zumo wired direct to battery - question

[dazz]

Hi I have just wired my zumo direct to the battery on my 1200gsa
i have it mounted with the migsel ram attachment type mount
my question is
should i leave the power cable connected to the holder when zumo removed
or should i remove the power cable from the holder?
would there be any draw on the battery when the zumo remained in the holder but it was switched off or if zumo completely removed from the holder

i read on here that the canbus type connection switches off a few minutes after ignition switched off so no problem there
but as i have it wired direct to battery i dont want a flat battery
thanks

 

[theEnglishman]

The 'holder' gets corrosion on its terminals if the power's left on permaenently. It's covered elsewhere on the site - I think Steptoe first brought it up.

Best get the Sat nav connector from a BMW dealer and wire it though that - then the GPS is only powered if the ignition's on.

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

The 'holder' gets corrosion on its terminals if the power's left on permaenently. It's covered elsewhere on the site - I think Steptoe first brought it up.

Best get the Sat nav connector from a BMW dealer and wire it though that - then the GPS is only powered if the ignition's on.

Then every time you switch the ignition off the GPS goes off as well. Leave it connected (fused) directly to the battery and wire in a switch. On my 2006 GSA there is a blank for a rocker switch on the foglamp switch unit, I bought a rocker switch for a 650 and wired it there.

 

[theEnglishman]

Then every time you switch the ignition off the GPS goes off as well. Leave it connected (fused) directly to the battery and wire in a switch. On my 2006 GSA there is a blank for a rocker switch on the foglamp switch unit, I bought a rocker switch for a 650 and wired it there.

Well my Zumo comes with a battery that lasts a long time(hours ??? ). And even then, not for a minute and a half, as the connector remains live for 90s after the ignition is switched off.

And I really don't need sat nav to walk around Waitrose.


Still, everyone's an individual........

 

[Big Nick]

Then every time you switch the ignition off the GPS goes off as well.

The Zumo asks if you want to continue on the internal battery when the ignition goes off so your comment isn't strictly true. Seems daft for BMW to supply a canbus GPS socket and then prat around wiring in switches

 

[dazz]

thanks will leave it as is for now + i'll remove the power lead from holder when not using for now or will that still draw on the battery ?
anyway i will try to locate a canbus lead from somewhere in the near future
asked local dealer + they told me wont sell me one but told me they could book it in to fit one if i wanted
would pefer to not go that route if poss

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

The Zumo asks if you want to continue on the internal battery when the ignition goes off so your comment isn't strictly true. Seems daft for BMW to supply a canbus GPS socket and then prat around wiring in switches

I did try switching between battery and bike power once as you have outlined, ended up with the Zumo dying and I didn't have the allen key to remove the battery with me. I think Garmin may have fixed that problem now. The switch I wired in controls the intercom and bike to bike also.

 

[ECM]

Hi I have just wired my zumo direct to the battery on my 1200gsa
i have it mounted with the migsel ram attachment type mount

I got exactly the same setup. Left it for 2 weeks in the shed during holliday. No problems.
But: I got a new bike (fresh battery)
Personaly I leave it connected. Can't see any harm in it. As to corroding contacts: I got a fingertip of ASF50 on them

 

[Red Rock]

I rewired mine direct to the battery to overcome the CANBUS cut-out issue you mentioned and my battery is the original - 3yrs old, and was a bit sluggish last winter. but no problems with battery drain once the Zumo is removed even with a couple of weeks standing. - I do tend to be a bit more careful about keeping the rubber cap over the zumo mount contacts now though.

 

[trebor]

I believe the problem isn't so much corrosion but more to do with the material coating the contact, normally gold, which starts to migrate away from a contact that is at a positive potential towards a more negative potential. If you look at terminals where this has occurred you'll see tracks of gold leading away from the terminal. Just disconnecting the plug from the mount will just move the problem from the contacts on the mount to those in the plug.

Bob

 

[dazz]

I believe the problem isn't so much corrosion but more to do with the material coating the contact, normally gold, which starts to migrate away from a contact that is at a positive potential towards a more negative potential. If you look at terminals where this has occurred you'll see tracks of gold leading away from the terminal. Just disconnecting the plug from the mount will just move the problem from the contacts on the mount to those in the plug.

Bob

what would the end result be then eventually? would it leave me with a poor connection or do any other harm?
thanks for replys

 

[trebor]

what would the end result be then eventually? would it leave me with a poor connection or do any other harm?
thanks for replys

Gold is a good conductor and is used to provide a better contact between devices, also it doesn't tarnish or corrode like other metals (aluminium, copper, etc). Therefore, if you suffered from it's migration from the contacts it would certainly give you a poorer connection, which would probably get worse with time as the metal underneath would then be susceptible to corrosion. Furthermore, the metal underneath would also start to migrate as well, so the contacts would get thinner over time.

I don't think it would cause any other harm.

Bob