Switched 12v near the handlebars?

[FTL900]

I recently mounted a RAM style cell phone holder on my left handlebar.
This particular phone holder has a USB port built in to charge your phone, and it hard-wires to the battery for power.

I've had phone chargers that will run your battery dead even when not in use, and others that don't leak voltage and don't kill your battery. Evidently this one is in the first category- I didn't ride my bike all weekend because we were out of town, and this morning I had very slow cranking and a not-starting motorcycle.

So where is a good place near the bars or battery area to get switched power? I'm hoping not to have to dismantle the entire dash and fairing.

Suggestions?

 

[08FJR4ME]

You should use a power distribution box which has switched power. Unless the bike is on it won't draw power. Several types out there

Eastern beaver is one. Centech may be another. There are 3 or 4 good ones out there.

Dave

 

[Laser Dude]

You need power as well as switched power.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Why not tap into accessory power in the glove box?

Fish the RAM wire through the bottom of the glove box, add a plug and you're done!

--G

 

[HotRodZilla]

Why not tap into accessory power in the glove box?Fish the RAM wire through the bottom of the glove box, add a plug and you're done!

--G

Yup! That or the heated grip connection. It's under the glove-box behind the left fairing. OR, a fuse box. They're super handy for connecting all kinds of stuff and leaving the OEM wiring alone. I don't remember what I have. Either a Twisted Throttle or a Blue Sea. Any will work. What you buy depends.on your needs and preferences.

 

[FTL900]

Why not tap into accessory power in the glove box?
Fish the RAM wire through the bottom of the glove box, add a plug and you're done!

--G

Oh btw, no power in the glove box. That 12v socket is dead. I've only had the bike about 7-8 weeks and haven't gotten much farther than verifying that it does not have power. I glanced at the fuses, but didn't see anything labeled for that, and everything else works, so I'm suspecting a wiring or connector issue.

Yup! That or the heated grip connection. It's under the glove-box behind the left fairing. OR, a fuse box. They're super handy for connecting all kinds of stuff and leaving the OEM wiring alone. I don't remember what I have. Either a Twisted Throttle or a Blue Sea. Any will work. What you buy depends.on your needs and preferences.

I may add a fuse box at some point, but right now I'm trying to walk before I run. The heated grips suggestion is a good idea, and being in Las Vegas, I don't use heated grips anyway. I'll have to figure out how to get in there, the left side isn't as straightforward as the right side. Thanks!!

 

[Ignacio]

Oh btw, no power in the glove box. That 12v socket is dead. I've only had the bike about 7-8 weeks and haven't gotten much farther than verifying that it does not have power. I glanced at the fuses, but didn't see anything labeled for that, and everything else works, so I'm suspecting a wiring or connector issue.

If you're having trouble finding the fuse to the accessory socket--then I'd question whether you should start embarking on wiring project. Since you're trying to just charge a cell--that circuit is certainly up to the task I'd put your energies into solving that issue first. And if you're bound and determined for a switched power trigger--it still is a great place as George suggested.

this morning I had very slow cranking and a not-starting motorcycle.

BTW, that's likely a different issue. This is the month or so window in the year that lead-acid batteries that have been perfectly fine inevitably die as a result of cooler-than-usual autumn mornings.

 

[FTL900]

Oh btw, no power in the glove box. That 12v socket is dead. I've only had the bike about 7-8 weeks and haven't gotten much farther than verifying that it does not have power. I glanced at the fuses, but didn't see anything labeled for that, and everything else works, so I'm suspecting a wiring or connector issue.

If you're having trouble finding the fuse to the accessory socket--then I'd question whether you should start embarking on wiring project. Since you're trying to just charge a cell--that circuit is certainly up to the task I'd put your energies into solving that issue first. And if you're bound and determined for a switched power trigger--it still is a great place as George suggested.

this morning I had very slow cranking and a not-starting motorcycle.

BTW, that's likely a different issue. This is the month or so window in the year that lead-acid batteries that have been perfectly fine inevitably die as a result of cooler-than-usual autumn mornings.

I literally "glanced" at the fuse box. I didn't have time to go any further at the time and didn't look into it any farther. Having wired up 3 different dirt bikes to convert over to dual sport by adding lights, horn, signals, switches, and in one case, a battery, I can probably handle this wiring project. Thanks for your concern.

Cooler autumn mornings are not the issue either. The bike has been cranking and starting just fine until I added the phone mount with USB port and wired it straight to the battery last week. It has previously been parked as long as 4-5 days without starting it and started fine prior to wiring in the phone mount. We drove out to California for the weekend and the bike wasn't ridden for 2 days and then wouldn't start this morning. It's parked inside our garage, and the low temperature for the weekend was around 60 degrees in Las Vegas. So I really don't think it's weather related, and I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same issue.

 

[its just rain]

Ooops!

 

[BigOgre]

Why not tap into accessory power in the glove box?
Fish the RAM wire through the bottom of the glove box, add a plug and you're done!

--G

Oh btw, no power in the glove box. That 12v socket is dead. I've only had the bike about 7-8 weeks and haven't gotten much farther than verifying that it does not have power. I glanced at the fuses, but didn't see anything labeled for that, and everything else works, so I'm suspecting a wiring or connector issue.

Yup! That or the heated grip connection. It's under the glove-box behind the left fairing. OR, a fuse box. They're super handy for connecting all kinds of stuff and leaving the OEM wiring alone. I don't remember what I have. Either a Twisted Throttle or a Blue Sea. Any will work. What you buy depends.on your needs and preferences.

I may add a fuse box at some point, but right now I'm trying to walk before I run. The heated grips suggestion is a good idea, and being in Las Vegas, I don't use heated grips anyway. I'll have to figure out how to get in there, the left side isn't as straightforward as the right side. Thanks!!

I'd give that glove box a second look. It's only set up for minimum draw (3a I think) and there's many stories here of riders blowing it inadvertently by trying to power something more than a cell phone. Maybe your previous owner was one of them.

As far as fuse blocks, I've become a fan of installing one with the very first electrical farkle. It pays off either a few months or even years later and prevents the "wish I had done it" moment when at some point you're sorting through a mess of wires.

 

[FTL900]

Why not tap into accessory power in the glove box?
Fish the RAM wire through the bottom of the glove box, add a plug and you're done!

--G

Oh btw, no power in the glove box. That 12v socket is dead. I've only had the bike about 7-8 weeks and haven't gotten much farther than verifying that it does not have power. I glanced at the fuses, but didn't see anything labeled for that, and everything else works, so I'm suspecting a wiring or connector issue.

Yup! That or the heated grip connection. It's under the glove-box behind the left fairing. OR, a fuse box. They're super handy for connecting all kinds of stuff and leaving the OEM wiring alone. I don't remember what I have. Either a Twisted Throttle or a Blue Sea. Any will work. What you buy depends.on your needs and preferences.

I may add a fuse box at some point, but right now I'm trying to walk before I run. The heated grips suggestion is a good idea, and being in Las Vegas, I don't use heated grips anyway. I'll have to figure out how to get in there, the left side isn't as straightforward as the right side. Thanks!!

I'd give that glove box a second look. It's only set up for minimum draw (3a I think) and there's many stories here of riders blowing it inadvertently by trying to power something more than a cell phone. Maybe your previous owner was one of them.

As far as fuse blocks, I've become a fan of installing one with the very first electrical farkle. It pays off either a few months or even years later and prevents the "wish I had done it" moment when at some point you're sorting through a mess of wires.

Yup, it's on my list of things to do... and I think you're right about adding the fuse block.. I've never done one before, but I've never needed one before so it's probably time.

'Specially since I want to plumb power to the rear box too.

 

[08FJR4ME]

Oh, you must have heard about the farkling disease that we all succumb to.

You are doomed,

Dave

 

[FTL900]

I got spoiled having multiple USB ports on my bike. My ZRX has enormous storage under the seat, like 6-pack of beer or more.
So I had USB port on the handlebars to keep my phone charged, but one day we stopped to eat and one of our Senas was dead. So my son set his Sena unit on his bars and plugged it in to charge, hoping nobody would steal it while we were eating. Nobody did, and then it occurred to me that I needed a USB port under the seat.

We each installed 2 USB ports under the seat that are hot all the time, so while we're off the bike, we can charge a Sena and a phone or two or whatever, while not worrying about things getting stolen... unless they take the whole bike, of course. . It would really suck to get your bike stolen while your phone is under the seat charging. Also made sure they were the type of USB ports that don't drain your battery, which is where this whole thread started.
See what I did there?

 

[Donal]

Have a look in your owners manual. The fuses are shown on page 7-33/34. The auxiliary DC jack is controlled by fuse number 12.

Not sure if this link will work but here goes Owners manual 2012

 

[FTL900]

Thanks, that helps immensely!! I haven't picked up a good FSM yet, and I think I have the owners manual around the house someplace, but clearly it's not in the garage or with the bike like it belongs.

 

[lnewlf]

If there is room find a switched fuse and use this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011I9QZX2/ref=asc_df_B011I9QZX25208245/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B011I9QZX2&linkCode=df0&hvadid=16714

 

[900gc]

Oh, you must have heard about the farkling disease that we all succumb to.
You are doomed,

Dave

ESPECIALLY doomed if you add a fuze block! You will start to hear voices when you are near the bike beckoning you to fill all those circuits with electrical things that you never thought you needed!

 

[FTL900]

If there is room find a switched fuse and use this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011I9QZX2/ref=asc_df_B011I9QZX25208245/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B011I9QZX2&linkCode=df0&hvadid=16714

The last line of the description kills me!! (Thanks, ordered)

• Replacing the use of easily damaged vintage glass insurance management insurance device.

I went home last night and removed the offending phone mount that was hard-wired into my battery. Then I pulled my Mini Cooper up next to the bike and had TWO vehicles with their battery in the wrong place since the Mini Cooper S has the battery in the trunk where you think a spare tire should be.

Anyway, I jump-started the bike and let it idle 3-4 minutes at 1200 rpm or so until it was fully warm.. .didn't want to get a block away and kill the engine accidentally. I rode it about 3-4 miles down a side access road, then jumped on the freeway and rode back home, all in all, a 7 mile loop. Then I parked it in the garage and (having faith), shut it off and left it until this morning. All night I was having second thoughts.. what if Ignacio was right? My battery had seemed a little weak all last week, cranking a little slower and longer than usual... this is a new-to-me bike, so I don't really know how old the battery is..

This morning I put my helmet and gloves on (gotta have faith, right?) and then thumbed the starter and the bike fired right up. It actually cranked over very fast, and I realized that last week it had been cranking a little slowly each morning since the phone charger was draining it slightly each night.

I forgot to check that AUX fuse last night when I had it apart jumping the battery, so now that I have breathed life back into the bike, I'll move on to other "projects". Wiring and such, I'll look into the fuses, the 12v power outlet in the glove box, and adding a fuse block.

A Rifle tinted windshield system is ordered and on the way, I'm excited about that, because seats are next after the windshield.

My plan on the dash area is the ram mount will go back on the left handlebar after I wire it switched. I have a ram ball on the steering head bolt, and that holds a small digital GPS speedometer... easier for old eyes to read. It's about $25 on ebay, and only requires microUSB power to operate. Also needs to be wired in switched... so I'll wire it in with the phone charger, since neither will draw much. I used 3M adhesive tape to stick a ram ball on the back and mounted it with a short ram arm.

Then a ram mount midway up the right bar carries a long ram arm on it, and that will hold an ION sports cam centered over the gauges and looking right through the windshield.

I tried it out recently on a Route 66 ride in Arizona and it worked very well. Needs minor tweaks- mostly on sound, but it turned out good. Video is here... don't watch the whole thing, nothing exciting happens. The camera won't be mounted all the time, having it on around town and to work would be nice but I'm afraid it'll get stolen.

Then other projects, like the one I finished Sunday when I added Yamaha stripes to my bike. I have been trying to break up all that silver and give it some character, and I always thought the Yamaha stripes carried the early Yamaha DNA and I liked them, so I cut them out of white and black reflective material.

I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out, plus reflective is good.

 

[FTL900]

Double post, please delete.