Garmin 2720 power connection

[stroller]

Just ordered a 2720 and looking for advice on hard wiring it to my 1200GS. I was going to connect it straight to the battery (via an in-line fuse) so that it remains working when I switch off the ignition during fuel stops etc, but I am concerned about the plug remaining permanently "live" when the GPSR is remooved from its cradle.
Are there any issues with this?

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Allroad]

your best bet would be wire it to the aux switch i would not leave it on a perm live to be honest

 

[cookie]

i use a waterproof, blade type fuse holder & just take the fuse out when the gps is not needed (most of the time).

way too much faff having it going off with the ignition.

 

[PanEuropean]

...I am concerned about the plug remaining permanently "live" when the GPSR is removed from its cradle. Are there any issues with this?

Hi Mike:

With any of the 2xxx series of GPSRs - the ones that use the flat power cable with the exposed pins - it's best to hook them up to a switched power supply (switched together with ignition power) for motorcycle use. The car drivers can afford to leave the power live all the time because car dashboards are plastic. On motos, we have a lot of metal (conductive) surfaces about in the vicinity of the connector, and it is possible for the connector to short to ground if it is knocked about, for example, when washing the bike. If you have protected the power supply with a fuse, as you have, the only consequence is that you have to replace the fuse, which is a PITA.

I've used a 25xx, 26xx, 27xx and now something else with the same power plug, and I've always hooked up to ignition switched power. I've never missed the ability to view the GPSR screen when the ignition is off, in fact, I'd say it's an advantage that the thing turns off when I shut the ignition off - it lowers my profile.

Michael

 

[Flip]

Mine has been wired direct to the battery for 12 months now with no problems i just put on the little cover that it comes with when not in use.

 

[Mzokk]

Same here. It allows you to reprogramme the thing with the ignition switched off so that your not toasting more important bits of motorcycle kit.....like your coils. Might put a switch in I suppose it would stop me having to remember to put the plastic cover in my pocket.

 

[Gussi]

Same here. It allows you to reprogramme the thing with the ignition switched off so that your not toasting more important bits of motorcycle kit.....like your coils. Might put a switch in I suppose it would stop me having to remember to put the plastic cover in my pocket.

I always remeber my plastic cover

 

[~Stef~]

I was thinking of doing this with my StreetPilot III as its wired into the aux socket on the gearbox at the moment. Anyone know if the wires are colour coded ? I believe the positive wire is the centre pin on the male socket.

 

[Capt Over-reaction]

If you have the Garmin mount, 26xx, the click and lock unit, there is a place on there where the power lead can slide into out of the way when not in use.

If you are going to have an unswitched supply, handy to smear some Vaseline over the +VE terminal, to help stop corrosion, especially you mud pluggers

 

[PanEuropean]

If you are going to have an unswitched supply, handy to smear some Vaseline over the +VE terminal, to help stop corrosion, especially you mud pluggers

Are you referring to the end of the cable that connects to the GPSR? If so, I don't recommend you put anything on that. Both sides of the contacts (the connector on the cable and the GPSR) are gold plated, so corrosion is not a concern. I've been using the same 2xxx cable for 3 years / 45,000 miles with no evidence of corrosion at all.

The downside of putting anything such as Vaseline or dielectric grease on the connector is that you may interfere with the quality of the connection. If it ain't broke... don't fix it.

Michael