USB charging in Alu Top Box

[rossi46]

Our trip this year will involve camping, with the longest stint between plug sockets being 3 days !!!
There is no way my iphone will last that long so I want to get a USB Charging point into the top box.
My thoughts are to drill a hole big enough for a grommet to run the cable through, but where would be the best place at the rear of the bike to pick up an ignition live ?
The accessory socket is by the dash, would I be best running a cable all the way from there ?

 

[Fanum]

Rather than going down the wiring route, with the associated potential problems, have you considered a/some USB batteries?

Many dozens of types, sizes and powers on Ebay, and you can take them into a room/tent with you to charge a device there

There was one that popped up on a 'spotted a bargain' thread recently....I got one and it's a cracking bit of kit....I keep it in the car on charge via a DIN plug to the cig socket, which is something you could do with no extra physical wiring on the bike, but you'd always have additional USB power

 

[rossi46]

Now that's a good idea, saves drilling the top box

 

[DC]

it should fit under the rear pillion seat ! will stop you drilling holes ...

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I have a power bank as above. Great bit of kit. I have also got a long lead that plugs into my Optimate lead, and is long enough to reach into my tent. Obviously it has a cig adapter on the tent end.
I can charge things at night, and also use the power to blow up my airbed

 

[cookie]

i just run a lead from my dash socket to the tankbag. seems so simple

 

[oldnfat]

i just run a lead from my dash socket to the tankbag. seems so simple

Likewise.

 

[kurienp]

i just run a lead from my dash socket to the tankbag. seems so simple

+ charge the battery pack along with your phone in the tank bag. When in the tent, use the battery pack for charging any other device or maybe topup the phone. Do not use the bike battery to charge when parked/camping You won't be happy if it refuses to start next day morning

 

[kurienp]

One of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-High-...?ie=UTF8&qid=1421273101&sr=8-6&keywords=anker should work well. Have heard good feedback as well.

 

[2 wheel humvee]

i just run a lead from my dash socket to the tankbag. seems so simple

I just charge my phone in my hotel

 

[Gargy]

Sw Motech powered tankbag. Keep all your electronics in the tank bag, and every time you clip the bag on it's automatically on charge.

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[Nutty]

Sw Motech powered tankbag. Keep all your electronics in the tank bag, and every time you clip the bag on it's automatically on charge.

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

How does that work?

 

[WindyChuffer]

Why the top box to charge a phone? Nothing wrong with a long lead from suitabe charging point to your jacket or any other point on the bike eg tank bag.

I can understand wanting to use top box or panniers for powering inverter for laptop etc but not a phone.

 

[Montydoesdallas]

why not just run a 12v socket from your battery ?
it won't flatten your battery even if you left it charging all night...done that before.

 

[karlp]

I have a PDM 60 under the seat providing a 10amp supply to the rear top box.

If you use the Gerbin heated jacket panel socket it provides a waterproof point to the box and an insulated cable whereupon you can connect via the extension cable to the fuse box. The top box can be easily removed by disconnecting the cable.

When you stop the PDM 60 will power down so you do not drain the battery

Also no need to take one of those crap tank bags every where when you go visiting the POI on you journey.

With this setup I can power anything. A 10amp fused supply is more than enough

 

[Fluffmeister]

I went the route Fanum suggested for my euro tour last year with one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/EasyAcc-160...id=1421320440&sr=8-13&keywords=backup+battery

Previously I ran a powered tankbag, but this reserve battery will charge the phone 3 times over from scratch and the iPad mini and the GoPro. I just took it and plugged it into the hotel / guest house mains and let it recharge itself in the evening. It will also charge your devices whilst it's charging itself (at a slower rate) Much easier than drilling and messing around IMHO, and works really well, so much so I take it with me for work now and don't bother with mains chargers for the phone or iPad, do it all off this, charge this in the evening. It's also been useful for charging 3 devices in a german guest house with only 1 wall socket on the other side of the room

 

[WindyChuffer]

Rather than going down the wiring route, with the associated potential problems, have you considered a/some USB batteries?

Many dozens of types, sizes and powers on Ebay, and you can take them into a room/tent with you to charge a device there

There was one that popped up on a 'spotted a bargain' thread recently....I got one and it's a cracking bit of kit....I keep it in the car on charge via a DIN plug to the cig socket, which is something you could do with no extra physical wiring on the bike, but you'd always have additional USB power

What potential problems? We are talking about a simple fused connection to battery with suitable connector on the other end. Or even simpler, a DIN plug to the accessory socket BMW so kindly provided with a suitable adapter.

What you are suggesting is just more shyte to carry round and clutter up your life.

 

[Davey B]

Similar vein...I recently got one of these, great for the cash.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/RAVPower®-E...1_7?s=telephone&ie=UTF8&qid=1421439983&sr=1-7

 

[Gargy]

How does that work?

You fit an electric tank ring that is wired to the battery (Or other power source). You also fit the corresponding upper electric tank connector to the underside of the tankbag. When you clip the tankbag on, the power comes on.................. But the terminals are not live when you unclip the tankbag. (There is a inline box of wizardy built in to the lower tank ring loom.
Brilliant system. I have had one of these on every bike I've had................... Faultless.

I'll take some pic's of mine if you like.................. Let me know.

 

[Toddmeister]

I use either a portable battery pack similar to those already described by other Tossers on this link (I use a Drift one)

........or do you use an Optimate battery charger on your bike? If you do, and you have the charging plug connected directly to the battery, then you can use the special USB adaptor and charge your stuff on the move through that.

http://www.optimate.co.uk/o-101.htm