Question about the power adapter

[drhixson]

I have a Tom Tom Rider GPS I am planning on using with my new FJR. I know that this bike has a power adapter in the small compartment next to the front fairing.. I am wondering though, can you actually plug something into the power adapter and still close the cover? Does this make any since?

 

[radman]

Since what?

 

[gr8eyes]

This sense.

No it doesn't unless you just want to keep your phone charged.

Glenn

 

[Randy]

If the dash box is like the '04/'05 models, there is a rubber seal around the lid. There is also a lip. There is a corner where there isn't a lip which allows you to run a cord in/out of the box and keep the lid closed.

Another option might be to run a 2nd power adapter (Powerlet). Powerlet has a connector that allows you to tap in to an existing Powerlet to run a 2nd Powerlet. Doubt the connectors are the same as the Yamaha plug, but, with a little soldering, might be able to make it work. https://www.powerletproducts.com/products/second_socket.php

Not that it matters, but, am curious - is the power outlet on the '06 switched (only on when the key is on) or is it always hot?

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Power up your tank bag, then just plug it in and you can power up most everything from inside. Very clean and easy to remove all your things.

 

[tstaff]

06 only has power when the key switch is on.

 

[NightShine]

I have a Tom Tom Rider GPS I am planning on using with my new FJR. I know that this bike has a power adapter in the small compartment next to the front fairing.. I am wondering though, can you actually plug something into the power adapter and still close the cover? Does this make any since?

Hi, drhixson -

On my 05, I mounted my TomTom Rider using a short stem mount. I'd initially planned to supply power with a Powerlet adapter, but as the mount and cradle remain permanently on the bike, it was cleaner to essentailly hardwire it to a key-switched circuit (ala Mark's Power Distribution farkle).

There are probably several solutions to mounting and powering. So I'm curious - what mounting approach are you planning?

 

[SkooterG]

I just recently wired my Garmin GPS.

MOST hardwire GPS to an unswitched (always hot) power source. I ran mine directly to the battery.

 

[NightShine]

MOST hardwire GPS to an unswitched (always hot) power source.

Usually nothing wrong with that approach, but the TomTom's installation instructions call out a switched circuit for power. Its mounting cradle has circuitry that converts the bike's 12 volts to 5 volts, which it uses to recharge its onboard battery. It's not the best practice to leave the conversion circuitry continuously on when the bike is not running, but the drain on the battery is probably miniscule.

Also I'd note that the TomTom will turn itself off when it senses that the current is cut (not documented, but that's what it does). Kinda handy, I guess, because of that awkward on-off switch. For those times when I don't want this "feature", I just pop the unit out of the cradle before turning off the bike.