it or would you go down the line of putting the Optimate weatherproof socket in and cable tying it onto the frame?

 

[Big Nick]

Depends is you're happy drilling holes in your panels

I wasn't and don't think I'd ever need an additional socket so used the weatherproof Optimate lead cable tied to the frame near the existing socket

 

[cookie]

read this

 

[Pukmeister]

BMW supply a DIY kit to add an extra socket in that location, it just plugs inline with the existing wiring connector of the original aux socket under the seat. Fitted one to mine years ago, wish I had kept the part number.

If you fit your own socket there wired direct to the battery with an inline fuse it would be very handy for using an optimate to recharge the battery, and power accessories drawing in excess of 5 Amps without tripping the aux socket, a la Canbus.

 

[tonedef]

I fitted one to mine a couple of weeks ago at the same time as I did the GSA screen and winglets. Nice and straight forward job, gives me a point to run phone chargers etc from plus the BMW charger goes straight into it to.

 

[bhud]

Extra socket

I have bought the extra lead.
My plan was to instal, cut in and use the live to power my autocom neg to the battery. run the cable up to the right hand side and add the socket.
Am I right in thinking if I use this socket which is fed from the aux socket under the seat:
1/ it will power down 15 sec after the bike is switched off.
2/ I will not be able to charge the battery via the socket using the altimate as it would have to be wired direct to the battery.

Thank you for your help in advance.

 

[Wapping]

I have bought the extra lead.
My plan was to instal, cut in and use the live to power my autocom neg to the battery. run the cable up to the right hand side and add the socket.
Am I right in thinking if I use this socket which is fed from the aux socket under the seat:
1/ it will power down 15 sec after the bike is switched off.
2/ I will not be able to charge the battery via the socket using the altimate as it would have to be wired direct to the battery.

Thank you for your help in advance.

The 'extra lead' should have positive and negative, so no need to go to the battery. You can simply wire your Autocom directly to it. Or, as I did with ChasMill's, run the positive and negative leads to a simple distribution strip (he already had a Centec fuse box, so I used that) then attach your Autocom to the distribution strip.

It will power down, just like the aux socket under the seat. Why? That's where you are tapping the power from. Mine takes about 10 minutes to power down, though I have never timed it.

You will not be able to use your Optimate via the socket(s). Why? It won't work. The Canbus will 'see' it as a load and shut down.

Connect the Optimate. via a fused flying lead, direct to the battery.

 

[tonedef]

I have bought the extra lead.
My plan was to instal, cut in and use the live to power my autocom neg to the battery. run the cable up to the right hand side and add the socket.
Am I right in thinking if I use this socket which is fed from the aux socket under the seat:
1/ it will power down 15 sec after the bike is switched off.
2/ I will not be able to charge the battery via the socket using the altimate as it would have to be wired direct to the battery.

Thank you for your help in advance.

Did you buy the extra lead from BMW, their genuine extra power socket? If so it has a plug and socket on the other end of the cable that breaks into the connection on the back of the existing socket under the tool tray and the cable runs under the tank cover etc. Then it does act just the same as the existing socket, powers down a few minutes after switching off and all that, but as Wapping said you'll not be able to use an Optimate through it, it'd only work with the original BMW charger.

 

[bhud]

Thanks guys as I thought.
Yes it is the BMW spliter power lead for the socket under the seat. Better to cut into it rather than the bike's wiring loom.
Autocom I thought it was better to wire the neg straight to the battery to avoid the ground loop problem.

Thanks again