Hardwiring a female cigarette plug socket

[TLMAN]

I have been pondering the best way to install/mount a radar detector for some time now.

The solution i came up with was to mount the detector on a rigid plastic sheet and place it into the top flip lid of my ventura tail bag. I have used the car cigarette lighter plug to power it and have connected a female cigarette lighter socket directly to the terminals of the battery and ran them under the seats and up the packrack frame, under the bag sleeve and into the bag via a small incision. (the female socket is inside the bag)

I have also run an audio cable under the seat which exits at the groin area of the riders seat which i plug my headphones into.

It is totally covert and you wouldnt even know it was there. I unplug the cigarette lighter power connection after each trip which disconnects the detector from the power source, but my question is:

- will the empty cigarette lighter socket drain my battery any?
- Are there any wider electrical problems this setup may cause?

[Unit:Me]

OMG! First, just go ride your bike, seriously 2ndly, I just ask the boys and voula, Burbons in the garage and Im wired,,.... to detect! Are you really going that fast to have to detect so covertly? Sorry, I only semi mean to take the piss out of your thread, but since recently using a radar detector I have pretty much found them useless (and we have a good one). I can usually spot the cops before the radar picks them up (them cops have some tricky techniques you know).
"It is totally covert and you wouldnt even know it was there" Does this mean you expect to get caught often and dont want to show you are trying to detect them?
Come to track days, they are awesome and the best speeding tickets you can ever wish to get (you will even pay money beforehand to qualify! )

[YellowDog]

Provided it is wired in correctly, the empty cigarette lighter power socket will not drain your battery when not in use.

[TLMAN]

Provided it is wired in correctly, the empty cigarette lighter power socket will not drain your battery when not in use.

Thanks, thats what I want to know (im a complete noob with electrics)

[elevenhundred]

Thanks, thats what I want to know (im a complete noob with electrics)

And make sure there is a fuse in the circuit, 10A should be sweet.

[TLMAN]

I havent used a fuse as I thought there would be something in the plug that took care that??

[p.dath]

I havent used a fuse as I thought there would be something in the plug that took care that??

Definitely put a fuse inline! Otherwise if something goes wrong the wire might turn into a fuse, catch fire, ignite something, short something, or any number of bad things.

And if you really want to get clever, connect it to a relay that turns off and on with your key ignition.
Read the recent thread about Oxford Grips on how to do this.

[p.dath]

This is the thread:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...p?p=1129339151

[Hitcher]

Provided it is wired in correctly, the empty cigarette lighter power socket will not drain your battery when not in use.

Well not if you put a cork in it.

[CookMySock]

I havent used a fuse as I thought there would be something in the plug that took care that??

You must put a fuse in the line as close to the battery positive terminal as possible. The fuse must blow reliably if you short the wiring at its' far end (away from the battery.)

This is to protect the wiring in case of a fault, or else you might have to contend with a glowing-redhot wire cutting through flesh, while you try to get you bike off the motorway. Emphatically not amusing.

Steve

[mstriumph]

Provided it is wired in correctly, the empty cigarette lighter power socket will not drain your battery when not in use.

that's good to know - was wondering how i could use the car's gps on the bike ....

thanks!

[TLMAN]

You must put a fuse in the line as close to the battery positive terminal as possible. The fuse must blow reliably if you short the wiring at its' far end (away from the battery.)

This is to protect the wiring in case of a fault, or else you might have to contend with a glowing-redhot wire cutting through flesh, while you try to get you bike off the motorway. Emphatically not amusing.

Steve

On the positive or negative?

[CookMySock]

The fuse must be directly to the battery positive terminal. There is no good reason to ever fuse a negative wire.



Use one like this from Repco. Crimp a terminal directly to one lead and take this directly to the battery 12V+ and crimp a joiner to a red wire and take it off toward your ciggy lighter plug. Ground another wire somewhere on the bike frame near the ciggy lighter socket.

Hint: cut everything to the right length, and take it to the auto electrician and ask him to crimp it up for ya.

Steve

[TLMAN]

The fuse must be directly to the positive terminal. There is no good reason to ever fuse a negative wire.


Steve

Cheers dude, like I said I am a noob with electronics.

I even had to google "how to remove the rider seat on a hayabusa" - how was I to know you had to unscrew two bolts with an alan key on each side. I spent 20 mins prior to, poking holes beneath the tank area with the ignition key.

Every other bike ive had you used a frikkin key to take it off!!!

[p.dath]

Do any bikes come standard with some kind of auxillary power connector, like a cigarette lighter attachment?

I imagine some touring bikes must.