USB/Charger Port

[dilboy]

I would just like to say ,I've installed a car charger/usb port under the seat and it works fine, plus I've not broken or set the bike on fire in the process, hurrah for me 

[anutz]

any pics....would like to see the wiring if i can - nice - i might have a bash!

 

[HarryHornby]

 

[dilboy]

any pics....would like to see the wiring if i can - nice - i might have a bash!

 

its really easy, just positive and negative straight from the battery, I put a fuse in, but didn't need it so took it out, bought it from evil bay 

[Ebme Geek]

Fuses are always good, as close to the battery as posible, if they are correctly rated they protect the wires after them
 
An abraded or crushed wire under the seat can become a fire starter     

[dilboy]

I put a 15a fuse in and there was no power so that's why I discarded it, but the words fire and bike bother me 

[anutz]

OK so you have attached the new circuit to the +/- of the battery directly....???

So you now have an un-fused circuit which is never a good idea, the fuse's job is to make sure IT melts before the wires carry current at such a level they can heat up and cause issues i.e. fire and other lovely things....

I would not run it unless it was fused - you need to know what the wires are rated to carry, doubt it is much being a USB charger, they most likely will not be very large gauge...

do you have a link to the device you installed????

Regardless don't connect it all up until you know why the 15A fuse did not work, USB devices usally charge at 5V and normally we are talking Milliamps to 1/1.5A i.e. 1000-1500mA current draw

A 15A fuse for this application may well be incorrect, the wires, depending on their gauge will have a specific amperage they can carry and a specific fuse will be needed to protect them from over current situations...

Regardless be careful as i am no electrician but this stuff is important

Anyone around here offer any advice?

[anutz]

Depending on the device it MIGHT already have its own fuse built in? SEE FURTHER POSTS FOR IMPORTANT POINT ON FUSING AT THE SOURCE AS WELL

Not that i would do this dismantel and hack - but some chargers will contain internal fuses......but that does not protect the wiring leading to it, hence the above comment

http://geekgreek.com/2010/03/add-a-usb-port-to-your-motorcycle/

[anutz]

If you have somethnig like this it might be ready to connect up i.e. has the inline fuse holder etc...and lugs etc

http://www.windingroads.co.uk/shop/product.php/984/motorcycle-usb-12v-charger/365496122dc8f833d60d82681302a201

[anutz]

also may be obvious but be careful you do not drain the battery too low if you leave something plugged in and the engine not on - if the voltage on a battery gets too low they can be history

i left my parking lights on once by accident - day after i got the bike, i never managed to get the battery above 3.5V ever again so my oxford charger would not do a thing - got a new battery in the end..

Some USB charging systems can shut off when the battery supply voltgage it low

[slappy]

261662925268, ebay link if it works!

Just put one of these on, thats what I did,  I just took a feed from a relay I had already fitted that is only live when ignition is on.
I got the wiring diagram from this site so if you do a search you should find it, but to tell you the truth it was very straight forward and I honestly have no idea about electrics.
No problems so far but I avoid riding in rain as much as possible, I have had my phone and an old tomtom satnav running off it .

[Ebme Geek]

"A 15A fuse for this application may well be incorrect,"  - Absolutely !! - VERY likely incorrect & probably dangerous !!!

 "the wires, depending on their gauge will have a specific amperage they can carry and a specific fuse will be needed to protect them from over current situations..."  -  >>>    Spot on 

"Depending on the device it MIGHT already have its own fuse built in?"  -  but that won't protect the wires between it and the battery !!!

The fuse will only protect what is after it, hence why it should be kept as close as possible to the battery. 
 
The example anutz gives you can just about see a fuse holder behind the main box with a red wire either side of it, about 5" from the ring terminal for the battery.
 
Rating wise I would only expect a 1amp or at the most 2amp fuse, but it depends on the device, how many outputs, etc

[anutz]

good points ebme geek 

So after research Ebme Geek you seem spot on...fuse as close to the source, else you do have areas for potential shorts and unprotected wire.....

"It is important to note that the section of cable coming from the battery +ve terminal to the first fuse (or battery distribution box) is effectively an unprotected part of the circuit. If there is a short anywhere along this length then it is very likely to catch fire as the first fuse will not experience the excess current. For this reason the length of cable from the battery +ve to the first fuse should be as short as possible so that damage is minimised in the event of an electrical fire.."

 

[anutz]

interesting link on fusing...

http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/fuses-guide-uses.html

[Ebme Geek]

why RED?

   I was only trying to emphasise your coment as correct, I have modified my post, hope it now reads as I meant it 
 
Oh - and yes, the link slappy put up has an in line fuse in the 5th picture as well, looks like a connector but it's actually open and you can see a glass fuse sticking out of one half of it.

[fazersharp]

Regardless be careful as i am no electrician but this stuff is important

So you say --- but I know who to ask if I have an electrical problem on my bike now !

[dilboy]

this is the item I bought

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141404165733?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Black 12V Universal Cigarette Lighter

[dilboy]

First of all thanks for all the advice and fear of fire 

I have now refitted the fuse nearer the battery and fuck a duck it works fine 

Now will it DE charge my battery if its stood for a while, should I attach some kind of on/off switch ?

cheers

Novice Dilboy 

[anutz]

lol  - scared ths sh*t outta me - hence the "Fire!!!" Thread...

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,17125.0.html

But these are good things to have threads on m8 - we all learn - Ebme Geek corrected me on a point as well so its beneficial!

[anutz]

OK so what rating fuse did you use - the 15A one - need to check what those wires are rated for to be sure its the correct fuse.......do they have a stamp on the side that lists there AWG/Rating?

[sinto]

First of all thanks for all the advice and fear of fire 



If you've done it right, there won't be any fire


I have now refitted the fuse nearer the battery and fuck a duck it works fine 

Mmmm, I don't think just distance is the reason it's working.



Now will it DE charge my battery if its stood for a while, should I attach some kind of on/off switch ?

Why an on/off switch? You'll forget to switch it 'off' at some point
Why didn't you wire the positive feed you put to the battery into an ignition live? That way when you turn off the ignition, the charging port turns off too, far simpler and far safer to do, (probably why you said about fire earlier)

[dilboy]

First of all thanks for all the advice and fear of fire 



If you've done it right, there won't be any fire


I have now refitted the fuse nearer the battery and fuck a duck it works fine 

Mmmm, I don't think just distance is the reason it's working.



Now will it DE charge my battery if its stood for a while, should I attach some kind of on/off switch ?

Why an on/off switch? You'll forget to switch it 'off' at some point
Why didn't you wire the positive feed you put to the battery into an ignition live? That way when you turn off the ignition, the charging port turns off too, far simpler and far safer to do, (probably why you said about fire earlier)


I like the sound of it being wired to the ignition, how would a novice like myself go about doing it ?

[sinto]

I like the sound of it being wired to the ignition, how would a novice like myself go about doing it ?

Firstly, we've got to unwire you from the moon

But seriously,
You'll need to find thefuse box near battery,
Have a circuit tester (or 2 bits of wire with 12v bulb)
Connect one end to NEGATIVE on battery
Switch on ignition
Touch terminals (one at a time) with other wire or terminal of circuit tester
You will see light come on or movement on circuit tester
Switch off ignition
If light goes out, that's where you want to connect your POSITIVE wire from.your USB charger and leave the NEGATIVE on the battery or find an earth nearby.
If you don't get a light coming on or movement on the tester, repeat the above steps till you do
Simples, job done

[sinto]

I like the sound of it being wired to the ignition, how would a novice like myself go about doing it ?

Firstly, we've got to unwire you from the moon

But seriously,
You'll need to find thefuse box near battery,
Have a circuit tester (or 2 bits of wire with 12v bulb)
Connect one end to NEGATIVE on battery
Switch on ignition
Touch terminals (one at a time) with other wire or terminal of circuit tester
You will see light come on or movement on circuit tester
Switch off ignition
If light goes out, that's where you want to connect your POSITIVE wire from your USB charger and leave the NEGATIVE on the battery or find an earth nearby.
If you don't get a light coming on or movement on the tester, repeat the above steps till you do
Simples, job done

[anutz]

still curious as to what fuse you used? 

and how you know what the wires are rated to carry?