For those of you who have added multiple power sockets to your bikes, what's the way to go?
I understand that everything should have in-line fuses between the battery and the power socket. What rating should fuses be? Is that dependent on the devices connected, or is there a catch-all rating that works well? If you're using 1mAh USB power adapters, then should the fuses be 10amp?
Is the gauge of wire that comes with the better (branded) power sockets good enough, or should you be upgrading the wire? What gauge is best?
I expect a typical set-up would be: Bike's battery -> fuse -> cigarette lighter socket -> USB adapter -> USB cable -> device
I know you could simplify that a bit by using a one-unit USB power socket (these typically seem to be dual-USB), rather than the two-unit cigarette lighter/USB adapter set-up, but the result is effectively the same, and there's a little more flexibility in the two-unit set-up, no?
With those cigarette lighter type sockets, if you used a dual-type USB adapter, what would be the implications regarding the fuse? If you were running two devices from that dual USB adapter, and the fuse blew, you'd lose power to both devices, and it could be messy trying to determine which device caused the blow.
Would it be better to use one single-type USB adapter (1-1.2mAh or so) in each cigarette lighter socket, so that each powered device would have its own dedicated fuse? This could allow you to use the most appropriate fuse rating for each device (if that's the right way to do it?). I could very well not be understanding stuff? Is the fuse's rating related to the device being powered, or to the power socket?
Perhaps OTT, but I can't be alone in considering powering or charging multiple devices (not for day-to-day commuting or fun spins obviously, but surely not unreasonable for a camping-touring trip of a few weeks):
I'm not suggesting powering/charging everything on that list at the same time, but I imagine there could be times while on a trip where you are running maybe three or four - couple of video cameras, phone, comms...
I know the alternator's ability to keep the battery charged while also doing all this is key in the equation, even more so if the bike is also powering hardwired-in stuff like a GPS unit and/or a few extra lights... I guess fitting a contraption to monitor the battery's level of charge would make sense (voltmeter?).
Thanks for any replies.
I understand that everything should have in-line fuses between the battery and the power socket. What rating should fuses be? Is that dependent on the devices connected, or is there a catch-all rating that works well? If you're using 1mAh USB power adapters, then should the fuses be 10amp?
Is the gauge of wire that comes with the better (branded) power sockets good enough, or should you be upgrading the wire? What gauge is best?
I expect a typical set-up would be: Bike's battery -> fuse -> cigarette lighter socket -> USB adapter -> USB cable -> device
I know you could simplify that a bit by using a one-unit USB power socket (these typically seem to be dual-USB), rather than the two-unit cigarette lighter/USB adapter set-up, but the result is effectively the same, and there's a little more flexibility in the two-unit set-up, no?
With those cigarette lighter type sockets, if you used a dual-type USB adapter, what would be the implications regarding the fuse? If you were running two devices from that dual USB adapter, and the fuse blew, you'd lose power to both devices, and it could be messy trying to determine which device caused the blow.
Would it be better to use one single-type USB adapter (1-1.2mAh or so) in each cigarette lighter socket, so that each powered device would have its own dedicated fuse? This could allow you to use the most appropriate fuse rating for each device (if that's the right way to do it?). I could very well not be understanding stuff? Is the fuse's rating related to the device being powered, or to the power socket?
Perhaps OTT, but I can't be alone in considering powering or charging multiple devices (not for day-to-day commuting or fun spins obviously, but surely not unreasonable for a camping-touring trip of a few weeks):
- Bluetooth comms
- Phone
- Bike-mounted video camera(s)
- Helmet-mounted camera
- Stills camera
- Rechargeable head torch
- Rechargeable flashlight
- Can those portable battery pack things be charged from a bike's 12v system?
I'm not suggesting powering/charging everything on that list at the same time, but I imagine there could be times while on a trip where you are running maybe three or four - couple of video cameras, phone, comms...
I know the alternator's ability to keep the battery charged while also doing all this is key in the equation, even more so if the bike is also powering hardwired-in stuff like a GPS unit and/or a few extra lights... I guess fitting a contraption to monitor the battery's level of charge would make sense (voltmeter?).
Thanks for any replies.
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