Install problems with Quest Bike Power Cradle

[JohnC]

I have just installed one of these using the same plug as my optimate uses for power, I thought I would take power directly from the battery and that I could easily disconnect the GPS when not in use. I also thought this would be the easiest way to initially power the unit with my limited electrical knowledge

Problem is, how do I know if the lead is working? I cant seem to hear any voice directions through my starcom and the unit does not switch on when I first put it in the cradle as it does with the car mount. The inline fuse is OK.

John

 

[SilentG]

John,

If you turn on the quest, and then press the power button again, to bring up the back light dialog window, there should be a picture of the battery at the top of the dialog, showing the state of charge. If the quest is getting power from the mount, there will be a yellow lightening flash on top of the battery symbol. If there is no lightening flash, then you need to get out your volt meter.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[JohnC]

Thought as much, must be borked then. Strangely I'm now getting sound which I thought would only have worked if the unit were powered

John

 

[RAM-man]

To add to Paul's (aka SilentG) comments.

I understand from involvement with QPAC that, if using either the G bike mount or QPAC, when the Quest internal battery is fully discharged then there will be a delay of approx 20 to 30 seconds while the unit charges the device. This juice burst can be just over 1 amp then the Vreg charge will stabilse (to approx 700mA) and over a journey of 2 to 3 hours will achieve a full charge.

This info comes from the QPAC dev engineer whose making sound a clever s*d.

RAM-man

 

[JohnC]

Hi Steve, without sounding like a complete numptie (hard for me ), how does what you have said relate to my 'no power' issue. The Quest was already half charged when I tried it on the cradle.

John

 

[Fanum]

John......I'd bet It's the pins not making contact on the back...mine's been doing it from day 1.

I'm using a Touratech mount and power cable...the right hand of the pins doesn't line up well enough with the corresponding dot on the actual Quest unit...in fact, it's marked and scraped the silver casing at the side of the dot connection already as it slides off and sits just off it.

Try positioning the quest slightly off-true....I have to slip mine into the mount at about 3 degrees off horizontal.

From time to time, I manage to get it just wrong, but it's only the power dot that's not properly connecting......in those circumastances, I get sound through the earphones but the unit's not powered.

Turn the Quest OFF then put it in the cradle...if it gets power, the unit will automatically turn on.

Or use a multimeter...I can't remember which connection is the earth offhand, but it's one of the other four obviously....check the right hand one against all the other four.

HTH

 

[JohnC]

Fanum cheers, but was finally checked by m8 with meter, the cradle is deffo non functunal for whatever reason. I did look very closely at the fitting and akaics it fitted perfectly. The Garmin mount is very well made hence my ordering a replacement from GPSW. The Quest was in and out more times than I can count in my 'quest' to get it up and running

John

 

[Twotter]

Got my Garmin powered cradle yesterday and fitted it last night. I had a look at the fuse box to see if I could connect the red cable to the horn fuse but couldn't see how to accomplish that tidily, so I've fitted the cables straight to the battery instead. I had to trim the ends to get enough bare wire to go on to the terminals but otherwise it was straightforward. There was a good bit of spare lead so I've coiled it on top of the airbox around the computer connection whiz bang. My Quest fired up straightaway when I tried it just like in the car so all I need to do is cable tie the power lead tidily to the bars and I'm sorted.

Cheers for all the info on here btw, I never used to look in the GPS forum until I started thinking about getting one. Now it's the first place I look - even before the For Sale forum

 

[JohnC]

The only problem with wiring direct to the battery is that the cradle will be 'live' all the time. I doubt this would pose a huge problem mind and the contacts could be covered while not in use. My new cradle arrived this morning so heres hoping...

 

[(RIP) Yosi]

I use the Gramin power mcotraption and at th ebgining I had a similar problem: no power, till I found that the Quest wasn't stting properly inj the mount: need to be prass back a bit till it click in place. Then the locking slider on the side of the mount will acyually lock>
I discovered this by myself withouth resourcing this Forum. Very proud of myself. Anotrher item for my autobiography...

 

[Grizzly]

Cradle only powered when ignition on!!

I wired in the supply for my quest cradle to the positive wire for the brake light switch - same supply as used for Autocom - I didn't fancy the cradle connections being live all the time?- just in case it's parked in driving rain or I forgot to cover things up when washing the bike!!. This seems to work well for me.

Cheers....................grizzly

 

[Les Wassall]

Made the cable shorter and can be removed.

 

[mark71]

does anyone know where i can get a power cable for a quest from for use with a touratech mount, and aldo can the quest be used ok in the desert.

 

[RAM-man]

I suggest read other threads on same subject.. It will only work if its been designed to .. the Vreg chip will need to with stand the heat. Dveices such as G bike mount and QPAC are 125 deg C rated.

RAM-man