Hard-wiring Garmin StreetPilot

[Mike_Brown]

I just received my hard wire to hook my GPS to my 2002 RT's electrical system. Is it OK to simply wire it directly to the battery?

[Uggles]

Yes but there is the possibility that if you leave the GPS turned on it will drain the battery.

Best to tap into a hot wire that only comes on with the ignition. Something like parking or head lights.

Cheers

[Heck]

Sure- just remember to turn it off..

If you wire to ignition hot, you will reboot every time you hit the starter and or turn the key on...

Not good when you are chronicling a trip.. tradeoff is you don't kill the battery...

I run mine hot to the battery via a powerlet port that is always on...I dont even put the batteries in when on the bike.. makes it too heavy and subject to more vibration.

If for some reason you forget to turn it off overnight, probably no big deal..much more than that and you may have problems.

Good Luck

 

Heck

[Mike_Brown]

Thanks for the advice. You all are great!

 

Mike

[E30TECH]

+1

 

I have mine hardwired to hot. This way you dont need to turn the ignition on to scroll thru maps, change settings, etc. Not to mention that once the power is off, the "total" time will not be correct if you are timing a trip.

[tone1298]

+1 for hardwire.

 

Works great, don't leave on over night though.

[FrankC]

Just ordered my refurb. 2610 for $199.

 

I am a newbie to wiring a garmin to my 1150RT. How do you find that terminal that is always hot?

 

Frank

[markgoodrich]

I preferred a more complex solution, using a "fuse block", really a fused power block, with a relay, which isolated the GPS and other accessories from the CANBUS. There's lots of threads about such wire-ups here. I used an off-the-shelf one, maybe a Touratech, but others have their favorites, such as Cen-Tech, Blue Sea, etc. They're a little bit spendy, but you can make your own for just a few bucks and half an hour, by following the excellent instructions found HERE . I added a little plastic box, also from Radio Shack, attaching the metal strip to the thin top of the box, and running wires in through holes drilled in both ends, then used zip ties to hold it closed. Isolated it a little better from the weather. It'll fit nicely under the seat, or even under the fairing, as the FJR guy did.

 

You can make a ground block this way too, for just a couple bucks, using just the metal strip, and running a single wire to the battery ground, then grounding all your widgets to the strip...a little cleaner installation at the battery this way.