Plugging a GPS into the cig lighter adapter

[MXD]

I am about to pull the trigger on a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSX. Is using the cig lighter adapter a robust way to do it or should I hard wire it to the battery? If I hard wire it to the battery, what do I need to know as far as making sure its safe since it will have constant power?

 

[msatow]

I'm using the Lowrance H20C GPS and I use the cig lighter / 12 volt output and it works fine. I didn't want any wires hanging from the sled when I wasn't using it.
This way their is not any drain on the battery if the motors not running.

 

[APEXLIGHTNING]

i have the same gps that your looking looking at. i have the cig adaptor and it works great on my apex

 

[brsacjab]

I've used the cig lighter plug last year, it would "fall out" at times.

I'm going to hard wire it for this year, it doesn't draw power unless connected to the GPS, like a direct wired shield.

The direct wire setup will allow me to route the cable out of the way when not in use, the problem with cig lighter adapters is usually the extra cable length.

 

[MXD]

What is the best way to connect it? Are you going to go straight to the battery or are you going to tap into something else?

 

[1CrazySledder]

BE CAREFULL HARD WIRING.....

Most gps systems have have a transducer built into the plug. Mine for instance, runs on 3 volts, so the plug reduces the 12 volts to three. If your is set up this way and you hardwire with out the plug it will short out.

The manual should explain this, if your is this way.

-Vince

 

[msatow]

Plug

Smart thinking 1CrazySledder. My 12 volt plug for the GPS is voltage regulated and also has a fuse in case of a surge.

 

[NY AttakGT]

In situations like this (when hard-wiring a device that utilizes a cig. plug with less than a 12v output) I have soldered wires right onto the cig lighter plug. The spring clips on outside (usually two spring clips on either side of plug you insert into power outlet) is ground. And the center metal point (in center of tip of plug. Usually spring loaded and there is a barrell type fuse underneath it) of the plug gets the 12v. I solder one wire to the outside clip and one wire to the center tip. Then tape up the connections and the plug, in its entirety, very well. Then run your 12v to the source you would like to use, constant 12v or ignition controlled 12v. And the ground wire to chassis ground.

Be careful soldereing onto the cig lighter plug as it is usually made of plastic and will melt if you heat it too long, especially soldering onto the center metal tip.

And yes, I know the word "rigged" come to mind. But it works. I have done this numerous time with cars (cell phone chargers, satellite radio, etc...) and on some sleds.

You can open up the cig plug and solder right onto the transducer board but it is slightly more difficult and you would have to use a seperate in-line fuse on your power wire since the cig lighter plug is fused in the body that plugs into the lighter and if you solder directly on the circuit board inside the plug you are bypassing the fuse.

I too have had issues with whatever I have plugged into my power outlet on my Attak popping out even during leisurely riding. So hardwiring is the way to go......for me, anyway.

Hope this helps.

--Steve (O.C.)

 

[MadMax]

My map 76 cx uses rechargeable batt. They last all day long. At night I just put them in the charger.. Good to go for the next days riding... MM.

 

[1CrazySledder]

What I am going to do for mine, is I have a cig lighter splitter. Turns one lighter into two. I'm going to cut one off, hard wire it and plug my "intact" GPS plug right into it. Tie it off somewhere underneath where I can get to it, in case the fuse blows.

-1CS

 

[MXD]

Will this work for wiring directly to the battery? There is not much of a description so I don't know if this has a built in fuse and regulator.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=519

 

[actionjack]

I have used the accessory outlet to power my Map60CS since my first ride on my GT. Once in a while it will unplug itself from a rough trail but not very often. Typically I can ride on a whole weeks trip without needing to change the batteries inculding running the backlight full time. I did find that I needed to change the fuse for the outlet to 5a since the 3a would blow easily. I have the extra cord wire tied in a loop which i place around the Ram mount arm so its pretty much out of the way. If you ride Quebec I highly recommend getting the GPSQuebec file of ALL of QC trails for about $80. Saved our butts more than once last season knowing we were getting close to a trail or auberge or essence station.

 

[brsacjab]

Will this work for wiring directly to the battery? There is not much of a description so I don't know if this has a built in fuse and regulator.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=519

For your unit, yes. The yellow part is the fuse, there are two "extra" data output wires in the cable too.

Legend series owners do not have this option, we must use the 12 volt adapter(transformer), and wire that to the battery. Remember to keep it fused whether through the adapter or external fuse of appropriate size.

 

[iasledder]

The cigarette circuit on the Apex goes dead when the key is shut off. Therefore you have to restart the gps each time unless your back-up batteries take over. I changed the wiring in the fuse box so that the cigarette lighter circuit is always hot. This way I can also plug the battery charger into the lighter for battery maintenance.

 

[actionjack]

That's what I meant with my GPS about the batteries lasting a whole trip. Through out a typical day of riding we may stop to snap pictures or let the smokers smoke and I'll leave the GPS on for short times with the key turned off so the batteries take over and still I usually don't have to change the AAAs in a weeks trip. I prefer that way rather then the possiblilty of running the sled battery down.