USB Charger on motorcyle...

[the kaz]

Originally Posted by Jamie Z

Motorola Razr won't charge from a standard USB.Otherwise, I could lose my Motorola 12V charger.

Jamie

many newer phones with micro or mini usb charger ports use a special plug that helps prevent arcing of the contacts when the plug is removed while powered up ....
ya its a pain

http://pinouts.ru/CellularPhones-A-N...r_pinout.shtml

[bwringer]

Originally Posted by RomaDakota

I have recently tackled this issue. My solution was standard 12V port with this insert...

I have one of those as well -- the cool thing about it is that it fits flush inside a cigarette lighter socket. On mine the weather cover still snaps on with the USB converter inside. It's also rated for 1 amp, which is nice. Many USB adaptors aren't rated for the full 1 amp, which can cause problems with some devices.

I got mine on clearance at Target for $6 packaged with an iPod cable.

[Bosiblack]

It was a bit complicated: what I did was get a dual USB car charger from walmart. Carefully opened it up and soddered positive and negitive wires on it, taking off the two side contacts ans the one on the tip. Taped it up with electrical tape and mounted under my seat. Wiring a cigerette lighter adapter would just not make a good connection and would come Spode when riding. Then I wired the negitive wire to the battery and the positive to a toggle switch I hid on my Ducati 900ss, under the seat but accessable. Ran an extention USB cable to the handle bars keeping the adapter under the seat.

[Sonymalc]

I have a $20 power inverter I got at Costco. Ran a 12v socket into my tankbag. plugged it in and can charge stuff on the fly like my phone, or music players. Works good. USB, AC, and 12v socket.

Yes I could have hardwired the connector or used something smaller but, I wanted to keep it universal so I could take it out and plug it in somewhere else if needed.

Power is right from battery of bike.

The bag is the enduro tank bag from wolfman.

[Drif10]

I have one of these, that inmate awonderfulworld told us about in the canada forum:


USB outlet.

If we have it here in Canada, then you guys have it down there, just gotta find a source.

Works great btw.

[FatChance]

Originally Posted by a1fa

Has anyone wired a USB port on their motorcycle yet?

I do not like to use cigarette lighter sockets on motorcycles because I've always had problems with them. I like Powerlet (BMW-style) much better. For uses on my bikes I use a Powerlet USB cable (look HERE. They also have longer ones if needed. They have worked great on for years and I don't have to diddle with multiple connections and converters.



If you want a longer one, look HERE.

[Bbasso]

I guess I got lucky...
the charging cable that came with my tomtom is cig-plug to mini-usb and can charge my phone, tomtom and anything else that is mini-usb.
I've had no issues at all.

[a1fa]

I'm sorry.. $40 is a bit too much for a USB adapter that costs $5 to produce including labor. I am going to make my own.

[mouthfulloflake]

here is a cheap source for the hardest to find part ( for me)

http://cgi.ebay.com/20Pcs-USB-A-Fema...#ht_1438wt_936

I think I am going to change mine, and put a SAE connector on my tank bag, and then have 2, maybe 3 usb receptacles inside to power GPS, phone, ipod or whatever...

a 'powered' tank bag if you will, for about $12

[a1fa]

Originally Posted by mouthfulloflake

here is a cheap source for the hardest to find part ( for me)

http://cgi.ebay.com/20Pcs-USB-A-Fema...#ht_1438wt_936

I think I am going to change mine, and put a SAE connector on my tank bag, and then have 2, maybe 3 usb receptacles inside to power GPS, phone, ipod or whatever...

a 'powered' tank bag if you will, for about $12

That's what I am doing. I have male to female USB cables that will be sacrificed. I have hundreds of those at work anyway.

SAE battery tender connector: $4 shipped
Voltage Regulator: FREE
Heatshrink: FREE
USB Connector Cable: FREE
---
Knowing you only paid $4 for USB charger, priceless =)

[JeffinTD]

Originally Posted by Drif10

I have one of these, that inmate awonderfulworld told us about in the canada forum:


USB outlet.

If we have it here in Canada, then you guys have it down there, just gotta find a source.

Works great btw.

Something like that would work for me, but I wish it was available in a pannel mount double...

As it is, they don't ship to the US.

Originally Posted by Jamming

I have the same one, but mine has 2 ports. I wired it up inside my tank bag and kept my Ipod, camera and phone charged while on the road.

Where does one purchase a 2 port converter that fits flush in the cig socket? How do you get it out of the socket?

[L.B.S.]

I thought this was pretty neat when I saw it. More complex than just buying an adaptor, sure, but much more "customizeable"

http://www.cbrforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96467

[worwig]

Originally Posted by L.B.S.

I thought this was pretty neat when I saw it. More complex than just buying an adaptor, sure, but much more "customizeable"

http://www.cbrforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96467

I like that kind of writeup.

But it has two huge flaws.
1) The aluminum foil heat sink is nearly worthless. My PDA needs the full 1 amp at times. Also, you'll be over an 8 volt drop at times, maybe 9. So over 8 watts. That thin foil will NOT carry that heat away. Even a plain phone that is under 1/2 amp, I would be sceptical. Luckily, the 7805 is smart and will just shut down and cool off. But you will not be getting the charge that you want.
2) No bypass caps on the 7805. You can get away with this. But if the 7805 oscillates, the output voltage can get screwy and you again have more heat to dump. Bad idea.

[mouthfulloflake]

not to mention the write up constantly refers to the voltage regulator as a rectifier.

LOTS of flaws in that write up.

[JeffinTD]

Seems like there would be a significant market for a pannel mount, weather proof USB charge port, but I sure can't find one searching the web.

I guess I'll get one of the Belkin things until something better comes along.