Powerlet and Garmin

[bkmaxvrb]

Just posting these pics of the final result of my Powerlet Powerplus Outlet and the Garmin Zumo GPS. I really like this arrangement over the options that come with the Zumo. It's a lot cleaner looking when I take the unit off the bike.

Here's the pics:

[Cajunrider]

Looks very clean. You really get what you pay for huh?

[strobe]

Nice, really fits the bike well. You have to like the integrated powerlet and RAM mount.

[mrfuni]

Nice job..

[redjay]

Hi, how does that set up convert the 12 volts on the bike to the 5 volts needed for the GPS ?

[rickyboy]

Hi, how does that set up convert the 12 volts on the bike to the 5 volts needed for the GPS ?

I have a Magellan Crossover, and it came with the car adapter where it plugs into a cigar lighter. Does it change the voltage? I wondered the same thing.
Looks great
I'm happy with my almost exact same kind of hook up.

[glwilson]

I purchased the Powerlet unit also -- mainly for its looks.

Regarding the power to the GPS... you'll have to let Powerlet know what unit you are powering as the power-supply cord is important in providing the correct power.

I had a problem. My GPS is a Magellan for my car. It has a USB power cord. The cord from Powerlet did not work as Magellan and many other GPS manufacturers change the "pin" setup in the USB cord specific to their units only -- thus you have to buy cords from them only. (The manufacturers are not willing to let this info out readily -- thus someone has to have taken apart one of their cords to know the pin-setup.)

In addition... my unit has two transformers included on its cord. One is in the cigarette lighter male-plug; the other on the cord itself. Thus I had to return the cord to Powerlet; and buy their cigarette lighter adapter -- then I just plug-in the cigarette power cord that came with my GPS.

Not exactly as I would have wished for it originally; but it will work until I buy another GPS unit that accepts a Powerlet power cord.

The warning here is that you must be sure to use the correct power cord for your unit or run the risk of burning it up... at least that is what Powerlet's staff told me... which is especially true for Magellan's units.

[borto1990]

ok I posted this before but I'll do it again here just to make sure. I have a garmin nuvi 750. it has a cigerrette lighter plug for the car and a usb cord to charge with the computer. I figured i could just take the lighter plug apart, install a inline fuse, using the same fuse that came with it and hook directly to the battery. This should work right?

[strobe]

Originally Posted by borto1990

ok I posted this before but I'll do it again here just to make sure. I have a garmin nuvi 750. it has a cigerrette lighter plug for the car and a usb cord to charge with the computer. I figured i could just take the lighter plug apart, install a inline fuse, using the same fuse that came with it and hook directly to the battery. This should work right?

Edit - delete original post....

Here is what I found at GPSCity:

"I bought this cable so I could power my Nuvi 5000 from my motorcycle and use the original power cable that came with my GPS in my car. I was concerned that there might be a transformer to step down the 12 V vehicle power. Since I was directly wiring to the battery (through a fuse) I pulled apart the piece that plugs into a cigarette lighter and found no electronics hiding in there - just straight 12 V power and ground wires."

This is the same power unit that is used to the 7xx series, so it should be fine.

[bkmaxvrb]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

Looks very clean. You really get what you pay for huh?

You ain't kiddin'. It was a tad pricey but, I like it loads better than leaving the Garmin mount on the bike permanently. It is a much cleaner installation. I have the added bonus of being able to use the battery tender through the outlet.

Uncle Sam really helped me out on this with my tax refund.

[bkmaxvrb]

Originally Posted by redjay

Hi, how does that set up convert the 12 volts on the bike to the 5 volts needed for the GPS ?

The conversion, on the Zumo, must be accomplished inside the unit's mount. You see the mount in the first pic. Although the power wire shown comes from Powerlet, the wiring provided with the unit is a direct line with only an inline fuse. There is no converter like you might find with the car specific models.

[blowndodge]

I like that setup but I'm a little baffled? Almost all the aftermarket GPS I've seen plug into your cigarette lighter (12v). Isn't the Powerlet just a pretty and elequent cigarette lighter plug? Or is that recepticle totally different? Seems to me if it is 12V standard plug, then any GPS manufacturer's male end should plug into it as if in a car?

bkmaxvrb states his is double duty as a battery tender so it should just be a hot 12V. plug right? The step down would be in the cord of ANY GPS manufacturer's unit?

Unless of course that receptical the Zumo is plugged into is not just a standared cigarette plug. ??

[strobe]

Originally Posted by Blowndodge "Darksider"

I like that setup but I'm a little baffled? Almost all the aftermarket GPS I've seen plug into your cigarette lighter (12v). Isn't the Powerlet just a pretty and elequent cigarette lighter plug? Or is that recepticle totally different? Seems to me if it is 12V standard plug, then any GPS manufacturer's male end should plug into it as if in a car?

bkmaxvrb states his is double duty as a battery tender so it should just be a hot 12V. plug right? The step down would be in the cord of ANY GPS manufacturer's unit?

Unless of course that receptical the Zumo is plugged into is not just a standared cigarette plug. ??

For Garmin units the cigarette plugs are straight 12V. There is no step down built into them. For the Zumo there is a straight 12V cable you can buy that is basically the same as the cigarette plug, without the end on it.

I think the confusion comes from using a USB cable which is a 5V vs. a 12V car plug. The difference is going to be handled inside the unit. In my experience the unit charges much slower off a USB port because there is less power available to charge that battery. I personally think the GPS units will handle 12V, but will run as low as the 5V USB power. Any conversion or inversion of power would be handled within the unit.

If you want to use the USB cable with a powerlet (or cigarette lighter) then you need a converter that will step the voltage down from 12V to the expected 5V.

[macmac]

No moss or nuthin huh? A Tiny Tv set tells you which way Nawth is and then what? I suppose some slinky female voice comes on with bedroom eyes... Come hither boys. come hither......

[bkmaxvrb]

Originally Posted by macmac

No moss or nuthin huh? A Tiny Tv set tells you which way Nawth is and then what? I suppose some slinky female voice comes on with bedroom eyes... Come hither boys. come hither......

Nope, I don't wanna get off the bike to see what side of the tree the moss is growin' on. And, yes, I really do like the sexy female voice tellin' me where to go. She actually gets me places without yellin', screamin', or any other kind of fuss. Plus...this one sings to me. Right now there's about 411 songs on there. I need to add a few.