Cigarette Adapter

[Ohioan]

On a forum devoted to riding, not necissarily old bikes, there was a picture of a small portable air compressor from harbor freight. I mentioned that I was afraid to wire ANYTHING in the fragile old wiring harness on my bike, and it was suggested that I just wire a cigarette lighter adapter directly to the battery. Even with my very little electrical knowledge, this does not seem wise.

Is there any way to get a cigarette adapter hooked up to the bike so I can run anything from say a GPS, portable compressor, cell phone charger, electrix etc? Remember I have very limited experience with electricity and pictures are worth a dozen words.

Thanks.

I tried to search through the forum but came up blank.

how about this?:

http://www.whybike.com/blog/index.php?p=104

[chuck hahn]

You can cut the cigarette adapter off the pump and add battery charger style clips..Need the compressor just lift the seat and hook it up.

[Ohioan]

yes but I want to add other gizmos too as I see fit.

[rustybronco]

I mentioned that I was afraid to wire ANYTHING in the fragile old wiring harness on my bike, and it was suggested that I just wire a cigarette lighter adapter directly to the battery.

Wire directly to the battery with an in-line fuse holder in the positive lead. then route the wires as to prevent damage to them.

fuse it accordingly as per device (air compressor ect...) and wire gauge used.

[chuck hahn]

there are a few ways to do it. You can directly wire it to the battery in which case it will have constant power even with the ignition off or you can wire it to turn on and off with the ignition..which would you prefer?

[DanTheMan]

I put an auxiliary outlet (cigarette lighter) in my Vetter fairing that I plug my heated vest into, and I carry one of those small cheap 12v air compressors around as well, it works fine. I've cleaned up all my electrical connections, haven't fried any wires yet. Mine is wired into the ignition circuit, so the key has to be on for it to work.

[bakalorz]

On a forum devoted to riding, not necissarily old bikes, there was a picture of a small portable air compressor from harbor freight. I mentioned that I was afraid to wire ANYTHING in the fragile old wiring harness on my bike, and it was suggested that I just wire a cigarette lighter adapter directly to the battery. Even with my very little electrical knowledge, this does not seem wise.

Is there any way to get a cigarette adapter hooked up to the bike so I can run anything from say a GPS, portable compressor, cell phone charger, electrix etc? Remember I have very limited experience with electricity and pictures are worth a dozen words.

Thanks.

I tried to search through the forum but came up blank.

how about this?:

http://www.whybike.com/blog/index.php?p=104

Thats an OK way to do it.

Make sure the adapter you buy has an inline fuse.
(the one in the article did, some may not)

[GS ace]

Lighter Plug

Years ago, blowing up an air mattress at 8 to 10,000 feet was insane. It still is. I engineered (if you could call it that) a setup for my Goldwing. I attached a pigtail to my battery that has a Battery Tender type plug that I got from Radio Shack. It was tucked up under the side cover with velcro. I attached the matching end to the cigarette lighter plug and voila! There was no need to fully remove the side cover to gain access to the cord and the socket was kept in my tank bag or luggage. The plug served two duties- power outlet and a connection for a battery charger.

[Ohioan]

So if I run a cigarette adapter directly from the battery I just need to make sure I have a proper fuse in there.

[DanTheMan]

So if I run a cigarette adapter directly from the battery I just need to make sure I have a proper fuse in there.

You got it. And 12 or 14 gauge wire preferably.

[Ohioan]

what about the whole 12volt 6 volt thing?

that sounds easy enough.

I may have to do that tonight since I'm waiting for my parts supplier to ship my fuel bowl gaskets...

[Matchless]

Here's mine, wired both ground and positive back to the battery via a 15A fuse at the battery. I use this for the smart battery charger and any accessories:

[Ohioan]

I went to the auto parts store, and all they had was a lighter plug with 14 gauge wire coming off of it. The end caps I need to wire it to the battery took 12 guage.

Or I could buy a adapter that isn't wired at all and just wire it all up myself using 12 gauge wire.

[fenderfreek]

14ga is sufficient for most any need, given the application. Anything that would damage that wiring would likely damage your battery and charging system as well. The 12ga end connectors will not mind 14ga wire if they are crimped properly. Be sure and use some heat shrink tube on the connectors to keep them waterproofed and clean.

I recently wired up this exact sort of setup on my SV650 to run my GPS, using 14ga wires and 12ga end connectors because the smaller ones would not fit the battery screw. Just make sure to use a 10A or so fuse on the positive side and your circuit will be safe.

[Steve]

Did you know that you already have a fused connection straight to the battery?

Yep. That last fuse in your fuse panel, the one labeled AUX or ACC.
All it does is power one of those screws at the end. The other screw is a ground.

.