sat nav connection

Discussion in '8th Generation 2014-Present' started by blueone, Sep 5, 2020.

  1. blueone

    blueone New Member

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    looking to connect a sat nav to the ignition swich is there a spare plug on the bike that i can use or is there another way of doing it or have i got to go strat to the battery ? thank you
     
  2. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    For sat nav, I prefer an always on connection.... don't know what 8th Gen has for fuses, but a fuse tap into an existing fuse can work. Sat nav draw is very low that usually a 3 amp fuse is all you need.
     
  3. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    I have it connected direct to battery on both my VFR and my GS. But you have to remember to turn the GPS off when you park the bike. It will drain the battery over night. That has happened to me several times with my VFR and I am sure will happen with the GS which is new to me.

    I think it is time for me to acquire one of those portable power boxes or whatever they call them. You keep them charged through the cigarette lighter and have enough juice in them to start a car with a dead battery, charge up you cell and laptop. They are pretty compact.
     
  4. fink

    fink Member

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    Has been posted here on another thread complete with pictures. Can’t find link at moment.

    Basically it’s the 4 pin connector on left side of bike which has been blanked off at level with battery
     
  5. fink

    fink Member

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  6. blueone

    blueone New Member

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    yes thanks i can find it as well but ill keep looking thank you mo
     
  7. fink

    fink Member

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    See my post above with link to page
     
  8. sudolea

    sudolea New Member

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    ... which is the perfect argument for topic starter's question :) Moreover, it's a bad idea to have permanent power on the satnav's craddle as this tends to destroy it...
     
  9. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    Can't see how an always on connection destroys the cradle. If you're worried about that, put a switch in the circuit, maybe so if there's a transformer that reduces the voltage from 12V to 5V. Sat Nav on with ignition cycles can sometimes get confused and prefer constant power all day. So install a switch on a power reduced circuit or just remove the Sat Nav at the end of your day.
    Cradles require maintenance.... contact pins are spring-loaded, and the springs eventually get corrosion. Two or three times a year, I work contact cleaner in the pins and cycle them up and down with an insulated stick (or disconnect the power, your choice). Same deal with your headset if it has similar pin design.
     
  10. sudolea

    sudolea New Member

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    I hope you agree with me that at some point the cure for NOT connecting the cradle to continuous power is more cumbersome than JUST connecting the cradle's power to the ignition switch ...
    However ... de gustibus et de coloribus ...
     
  11. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    The Garmin Zumo has been directly connected to the battery of my VFR on a constant basis since around 2010 or earlier, and since that time, I have racked on over 150,ooo km on the bike. I don't believe for one moment that permanent connection to the battery of a navigation system will damage the cradle. Also, though it may be a good idea, I have done nothing to maintain that cradle at all, and have even washed the bike without the cradle's cover on it more times than I can remember.

    Maybe I have just been lucky. I don't really believe in luck though.
     
    Viffer J likes this.
  12. sudolea

    sudolea New Member

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    I rest my case, as this thread clutters up with a useless discussion. Don't count on me to continue it. I can only request everyone to remember : if topic starter asks how to connect something to ignition switch, you don't help him/her by saying that YOU always connect it to the battery ... this.does.not.f.help.him. This was not the question.
     
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