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Adding a 12 volt outlet- Best location?

  • Thread starter Thread starter surviverguy
  • Start date Start date
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surviverguy

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I'm about to add a 12 VDC outlet for cell phone or video camera or whatever. Not sure where to mount this. What works out good?
 
here's what it looks like

12vdcoutlet002.jpg
 
The unit I use has an inline fuse holder, so I could simply attach it to the starter relay & set it under the seat. That way, the device being charged can stay under the seat as well. The plug-in USB converters are super-handy for that.

You could use Velcro if you're a tidiness type.
 
i would tend to want mine someplace that was accessible without opening or removing anything, but out of the way and not highly visible. would under the tank work? maybe tucked above the carbs so you can plug in whatever you want and route the power cord under the tank to the dash, or stash your device under the seat
 
airbornespud said:
i would tend to want mine someplace that was accessible without opening or removing anything, but out of the way and not highly visible. would under the tank work? maybe tucked above the carbs so you can plug in whatever you want and route the power cord under the tank to the dash, or stash your device under the seat
Click to expand...
This is kinda what I was thinking- accessible... not sure if it should be in front of me (above carbs maybe?) or (behind/underneath me)...or on the side (whole cut in sidecover) or side (without using side cover)...so many options!!!!!
 
robertbarr said:
The unit I use has an inline fuse holder, so I could simply attach it to the starter relay & set it under the seat. That way, the device being charged can stay under the seat as well. The plug-in USB converters are super-handy for that.

You could use Velcro if you're a tidiness type.
Click to expand...
It'll be fused protected for sure. Haven't decided whether to wire as battery powered (always hot) or relay controlled when ignition is on...currently adding a fuse box and some relays and doing a reg/rec mod....
 
surviverguy said:
This is kinda what I was thinking- accessible... not sure if it should be in front of me (above carbs maybe?) or (behind/underneath me)...or on the side (whole cut in sidecover) or side (without using side cover)...so many options!!!!!
Click to expand...
great minds think alike... but so do mediocre minds. LOL. i'm sure you will find something that works.
 
I'm using the Battery Tender cable It uses a SAE connector I use a SAE to cigarette lighter adapter. Harbor frieght had an 80 amp inverter with 110v and USB plug for 16 bucks. It will do both the I Phone and Blue Tooth at the same time.

I put the stuff in the tank bag.
 
If you wire it up as always hot it can double as a battery tender connection. But you will need to make sure that nothing is connected to it after you turn the bike off, otherwise it will drain the battery.
 
850 Combat said:
I'm using the Battery Tender cable It uses a SAE connector I use a SAE to cigarette lighter adapter. Harbor frieght had an 80 amp inverter with 110v and USB plug for 16 bucks. It will do both the I Phone and Blue Tooth at the same time.

I put the stuff in the tank bag.
Click to expand...
That would be an 80 Watt inverter, BTW, since our charging system only provides around 200 Watts power or 15 Amps current.
Not trying to nitpick, just clarify.
 
I put mine on a correct length wire and tuck it under/behind the carbs when not in use.
 
Right 80 watt. Not amp.

I don't think it uses 80 watt all the time though. I believe that it uses only a little more than what the chargers use. You are correct about it having a draw while plugged in if in use or not. All things considered, this is still my personal preference. The adapter is a 4 foot long cable. The 80 amp inverter has a short coiled cable on it. I'm considering replacing the cigarette lighter plug with a SAE connector as well.

this is the one I bought:

http://www.harborfreight.com/80-watt-continuous-200-watt-peak-slim-power-inverter-66944.html

I've only used it on one trip so far.

I'm slightly concerned about cooling inside the tank bag. I'm considering a velcro mount on the tank bag. I put a Krauser rack and bags on it and could use that too I don't want anything more permanent than the Battery Tender cable on the bike. For a permanent connection, I would probably mount the socket on the fork between the upper and lower crown, use the headlight mount bolt, or maybe the upper crown pinch bolt.

I like the idea of not having it when I don't want it. I could hook it to the horn relay easily enough if I care to make something more permanent.
 
Last edited:
Just in front of the tank along the steering head. That way its out of site but accessible if you want to mount a phone holder to your bars or something. Which I've done before and its awesome. Nothing like having gps on your bike for long trips.
 
bottobot said:
Just in front of the tank along the steering head. That way its out of site but accessible if you want to mount a phone holder to your bars or something. Which I've done before and its awesome. Nothing like having gps on your bike for long trips.
Click to expand...
Phone holder for GPS- I like that idea. Yeah my Iphone has built in GPS which often comes in handy. It would be difficult to ride the bike and hold the phone to look at the gps.
 
850 Combat said:
I'm using the Battery Tender cable It uses a SAE connector I use a SAE to cigarette lighter adapter. Harbor frieght had an 80 amp inverter with 110v and USB plug for 16 bucks. It will do both the I Phone and Blue Tooth at the same time.

I put the stuff in the tank bag.
Click to expand...
I've never heard of an SAE connector before! What is that?
 
surviverguy said:
It'll be fused protected for sure. Haven't decided whether to wire as battery powered (always hot) or relay controlled when ignition is on...currently adding a fuse box and some relays and doing a reg/rec mod....
Click to expand...

I made a diagram for doing this on my bike, last night.
I'll have two circuits coming from the relay, one switched only, and the other unswitched only.
The unswitched circuit would be great for battery keepers, or possibly an alarm.
aux1.jpg


I still haven't figured where to put the plugs. I guess a mounted plug under the tank for the switched.
Maybe use a molex on the unswitched and keep it just out of sight but not out of reach.
 
I just bought the bits to do the same the other day. Aux/cigarette lighter socket with a weather cover, inline weatherproof blade fuse holder, and I also bought a 10A switch with weatherproof rubber boot.

I plan to run it directly off the battery so I can switch it on/off independent of the ignition switch so if I need to charge a phone or something I can hide it somewhere and not necessarily have to stand by the bike with the key in the ignition.

I haven't decided on a location yet but am thinking of mounting it facing down in the gap between my relocated electronics plate and the inner rear mudguard. You'd need to see it to understand but I can use two existing holes there, one for mounting the tray and one for mounting the R/R and I just need to make a very simple bracket for it.
 
surviverguy said:
What else goes in the tank bag?
Click to expand...

The tank bag is like my wife's purse...everything goes in it....

Our comm system, the cell phones, chap-stick, Tylenol, camera, MP3 player, hats, micro fiber cloth, Plexus, sunglasses, stuff...

tank_bag.jpg
 
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