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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 25 Apr 2006
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Question charging a phone

Hello to all at this great website.
Passed my test about 6 months ago, recently got myself a 650 suzuki sv.
wanting to do a tour of europe. Please help, I could do with some advise on connecting a mobile phone charger, and hope to connect an ipod charger too.
any advice or help would be gratefull.

take care all, from dave.

I was down the road, in a cloud of dust, me and the wanderlust. Mark Knopfler
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  #2  
Old 25 Apr 2006
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Dave
There are probably lots of posts on this subject. Try a few advanced searches for "power socket" etc.

Here's a very recent one.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...our-bike-20708

Actually, the easiest solution is to buy a big BMW.
Stephan
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  #3  
Old 25 Apr 2006
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Fused 12V DIN socket

One option is to have a 12V DIN socket fitted, connected up to the battery.
You can then either make sure that you fit DIN plugs to your equipment, or you can buy an adaptor (I got one off Ebay - cheap as), plug the DIN (like a car cigarette lighter connection) into the bike, then just plug your UK plugs into that. Nice and easy!
Just remember to charge stuff whilst riding, rather than leaving it overnight

*I do remember that I searched for ages for the correct name to look up the adaptor under, but of course now cannot remember. I will have a think and let you know.
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  #4  
Old 25 Apr 2006
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Smile thank you for the help

Many thanks to you both,
I would love to have a big bmw fully kitted out. untill that day I will have to make do with a "DIY" 12v din socket on the sv650, much cheaper.
I have to get a new chain and sprocket this weekend, so I will ask at the local dealer if they have any 12v din sockets.
Are these sockets showerproof, or is it to be hidden under the rear seat?
Thank you again for the help and advice
Dave
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  #5  
Old 25 Apr 2006
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ey up dave welcome to the site .
i used to keep my din plug under the seaton the st1100 idont think they are realy shower proof .i used to charge my phone as i was riding as there is loads of room under the pan seat .dont know about the SV.
where you thinking of touring dave ?
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  #6  
Old 25 Apr 2006
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Easy job......

Charging a phone uses very little power. I took a feed off the right hand sidelight behind the little access flap in the fairing (If your is the 'S' version). Used a 1 foot length of twin core wire to a FEMALE headphone socket and zip tied the socket to an existing wire by the top yoke. Had the socket pointing down so as to avoid water ingress. Used another foot of same cable on a male connector and the other end onto a 12v cigarette lighter socket. Reaches the tank bag easily and can be unplugged leaving just the fly lead on the bike. Allows you to plug in a car charger easily enough in the tank bag.

If you intend to use the 12v supply for anything heavier than a phone charger use a relay to trip off the sidelights and take constant feed from the battery via an inline fuse. Done this way the power will switch off when the ignition is off.

Hope this helps.

Roger Orchard.

SV1000s & KTM 950 Adventure.
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Old 25 Apr 2006
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Smile Thank you both

Many thanks for the help, I have visited the touratech link, they sell waterproof 12v din sockets, just what I need.
Untill I can afford a fully loaded BMW, the sv should keep my happy for a while.
Thank you again for the friendly help.
From Dave

Keep on Keeping on, Like a bird that flew. Bob Dylan
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  #8  
Old 26 Apr 2006
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Plastic cap

Yeah yeah! Get the socket that has a plastic cap on it.
I had mine put in purposefully high on the bike, because of my penchant for falling in puddles, so that way it won't be submerged (unless I try something particularly heroic!)

Happy customising!!
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Old 28 Apr 2006
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Be aware that different bikes vary greatly in terms of how much juice is available to auxilary equipment.

A typical celluar phone draws about 9 watts, your IPOD about 12 watts. That's 21 watts. For your bike, that may not be a lot, but for my bike, which stator has a total output of only 80 watts, that is a significant ammount!
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Old 28 Apr 2006
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what is this site turning into "Anoraks unlimited"

As above........
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  #11  
Old 30 Apr 2006
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Thumbs up The Inverter/adaptor I mentioned

Hey Dave,

I was tidying up and found the invoice for the adaptor that I mentioned. It's actually an inverter (but a really small one compared to the massive industrial ones that appear in google searches). I am happy with mine because you can just plug your phone charger right in, with UK plug attached. Worked perfectly. I also used it for an AA battery charger for my digital cameras batteries. And the cable is long enough to plug it into your bike and put the adaptor section and whatever you're charging into your pannier.

Have a look at:
http://www.eurobatteries.com/sitepag...sp?search=0075

Happy shopping!
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Old 8 May 2006
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I wouldn't use an inverter, as it only turns electricity into heat. You can get 12V car adapters for cell phones very cheap and probably for the Ipod as well.
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