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Accessory Plug Wattage


Dave_C

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Posted

I need help. Electricity is a bit of a mystery to me. I have been riding BMW's for a while. My first one was a 1983 K100RS. I have always had a heated vest, which with the heated grips and proper outer garments kept me warm all year. I used the Lectric vest(I can't remember the brand) for a long time, the plug got thrashed and was unusable. I bought a BMW brand vest. It had the flimsiest plug ever and didn't fit well. Both put out tremendous heat. About 1-1/2 years ago I bought an Aerostich Kanetsu Airvantage vest. It was warm but not nearly as warm as the other two. It recently quit working(light on but no heat). They nicely sent me a replacement which worked for about 45 minutes, then no light or heat. I really want an electric vest that just plugs into the socket. If they worked fine 30 years ago, why not now? My outlets still work fine for charging phones. By the way my bike is a 2006 R1200rt with almost 80,000 miles. I just put a new battery in it(just replaced the original). Also what do you think about Firstgear(I know accesories question) I need the wisdom of the group.

Posted

Afternoon Dave

 

The no light & no heat thing kind of points to you overloading the accessory plug electronic circuit breaker. (no fuse you have a computer controlled circuit breaker on that bike)

 

I'm really not sure of the accessory plug watts on you 2006 RT

 

The 05 was definitely 5 amps-- so 5 amps at 12 volts is 60 watts. (you run down the road at a bit over 14 volts but at low hot idle with everything on it is probably closer to 12 volts.

 

The later 1200RT's were 10 amps--so 10 amps at 12 volts is 120 watts available.

 

Your outlet socket amps should be shown in your riders manual.

 

In any case just add up the watts on all your heated gear you run all-at-once then divide by 12 to give you the amps it takes to run them at 12 volts.

 

If you are going to run a lot of heated gear you might look into running a dedicated plug directly from the battery fused at 15 amps to plug your heated gear into.

 

Posted

This vest I have is 45 watts (45/12=3.75. 3.3 per the mfr). Well below 5 amps. I don't wear any other heated gear or have anything else plugged into the outlet. I do run the heated grips and seat. I don't have a radio. Shouldn't the plug be able to handle it. It always worked before. Is there a way to reset the breaker?

Afternoon Dave

 

The no light & no heat thing kind of points to you overloading the accessory plug electronic circuit breaker. (no fuse you have a computer controlled circuit breaker on that bike)

 

I'm really not sure of the accessory plug watts on you 2006 RT

 

The 05 was definitely 5 amps-- so 5 amps at 12 volts is 60 watts. (you run down the road at a bit over 14 volts but at low hot idle with everything on it is probably closer to 12 volts.

 

The later 1200RT's were 10 amps--so 10 amps at 12 volts is 120 watts available.

 

Your outlet socket amps should be shown in your riders manual.

 

In any case just add up the watts on all your heated gear you run all-at-once then divide by 12 to give you the amps it takes to run them at 12 volts.

 

If you are going to run a lot of heated gear you might look into running a dedicated plug directly from the battery fused at 15 amps to plug your heated gear into.

Posted

Morning Dave

 

Yes, at 45 watts there should be no problems. The heated seat & heated grips are on a different circuit.

 

Can you try your vest on someone else's bike?

 

Or maybe try it at your local BMW dealer.

 

Not sure about CA BMW dealers but back east here in the cold zone most BMW dealers have a heated gear display with a power source on the counter to test them or try them out before buying.

 

Assuming your vest is operating properly & not drawing more power than designed then you have other issues. Could be a controller issue, or a problem in the wire to or form the controller, or something in the bike's accessory circuit electrical system.

 

You are going to have to systematically test & eliminate all in the heated gear circuit.

 

Posted

I was able to get a jacket liner and gloves out of mine. Once I added the heated insoles it cut out. maybe 10 amp max?

Posted

The owner's manual for the '06 says 5 watts

Posted

Dave, that can't be right. 5 amps, maybe, but not 5 watts. 5 watts would barely power a few LEDs.

 

-MKL

Posted

I use a Gerbing vest, but have it wired through an Aux breaker panel I installed. I know you can get them with an adapter for the BMW, and the draw isn't that much.

I would say return the vest, and start over. The Gerbing vest lists for $140, so it's not that bad. I do know the plug to fit the BMW will be extra, I just don't know how much.

If you want help with the electrical, just plan a weekend trip out to the coast. I should be able to install a panel on your machine for about $60 in parts.( I use only marine grade wire and parts)

PM me if you want more information. And no, I don't work for or sell Gerbing, I'm just a very happy customer.

Posted
....If you are going to run a lot of heated gear you might look into running a dedicated plug directly from the battery fused at 15 amps to plug your heated gear into.

 

The best solution I think. And it allows one to still use the BMW outlets as "occasional" use items. A connect right to the battery can also be tidier I think, and I use mine as a secondary connection to the battery with my directly (fused) Battery Tender jr harness. On the road I can snake either harnress into my tank bag (etc) to connect cell phones, MP3 players, etc and other items to charge them.

 

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

My 2006 R1200RT powers my Gerbing heated jacket with no problems at the outlet under the left grip. I have connected the pants too, but generally run those separate off the battery (AP-1) on the few times I've actually needed it.

 

I could run both off the AP-1 box but it's generally quicker and neater to just use the outlet under the grip.

 

AD

Posted

Interesting discussion. I have an '05 RT and I was planning to install a dedicated third outlet and run it right to the battery. I looked at the Powerlet site to see what was available and wound up calling them with a couple of questions. I wound up speaking to Jeff who was really helpful and I asked him about the BMW iCAN stock socket rewire harness that I saw on the website. He said that that harness is used only on '05 and '06 models up to 8/06. These models have factory accessory plugs that were carried over from the 1150s. After 8/06, the factory plugs are different. There are pictures on their website so you can confirm very simply which ones you actually have on your bike. The iCan harness that they sell is plug and play if you have the early style factory accessory plug. I used it on the front socket below the left handgrip. Just unplug the old one and tape it off then plug in the new one and run it to the battery. You really need to remove the left top fairing to get at the plug and then you need to remove the left lower fairing to route the harness. I wound up loosening the left side gas tank mounts so I could lift the tank up just enough to facilitate snaking the harness back to the battery. I used the 36" model which was just barely long enough, but if I had it to do over again, I'd get the 48" one to make it all a little less fiddly.

  • 4 years later...
Posted

--Is there a way to reset the breaker?

 

I am guessing that there must be some way with a GS911...

Posted
--Is there a way to reset the breaker?

 

 

 

Morning rahbert

 

It automatically re-sets when you turn the key off, then back on, & re-start the engine.

Posted

If that doesn't reset, what then?

Posted
If that doesn't reset, what then?

 

Afternoon rahbert

 

 

Then you need to find out what is causing it to not reset (like a high load on that circuit OR a failed part.

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