12v Power Outlets- Any Suggestions?

[docv]

I suppose it's a sign of the times, or maybe it's a touring thing, but I've never had the need for a 12v power outlet on any of my bikes before. Now that I'm looking to pick up a used nomad, and hit the road for some extended rides, in unfamiliar country, I can see the need for a GPS, and a means to charge my iphone. I've searched the forums and come up empty handed. So I'm appealing to you good people. What have others done? I know it cant be that hard, and there are likely as many ways to rig something up, as there are riders, but I'm sure someone's come up with some better ways than others. I'd prefer not to mount anything perm to my bars and keep it fairly discrete when not in use. Can the Nomad charging system handle the extra draw? Can I tap directly into a hot 12v line or do I need to add a relay etc.? At the very least I figure an inline fuse might not hurt.

What say you all?

Cheers!

Doc

P.S. If you've got any picts of your set up, they'd be greatly appreciated.

[nomadtom69]

Gadgits page had one mounted in the side cover I am mounting 2 in my new batwing fairing.

[nomad561]

I used a surface mount generic outlet and mounted it on a windsheild bolt. It worked great and only cost around $10 to install.

[ray2]

I, have this http://www.kuryakyn.com/Products/105...al-Power-Point On my bike but it mounts on handle bar. Mine is wired direct to battery and does have a inline fuse. it is on when something is pluged in and off when nothing is pluged in.

[joe3407nomad]

I went to Walmart and bought the 12v outlet, it has a bracket and all. I ran the wire back to a fuse and then into one of the two wires (+) under the seat, I also switched it , anyway, I took a black plastic tube to cover the whole assembly and attached the bracket to the inside of the windshield, with the bolts from the windshield.
PS I purchased a little longer bolt than the original so it fastened right on. I have a small bag over the risers so you cant even notice the outlet. I use it for the MP3 player or the air pump , came out pretty good, very inexpensive, only 2 or 3 bucks. I leave a usb plug in there and cap that with a small plastic cap I found.
Good Luck
Joe

[ballast]

+1 on the Walmart outlet. It has a cover and I have it wire tied to my handle bar. Have had it on for 2 seasons with no problems.

[Cajunrider]

I purchased mine on Ebay from a vendor in Florida. It mounts on the handlebars between my risers. I wired it to the spare accessory in the headlight bucket. I use it for charging my Blackberry and the wife's cellphone.

[Bull Durham]

I bought two of them from Pep Boys, I think they were about 8 bucks each, comes with an attached rubber cap that fits on them when not in use to keep out rain and they have a bent L-shaped mounting bracket. Have one each mounted on the outmost windshield bolts, one on the left, one on the right. Really don't even notice them unless you look for them. Then when I need to use them, just through in the small USB charger insert, can charge cell phone, ipod, gps, etc.

[Griz]

I have the kuryakyn power outlet mounted on handlebars. Wired to aux. fuse panel inside left side cover. I use it to power my GPS.

[scott2007nomad]

Inside the left side cover for me.
Bought the outlet at Walmart but I don't know where I got the bracket, it was in my "junk" bucket.

[trosco]

Velcro'd the Walmart $2 special under left cover by FI Controller and used the accessory wires under seat. Already fused and set up. hot all the time so I can use going down the road or can plug phone in over night while camping and lock charger under side cove and toss phone into saddle bag so no one knows. Been that way for 4 years and 40,000 miles, no problem

[carolinakid1]

Two Wally World marine 12 volt attached to windshield bolt and wired to headlight bucket worked for me. Spring-type caps keep it water tight when not in use. Use one for the GPS and other for the cell phone if needed.

[usranger74]

Originally Posted by carolinakid

Two Wally World marine 12 volt attached to windshield bolt and wired to headlight bucket worked for me. Spring-type caps keep it water tight when not in use. Use one for the GPS and other for the cell phone if needed.

What type of bracket did you use?

[minst7877]

Mine came from Wally world and is mounted on the windshield support on the left side of the bike. I took the positive wiring back to a fuse block that is switched by a relay. Neg side is attached to the bike frame under the tank.

[phenrichs]

Originally Posted by carolinakid

Two Wally World marine 12 volt attached to windshield bolt and wired to headlight bucket worked for me. Spring-type caps keep it water tight when not in use. Use one for the GPS and other for the cell phone if needed.

I had one of those mounted to the plastic neck cover in front of the tank. Nice and out of the way. Wired it into the headlight bucket.