Hardwiring a gps to your sled? CAUTION!!!

[YAMAMISSILE]

Just wanted to post a public service announcment about hardwiring a gps to your sled. I did not realize that some gps units operate on much less than the 12 volts put out by our batterys. I have a Garmin Nuvi 500. It needs 5 volts. To get this, it reduces the power from the battery (12 volts) when it passes through the cig. plug power cord to 5 volts. I fried my first gps so now I have a female cig. plug adapter ( from Radio Shack) hard wired to my battery. Then I plugged my gps power cord into that and wrapped it in electical tape ( to keep it from vibrating out) and zip tyed it under the hood. Now, I realize you could just plug it into the stock cig. plug on the sled, but i wanted the clean look of hardwiring it in. Got a RAM mount and attatched it to my riser. Works Great! Hope this saves somone the headache I put myself through.

 

[Grimm]

I riveted a cig plug adapter onto the plate that houses the battery. It works great for me, plus the power is live all the time. Not all sleds have a cig plug stock on their sled, plus it's only hot when the engine is running, which can confuse a GPS and split track logs, etc.

 

[Crewchief47]

Or you could buy something like this, make sure you watch the video:

http://www.gpscity.ca/gilsson-bare-wire ... cable.html

 

[bottlerocket]

I have something like Crewchief is showing but put a switch in line so it didnt try to weaken the battery over long periods of time. Those cig lighter plugs all have reducers in them from cell,radar,gps and mini tvs etc.

 

[quebecmoutainrider]

I have something like Crewchief is showing but put a switch in line so it didnt try to weaken the battery over long periods of time. Those cig lighter plugs all have reducers in them from cell,radar,gps and mini tvs etc.

so this means my gps is ok with the plug in they gave me.?because it came with a 4 prong plug for my gps.and a cig. plug in.

 

[bottlerocket]

Cig plug will work but mine popped out on hard jolts. You have 30 seconds to plug it back in or switch to battery power but I feel this route is temporary.

 

[cobra93302]

I have my Garmin 60 csx hard wired to my 06 Rage and my bike and have worked great with no problem. I used the Garmin hard wire plug.

 

[bottlerocket]

And by the way make sure it is fused. The fire wasnt that big...lol