connecting BMW Zumo 550 to R12GS???

[zigyphoto]

i cannot figure out how to connect my new (used) BMW Zumo 550 to the allegedly built-in power connector on my R12GS.. this is the end of the power cord that comes from the Garmin cradle, but there is nothing analogous anywhere down in the guts of the wiring below the triple clamp/tank where all the other wiring comes out from under the gas tank..........



ok, found a connector underneath, on the RIGHT side of bars, wire coming out from under tank; something else already plugged in that looks like the garmin connector. guess i'll have to remove the tank to see where that goes........?

thanks,

z

[zigyphoto]

i've removed the tank, and found this power connector on the right side, but it is attached to a wire that goes to the front brake (ABS sensor?). and it doesn't match the ZUMO powerplug. i cannot find another power connector for the GPS.... the only other one (on left side) goes to the OEM horn, which tho still connected, has been replaced by Fiamm horns. and when i pulled off the power plug it just doesn't quite fit the ZUMO power lead either. HELP!

can anyone direct me to a site that shows the BMW Zumo wiring kit? everything i have found so far leads only to the GPS unit itself.....



thanks

z

[RocketMoto]

The connector that you need is under the body work, just in front of the steering head, or under the left side panel - depending on the year of your bike. It's a 3 pin connector.

This has all of the info to get you going: http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/inde...&pageId=167512

[zigyphoto]

Originally Posted by RocketMoto

This has all of the info to get you going: http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/inde...&pageId=167512

adam, a public thanks on top of my PM to you.

now to see if i can find the thing since all the plastics are off.............strange i didn't see it, but was looking for something else on either side of triple clamp.
or else it's just coated with dust...

zigy

[zigyphoto]

Originally Posted by zigyphoto

now to see if i can find the thing since all the plastics areoff.........zigy

mystery solved: some fookin' idiot cut off the connector and just left the wires hanging there. no wonder i couldn't find it. thanks again to Adam for the link with photos showing the colored wires.

[RocketMoto]

Originally Posted by zigyphoto

mystery solved: some fookin' idiot cut off the connector and just left the wires hanging there. no wonder i couldn't find it. thanks again to Adam for the link with photos showing the colored wires.

So, now that the connector is gone, buy some of these - you can get 'em online, from Napa auto parts, or I can send you a couple - the red one's will do fine.

You only need two wires - the middle pin isn't used for your GPS.

[zigyphoto]

Originally Posted by RocketMoto

So, now that the connector is gone, buy some of these - you can get 'em online, from Napa auto parts, or I can send you a couple - the red one's will do fine.

You only need two wires - the middle pin isn't used for your GPS.

adam, once again to the rescue; thank you!

unfortunately, i think the the fookin' idiot left too little for the posi-locks, and i was just going to run the leads back to the TT Canbus adaptor. will check to see how much wire is actually there to use. the other advantage of running back to fuse box is that the connection is accessible w/o removing the tank again........

so, which wire of the three (i discovered another hiding back behind these two) sticking out do i NOT use?



z

[BigJohn_LP]

Sorry to hear that it wasn't a "Plug-n-play" operation for you. I know that's what you were looking forward to.

[zigyphoto]

Originally Posted by BigJohn_LP

Sorry to hear that it wasn't a "Plug-n-play" operation for you. I know that's what you were looking forward to.

john,

sent you an email response, but i want to publicly say that this kind of acknowledgement (as well as all the other inmates' assistance) -- even tho struggle was in NO WAY related to the GPS or Big John -- is what makes this community and men important to me.

z

[RocketMoto]

Originally Posted by zigyphoto

john,

sent you an email response, but i want to publicly say that this kind of acknowledgement (as well as all the other inmates' assistance) -- even tho struggle was in NO WAY related to the GPS or Big John -- is what makes this community and men important to me.

z

Zigy - why not just make your life easy - remove that dopey canbus connector from the GPS lead? Or buy a Zumo 550 power lead and connect the GPS thru a 3 amp fuse directly to the battery. This whole Canbus accessory plug thing is a hairball, anyway; it's truly a hoaky concept.

[zigyphoto]

Originally Posted by RocketMoto

Zigy - why not just make your life easy - remove that dopey canbus connector from the GPS lead? Or buy a Zumo 550 power lead and connect the GPS thru a 3 amp fuse directly to the battery. This whole Canbus accessory plug thing is a hairball, anyway; it's truly a hoaky concept.

adam, exactly what i intend to do. going to run it to the CanBus adaptor just because i've got too much stuff directly on the battery right now and the adaptor is fused anyway.........

z

[Sahuite]

New Zumo 550 and an '06 12GS. The first iteration was to install the Zumo 550 directly to the battery.

This worked OK, but after giving thought to cons including live terminals, possible oxidization of the battery contacts, possible shorting due to water penetration, etc., I reinstalled to the auxiliary connector near the steering head using part no. 83 300 413 585. So far so good. Everything worked as expected, CANBUS monitoring the connection. Powered up as expected, worked fine during the test ride, then after powering off, the Zumo went through its battery choice questions, and shut down. Again, so far so good.

I use the BMW charger. So after the Zumo shut down I went through the usual charger startup routine, and unexpectedly the Zumo resurrected itself and came back to life when the charger finished the routine. Then, after the Zumo powered up, the charger shut down. And when I pulled the Zumo out of the cradle, the charger powered up again. I don't know why.

It seems to work the way it's supposed to (Zumo shuts down and the aux power outlet seems to stayed unpowered) as long as I don't connect the bike to the charger.

So at this point when I shut down the bike in the garage and want to use the charger, I pull the Zumo out of the cradle after it shuts down, and then plug in the charger. On the road, I think it will be OK to leave the Zumo in the cradle, but it seems that the charger and the Zumo and the aux power socket have trouble getting along together.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

[RocketMoto]

Originally Posted by Sahuite

New Zumo 550 and an '06 12GS. The first iteration was to install the Zumo 550 directly to the battery.

This worked OK, but after giving thought to cons including live terminals, possible oxidization of the battery contacts, possible shorting due to water penetration, etc., I reinstalled to the auxiliary connector near the steering head using part no. 83 300 413 585. So far so good. Everything worked as expected, CANBUS monitoring the connection. Powered up as expected, worked fine during the test ride, then after powering off, the Zumo went through its battery choice questions, and shut down. Again, so far so good.

I use the BMW charger. So after the Zumo shut down I went through the usual charger startup routine, and unexpectedly the Zumo resurrected itself and came back to life when the charger finished the routine. Then, after the Zumo powered up, the charger shut down. And when I pulled the Zumo out of the cradle, the charger powered up again. I don't know why.

It seems to work the way it's supposed to (Zumo shuts down and the aux power outlet seems to stayed unpowered) as long as I don't connect the bike to the charger.

So at this point when I shut down the bike in the garage and want to use the charger, I pull the Zumo out of the cradle after it shuts down, and then plug in the charger. On the road, I think it will be OK to leave the Zumo in the cradle, but it seems that the charger and the Zumo and the aux power socket have trouble getting along together.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

So, here's the story and it's all related to the goofy, over-engineered Canbus accessory morass that I am thoroughly convinced was conceived for no other reason than to require you purchase an over-priced battery charger. Ahem...

The charger is powering the accessory Canbus - even when the ignition is off, so the Zumo is thinking that ignition-switch power has been applied. The charger is load dependent - and if it thinks there's more than a minimal load, it will shut off. The other issue, is if you have more than a Zumo's amount of current draw on the accessory socket, on some bikes - not all - each seems to have its own personality, the Canbus accessory will not shut off, because it thinks the battery charger is connected, even if it isn't -- brilliant!

Are you turning on the ignition, plugging in the charger, then turning off the ignition? I believe that's the recommended procedure - please correct me if I'm in error.

On the road you're fine - everything will work as you expect.

My suggestion? Ditch the Canbus socket on the side panel and install a proper Powerlet socket kit, that goes directly to the battery. If you have the earlier metal socket, prior to mid-'06, Powerlet has a cable that plugs right into the socket. If you have the newer El Cheapo all plastic socket, you'll need a 36" Powerlet socket kit and that will get wired directly to the battery thru a fuse. Now you'll have a real accessory socket and none of that Canbus nonsense.

[Sahuite]

Originally Posted by RocketMoto

Are you turning on the ignition, plugging in the charger, then turning off the ignition? I believe that's the recommended procedure - please correct me if I'm in error.

Yep, dancing all the right steps, after which the Zumo says hello and the charger says goodbye.

Some arcane logic prevails in the engineering department, for sure.

[RocketMoto]

Originally Posted by Sahuite

Yep, dancing all the right steps, after which the Zumo says hello and the charger says goodbye.

Some arcane logic prevails in the engineering department, for sure.

Exactly... No need to keep it simple when there are engineers that can make it complex, just because they can.