Garmin power supply

[Bart1664]

Friend, Romans, Countrymen and women!
I have recently purchased a Garmin 396 for my 2012 GSA and now want to connect to to the bike and was looking at the options.
1. USB (I have a socket on the dash)
2. Direct to battery
3. Utilising the BMW power take off socket under the headstock which i believe is specifically for this purpose.
1 and 2 are fairly straight forward but I like the idea of option 3.
However, I've read on this forum many comments regarding power drain even after the ignition is switched off?
If that is true is it really an issue and what are my options to minimise those 'issues'?
Many many thanks.

 

[younger06]

There should be no discernable power drain.

from my G8 ThinQ

 

[Bart1664]

There should be no discernable power drain.

from my G8 ThinQ

+1 for option 3

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

Cant imagine why you would connect to the battery when there is a purpose built connector already supplied which turns off with the ignition?

 

[er-minio]

I think he is referring to possible/suspected power drain even when using the headstock socket (option 3).

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

Cant see how if the power is turned off? Even with my phone on charge from the gps cradle USB my power to the cradle is turned off. If the op cradle has usb output then it will have a parasitic drain if connected straight to the battery.

 

[Bart1664]

I think he is referring to possible/suspected power drain even when using the headstock socket (option 3).

Indeed I am.
I've researched on this forum and whilst some say there isn't an issue many say the power remains connected for anything between seconds and, I did read on one post, up to 15 minutes!!
If I can't see my bike the satnav will come off but obviously the mount will remain and there appears to be some dispute over whether the mount remains drawing power (I'm no tech expert) but prefer option 3 but just would like to understand what to expect. My bikes manual just says that electrical accessories remain powered after ignition off for a 'limited period of time'.

 

[er-minio]

I did read on one post, up to 15 minutes!!

I have a 396, and previously had a 550 and 660 connected to the aforementioned socket on my 2007 GSA. It powers off after about 90 seconds the ignition is switched off.
I always have to tell the GPS to stay on when I stop for petrol when traveling (I find that a bit annoying).

Same with the aux socket under the seat that sometimes I use to charge random electric widgets.

 

[Bart1664]

I have a 396, and previously had a 550 and 660 connected to the aforementioned socket on my 2007 GSA. It powers off after about 90 seconds the ignition is switched off.
I always have to tell the GPS to stay on when I stop for petrol when traveling (I find that a bit annoying).

Same with the aux socket under the seat that sometimes I use to charge random electric widgets.

Thanks er-mino I'll go with that then. I've 'googled' the connector needed with my local BMW dealer but nothing comes up. Fleebay is the same. ANy idea where I can pick up said connector?

 

[alanb2]

You can get a Poweroo connector from Locatis.eu in Portugal. Make sure you order the correct plug for the power inlet of your garmin, my garmin took a 'straight mini usb'. Alan

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

https://www.nippynormans.com/gps-ac...any-garmin-or-tomtom-gps-into-the-bmw-harness
Or your local bmw dealer, part number 83300413585.

 

[Bart1664]

Thanks Kenny and Alan I'll look that up. The code I had from several years ago was 80 000 611656 which didn't come up

 

[er-minio]

I might have a spare female (the garmin-side of the plug). I'll check this evening. It's yours (free) if I can still find it.

 

[Bart1664]

I might have a spare female (the garmin-side of the plug). I'll check this evening. It's yours (free) if I can still find it.

Excellent. Do I come to Rome to collect

 

[er-minio]

LOL

I live in NW London, but depending where you are in London, sometimes it might be faster to fly to Rome

 

[Bart1664]

LOL

I live in NW London, but depending where you are in London, sometimes it might be faster to fly to Rome

I'm North north...well Hertfordshire to be precise.
That said, I have all the connection from the 396 including USB, Cigar lighter and clip in mount cable.
Once I get hold of that BMW part I then need to splice that to the cradle mount cable. Do I leave or remove the Garmin small in-line box that reduces the voltage from 12 to 5?

 

[er-minio]

well Hertfordshire to be precise

Nice.
No, I'm a bit more towards central, but still near some green bits . NW3.

This is the spare connector I have. Not sure if it is the right one: have a look.

I think I got this from someone here on UKGSer ages ago, but never used it because I ended up finding a pre-wired cable when I had the 550.

 

[Headtester]

If er-minio has got one then there's one here at Motorworks for £12.

 

[Bart1664]

I found this article in another forum about a possible 'parasitic draw' from the 12v - 5v Garmin transformer:

"I installed a Zumo 220 and connected it to this plug. The Zumo 220 is one of those GPS's that needs 5V, and it comes with a harness that has a 12V to 5V transformer in it. I came to find out that this transformer has a large enough parasitic draw that it will keep the Canbus "awake" and will kill the bike's battery within several days, even when the GPS unit is not on the bike. After finding a dead battery a couple of times, I installed a power distribution block and ran the GPS off of that. I'm personally a bit leary of using this plug to power a GPS unit."

 

[NicD]

Fairly easy to measure parasitic draw. Put multimeter in series on negative side of battery set to DC amps and turn ignition off. watch reading which should drop after a short while. you can set to mA once you can see draw is low enough. if you do without any accessories conncected you will get reading for bike in manuf state, then add accessories and see. Remove fuses to isolate any problem circuit. If there is a parasitic draw, it is normally an accessory - but this doesn't mean all accessories do cause a parasitic draw, as most are fine