powering a handheld GPS off bikes battery?

[cowboyz]

I have an etrex handheld GPS which is powered by 2 AA batteries (making it 3 volts?)

I have wired up a Cig lighter to the bike.

It must be possible to make up a gadget to plug in where the batteries plug in and the have some conversion from 12 volt to 3 and plug the other end into the cig lighter socket powering the GPS by the bike?

How to? What is needed? worth it not to have to carry batteries.

[Steam]

Dick Smiths sells such transformers for powering things in your car.

[Highlander]

Dick Smiths sells such transformers for powering things in your car.

They also sell the leads to plug hand held GPS into Cigarette lighter.

[cowboyz]

Hmmm. Rung DSE is Palmerston North and the lad said that there is no such thing for sale and would have to build one from scratch....

[Highlander]

What is your GPS, have seen them advertised for the Garmin Etrex series (which is what I have, but haven't shelled out for the lead)

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.sto...uct/View/D3922

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.sto...uct/View/D3489

[Steam]

Hmmm. Rung DSE is Palmerston North and the lad said that there is no such thing for sale and would have to build one from scratch....

Never trust what those wee twerps say, the internet knows best
http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.sto...uct/View/C3125
Use the power supply off this, 12 volt ciggie lighter to 3 volt. As for the plug itself, you can also buy a universal adaptor... again from Dick Smith. See, this post and the one above both have exactly what you need, there are SEVERAL solutions, and the dick from Dick's said there were no solutions but building it yourself.
Ring them back and tell them they have no idea what they're on about.
I reckon that guy just wanted to go home and didn't want to bother with your question.

[cowboyz]

I am not real sure on the exact model. It is a garmin etrex 12 channel gps. But it has no where to plug an external power supply into it.

[Steam]

I am not real sure on the exact model. It is a garmin etrex 12 channel gps. But it has no where to plug an external power supply into it.

Oh dear. Well, you can still do it, just get the 3-volt transformer bit and cut the lead off, and alligator-clip the wires directly to where the batteries connect, inside it.

[Highlander]

Mine has a little rubberised flappy thing (I think - don't have it with me at the mo so can't check) that you open and attach a lead to connect to your PC, I think the charger would connect there.

For what it is worth DSE told me there was no such fitting to attach it to the handle bar either until I showed them on their web site, then told me they couldn't get me one. - Still don't have one so I stick it in the tank bag.

[cowboyz]

I got a piece of angle iron, bend it in a U shape and screwed it onto the subframe thingy over the handbars. Sits there really nice.

Mine does have a flappy thing on top of it for plugging into a PC but I dont use it. Maybe that is a power as well?

[Jantar]

For what it is worth DSE told me there was no such fitting to attach it to the handle bar either until I showed them on their web site, then told me they couldn't get me one. - Still don't have one so I stick it in the tank bag.

I have a spare. PM sent.

[Storm]

Might have to make sure there is a filter of some sort so as to not cook the GPS accidentally

[dhunt]

I got a piece of angle iron, bend it in a U shape and screwed it onto the subframe thingy over the handbars. Sits there really nice.

Mine does have a flappy thing on top of it for plugging into a PC but I dont use it. Maybe that is a power as well?

Shouldn't be hard to make one. I'm sure I could help you out sometime.

[dhunt]

Provided you can actually get the connector for your GPS here's the pinout on it

http://pinouts.ru/GPS/garmin_gps4pin_pinout.shtml

Which definitely supports external power

Then you just to get one of those 3 terminal regulators, a couple caps and some cable you should be able to make one up.

[cooneyr]

I've been looking long and hard at Garmin GPS units over the past few days. If you have an eTrex they use the mini USB port i.e. the one for connecting to the computer to provide power back to the unit.

There are other types of plugs that Garmin use as well so be vary careful what you get. Would also appear the not all eTrex units are the same either.

Check out trade me there are lots of cables on trademe for about $40.

Do a little bit of checking before you commit.

Cheers R