PDA/IPAQ power using BMW powerlet

[ianm00]

I use my IPAQ/Tomtom for navigation on the bike.

I want to power the IPAQ using the BMW power socket on the front of my 1200GS.

What does the circuit inside the standard cigarette lighter connector of a standard IPAQ car charger cable do?

I assume that it just converts from +12V to +5V for the IPAQ, can anyone confirm if this is correct and also what current would be required to supply/charge the ipaq?

I want to make my own small circuit & try to fit it into a standard BMW powerlet socket.

Using the cigaretter lighter socket to powerlet plug is too big.

If anyone nows what this circuit does exactly I would like to know.

Thanks

Ian

 

[Telford]

It basically drops from 12v to 5v and regulates (quite crudely I'm told) and has a 2A fuse.

I use a modified TomTom car kit which runs off 12-24v

Make sure you un plug before starting the engine though - I splatted a chip on the iPaq mother board and fried the TomTom cradle by leaving it plugged in while starting.

 

[AdyJ]

Ipaq Shmipaq

As there are obviously a couple of you using TomTom's with Ipaqs on yer bikes...

I have an Ipaq 2210, and was thinking of getting a TomTom plugin to a) let my wife use in her car, and eventually b) put it onto the GSA that I haven't yet got(!!!)

Questions:

Not having looked in detail at the TomTom kit yet: do you have the sound piped through an Autocom?

How clear is the display when used on your bike?

How do you protect it against the ever changing moods of the British weather?

Cheers

 

[ianm00]

Telford,

Yes thats what I though it did. I was looking at making my own/modifying a car charger cable regulator circuit with some additional protection against power spikes. I was thinking that a zener diode across the 5V output should prevent spikes.

AdyJ

I use a rugged IPAC case to keep out the weather. You could connect the sound via autocom. I only use it on the bike if I need to find a particular location and don't have autocom so I make do without sound.

You can read the screen OK with occasional glances, but it can be difficult to read in direct/bright sunlight!

Ian

 

[AdyJ]

I use a rugged IPAC case to keep out the weather. You could connect the sound via autocom. I only use it on the bike if I need to find a particular location and don't have autocom so I make do without sound.

You can read the screen OK with occasional glances, but it can be difficult to read in direct/bright sunlight!

Ian

..and to further mither/pick your brain, which TomTom have you got? Plug in or bluetooth?

 

[Tobers]

I run TomTom on an SPV smartphone using a bluetooth GPS receiver.

The phone is rigged up through the Autocom, so as well as chatting away merrily on the blower as I ride along, the TomTom voice prompts come through superbly well too.

The BT GPS receiver is in a handlebar bag. No power to either GPS or phone, but I'll rig up a 1-to-2 car adaptor socket and just plug the phone and GPS car adaptors into that.

 

[ianm00]

I have tomtom 3 running on a HP IPAQ 2210. I use a CF GPS card.

Ian

 

[Telford]

Here's a pic of my setup:

Using a much modified Otterbox (cut down & 'welded' with TomTom car cradle 'grafted in'), fixed to a home made ally bracket, plugged into a std cigar socket (from a boat chandlers) with an isolating switch and ickle red LED to show when it's switched on.

I use the TomTom Bluetooth GPS unit in my tank bag or a pocket - when in the tank bag I run a charge cable from the TomTom cradle to the BT unit.

 

[Telford]

Another one. the shock cord is just a precaution as It did come off once! but after 2000 miles the other week through France it stayed put like a good un.

 

[rugbug]

iPaq 2210 and Tom Tom Navigaor bluetooth 3. All fits inside a 3600 Otterbox. Powered up via the socket by the cockpit. Otterbox mounted via a RAM mount on the handlebar. The 3600 has an optional mount the attaches to a standard RAM mount plate, so its dead easy to fit.

 

[ianm00]

I have HP IPAQ 2210 with compac flash card. All contained within HPs rugged case. Powered from front power socket.

You guys have mounted yours on the handle bars, I mounted mine on the bar that goes around the clocks (1200GS), mounted with RAM mount. I find this position is stable but can be difficult to see the IPAQ screen in sunlight.

Maybe handlebar mounting would be easier to see as it would be closer. What are your opinions of being handlebar mounted?

Thanks

Ian

 

[AdyJ]

I have HP IPAQ 2210 with compac flash card. All contained within HPs rugged case. Powered from front power socket.

Got any pics??