Where to get GPS power?

[Quinn]

Where is the best place to get power for my clutch resevoir mounted GPS? Do I want an always on source or a switched source? Oh, it's for an '04 1150RT with radio. I'm considering just hooking on to the positive charging post and frame screw under the seat and running the wire under the tank (without removing it) and then tiewrapping the harness where I can reach on the frame up front up to the handlebar.

 

 

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[NonComp]

It's your choice, really. Some want their GPS constantly powered so that the GPS continues to record elapsed travel time during coffee stops. I didn't and wired mine to the tailight circuit so that it is switched.

[T__]

Quinn, it really depends on the GPS,, And (IF) you want it to go on & off with the ign key,, etc..

 

On a GPS like my Zumo 550 I want it powered full time from the battery so it doesn’t break the stored tracks up & doesn’t have to re-boot every time I stop for gas or turn the key off..

 

Some GPS units use very little power so can be left on for hours using very little power..

 

The way I look at it if only stopping for a few minutes & with the bike in sight I want the GPS to stay on & ready to go.. If stopping for longer or walking away from the bike I am going to remove it anyway so full time power is not a big deal..

 

Also on GPS units like my Zumo I can monitor battery voltage if I want if wired directly to the battery,, if wired into a switched circuit it will show the voltage of that circuit only & there is usually some resistance in the system wiring so the voltage shown won’t be true battery voltage..

 

You can easily push a stiff wire along the side of the fuel tank then use that to pull a wire harness through from the battery area to the front then tie strap that wire harness to the handlebar harness going up near the clutch reservoir.. Be sure to fuse the harness at the battery..

 

Twisty

 

[Dan M]

If your GPS does not have an internal battery, wiring it direct makes sense. There are many times when you will want to look at your routing with the bike off. Better to just have the minimal draw of the GPS than switching the ignition on or idling the bike.

 

just my 2 cents

 

edit: looks like twisty beat me to it

[DavidEBSmith]

On the 1100s, there were two power lines to the radio - one that was constantly on, and one that was on when the ignition was in any position other than Lock. I connected my GPS/V1 to the latter, figuring that at gas stations and the like, I would just turn the ignition off and the GPS would stay powered, but if I was stopping for the night, I would lock the fork and the GPS would be off even if I forgot to turn it off.

 

If you can always remember to turn off your GPS when the bike is idle for long periods, you can just run a (FUSED) line straight from the battery.

 

It also depends on what GPS you have. My original one was a III+ which draws almost no power. Units with big color screens will draw more power.

 

(As an aside, I never lock the fork anymore because the ignition switch is worn and the last time I locked it, it took a half hour to get it unlocked).

[Jameseo]

+1 on the ignition switched radio lead.

[Quinn]

I like the idea of the radio power connection and will take a look at the schematic for location. Guess that means I'll have to figure out how to pull the radio to get to the backside of the plug.

 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.