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

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



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  #16  
Old 16 Jan 2013
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I'd like to install three power sockets. I know it sounds a lot but this is the plan:

Socket 1. In the dash, will power gps (if I get one..!) or charge phone/tablet/camera whatever via usb.

Socket 2. Again in the dash, will power heated vest.

Socket 3. In the sidepanel. Will power pillion heated vest and compressor when required.

As the bike is a 600 TA with limited output we won't be running both vests together but am I right in thinking that one vest plus the low-draw usb stuff should be ok..?
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  #17  
Old 19 Jan 2013
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Crusty,

not sure what year your 600TA is, but I think the stator output should be ~ 320 watts so you should be good, the draw for charging gps/phone/tablet etc will be quite small.

I can use heated grips and my wifes uses her heated vest at the same time as long as I keep engine ~ 4000rpm on the DR - below that and things get chilly and the DR's stator has alot less output than the TA !
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  #18  
Old 22 Jan 2013
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Hi Gipper,

Thanks for the info. My TA is from 1999, pretty much the last of the 600's.

I have heated grips too so it's nice to know we should be ok to run at least one vest simultaneously. The USB stuff may prove to be the tricky part. I'm guessing the output from the socket (USB adapter) is fixed therefore all the devices charging from it would have to be rated the same in order to charge properly..?

Is that how it works, or do they just draw whatever they need..?
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  #19  
Old 26 Jan 2013
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Hi Crusty,

The USB is the easiest, components will draw what they need, the latest USB charging connectors (no data) can handle 5 amps (for a safety margin), but will only ever take up to 1.5 amps at 5 volts to recharge your gps, cell, tablet, batteries, etc etc.
If you run separate feed wires from the battery make sure you use in line fuses or a better way is to use a separate fuse box, controlled by a switching relay from the ignition, to turn everything off when the ignition is off.

If you use the bike for touring or lots of rough trails I would use the BMW or 'Mini' power plugs/sockets as they lock in place unlike the regular automotive ones that shake loose, but the direct 12v USB plug in adapters obviously wont fit into them.

http://www.powerlet.com/shop-by-prod...bution/PWRDIST

They do direct adapters to a range of USB connectors here:

http://www.powerlet.com/search?keywords=usb



On our Blog under 'Trip Prep' theres some photos of how the DR is set up similar to how you wish to do the TA.
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Last edited by Gipper; 26 Jan 2013 at 01:01.
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  #20  
Old 26 Jan 2013
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We have standard cigarette lighter sockets installed under the seat of both Transalp and Africa Twin and at the handlebars. We plug in USB converters where needed; there are some (we use VoltCraft) which click in and stay where they are supposed to be staying. We use the lighter socket for charging the batteries in winter, to power the compressor etc.; the USB is used for recharging the Cardo Scalas, the USB Nikon charger unit, cellphones and other USB appliances overnight, when touring. In fact, we have not one 220V appliance with us.

None of our sockets is connected to the ignition but are directly wired to the battery, otherwise the overnight charging or re-charging of batteries would not work without the bike´s ignition "on". Nothing wrong with this wiring, but a fuse very close to the battery is required. A word of warning in respect to hardwired USB power outlets, which are available on the market as well: they use electricity even when not in use (i.e. when no appliance is plugged in), so they will - over time - discharge the battery, so a switch close to the socket itself is recommended.
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  #21  
Old 14 Feb 2013
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My husband picked up a few of these (12 Volt 6' Extension Power Cord with Cigarette Lighter Socket TSPS-16ES - $8.99 :) at a Flying J truck stop a while back and put one under each of our seats. We mainly use them for charging cellphones.

Anyone know of a good all-around mount for cellphones with a magnetic base. If we can't find one before spring riding kicks off we're gonna have to make one.

Thanks, Shawna
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