Power Supplies

[parsley]

I need to fit a standard power supply connector (cigarette lighter connector) on my bike (Honda Hornet 250), probably via a seperate fuse or relay. I'm okay with a screwdriver but I don't know much about bike electrical systems. Has anyone done anything similar, or know of a kit?

[Biff]

I need to fit a standard power supply connector (cigarette lighter connector) on my bike (Honda Hornet 250), probably via a seperate fuse or relay. I'm okay with a screwdriver but I don't know much about bike electrical systems. Has anyone done anything similar, or know of a kit?

Pretty easy to do mate. You've one of two choices - either wire the positive lead of the lighter socket directly to the battery - this will allow you to have whatever you want to connect powered up witht the ignition off. Second option is to locate an ignition powered relay (I use the fuel pump relay - you'll obviously need a voltage tester of some sort if you don;t know where the live is on your relay) under your seat and hook the live wire into that. Again - don't forget the inline fuse. Connect the negative lead to your battery - although you can get away with connecting it to a good earth on the bikes chassis - but I avoid this.

I prefer to use ignition powered sources - that way if I forget to turn my kettle (seriously!!)/heated grips/food blender off - it doesn't suck all the juice out of the battery.

Enough info?

Good luck.

[parsley]

I prefer to use ignition powered sources - that way if I forget to turn my kettle (seriously!!)/heated grips/food blender off - it doesn't suck all the juice out of the battery.
Thanks for the info. Yeah, I'd rather run it off the ignition although I'm not likely to leave it on the bike. I work for the same company as jrandom used to (splitter!) so I'm often testing satellite navigation stuff on the road. It's a good excuse to get out of the office and on the road for a few hours... no, really, I'm testing. :devil2:

[Zapf]

what about water? protection...

[Biff]

what about water? protection...

Repco sell a minature cigarette lighter with a spring loaded cover. That's the type I use. I believe Hella make them.

But you're quite right - you don't want a standard car socket out in the elements. people normaly mount this sort under their seat.

[zadok]

The problem will be, where do you put the ash tray? :motu: :rofl:

[Flyingpony]

Plan ahead, you might need two or more sockets.
You know, regression testing the new product against the old or a competitors.

[parsley]

Plan ahead, you might need two or more sockets.
You know, regression testing the new product against the old or a competitors.
I've already got a dual socket converter from Dick Smith - one for navigation testing, the other for iPod...

[myvice]

you could get a goldwing...

[parsley]

you could get a goldwing...
Hey, yeah, or I could just get an armchair and put some wheels on it. :oi-grr:

[Squiggles]

about how much would it cost to get a cig lighter hooked up? :)

[unhingedlizard]

come see me, i'll do it for a feed of KFC

[Patch]

Myvice nailed it in one. Get a goldwing. They come prewired, have heaters and 4 speaker stereo system. Just so you don't feel too far from ya office. Probably got enuff room to take half a filing cabinet with ya too.

:rofl: :rofl:

[parsley]

Myvice nailed it in one. Get a goldwing.
The thing I always notice about Goldwing riders is that they're always short. I always assumed they were compensating for something. :rofl:

[XP@]

Repco sell a minature cigarette lighter with a spring loaded cover. That's the type I use. I believe Hella make them.

But you're quite right - you don't want a standard car socket out in the elements. people normaly mount this sort under their seat.
There are good, I have on my F650, took about 30mins to install in to the front fairing.
And used one for the ignition "key" on my XT.

I also have a cig lighter under the seat of my F650. I managed to find a lighter extention with male and female, removed the male end and connected up the trailing end of the female to the battery via a dash mounted switch (cos I didn't want it linked to the ignition)

[XP@]

The problem will be, where do you put the ash tray? :motu: :rofl:
Doh! easy, make a bracket for the handle bars and bolt it on!

Oh, and suggest you use a flip top ashtray.

[parsley]

So has anyone tried drilling a hole in the front of a full face helmet to smoke a fag while riding? :doobey:

[parsley]

Repco sell a minature cigarette lighter with a spring loaded cover. That's the type I use. I believe Hella make them.
I checked with Repco today. The only 12v socket they have with a cover is a non-standard one, so you have to buy a plug for your device as well. Maybe they've stopped selling the one you've got? Not much point getting one that doesn't fit the standard plug.

[XP@]

I checked with Repco today. The only 12v socket they have with a cover is a non-standard one, so you have to buy a plug for your device as well. Maybe they've stopped selling the one you've got? Not much point getting one that doesn't fit the standard plug.
If it is smaller round plug, then yes you do have to buy them, but they are generally better made than the cig lighters so will last longer.
They are also smaller so if you are carrying stuff on your bike then they are perfect.
However if you have a converter / charger that can only be lighter shaped then you can make up a converter with a cig lighter extension and one of the small plugs.