Power to the Top Box...

There's an app I like on my Droid X phone called Instamapper (InstaMapper - Free Real-Time GPS Tracking) that is like a poor man's Spot (free app), but running the GPS constantly drains the battery, so I needed a way to power the phone (and whatever else) in my top box.

Here's what I did:

First, I ordered the Powerlet (Electrex) Luggage Adapter:
Luggage Electrix Connector - Powerlet Products

And a 36" SAE power cord:
SAE Extension Cable (24") - Powerlet Products

...and the, yet to arrive, cigarette power socket / sae adapter:
SAE To Cigarette Socket Cable (3") - Powerlet Products

Then I had to decide how to mount this to the trunk. I prefer as low profile as possible, and since I haul my gigantic DSLR camera around in my top box (and it takes up a lot of space) I wanted it out near the edge.

I chose the right-bottom of the trunk as close to the "front" foot as I could get to make the cable run short coming from the bike, and as out of the way as possible.

Using the interior mounting plate as a template, I drilled some holes:


And smeared the connector with a helping of silicon sealant:


I also put silicon on the interior mounting plate to ensure no water could get driven up into the top box in even the worst rain. Mounted, it looks like this from the outside:


...and with the cover off:


Here's the plug inside the top box:


When the silicon is dry, the excess will wipe away easily:


Mounted on the bottom, with the cover over the outlet, there's still clearance to the feet:


Mounting location:


BlueSea fusebox and the SAE power cord stashed under the seat:


And it's very clean to snake the cord out under the seat, under the carrier, and plug it in:


...just stash the excess under the seat and, viola', power to the top box. When the cigarette socket arrives I'll be able to plug that in inside the top box and use my standard car charger for the phone. ...they also make adapters that add USB charging slots, as well as a host of accessories that can be run off the SAE power connector.

One more shot of the connector inside the top box:


And that's it. :smile:

 

Nice and tidy and really useful as we all have a growing numbers of devices which need charging out on the road. Nice /useful pics. Thanks. I've addrd a fuse box under my seat to power my Sat Nav, heated jacket, Ipod and intercom. I could easily extend this to the top case using your approach. I'll take some pice and post them.

 

Very nicely done. I sure could use a USB connector in the top box. I tend to throw my work bag into the top box on a daily basis though and would look for a spot where I couldn't hurt the connector. Not so sure there is one such spot.

 

These are the option for having USB charging available:

Amazon.com: cigarette, usb

Here's the one I have on order for USB specific charging:


I failed to mention, though it's probably obvious, that you could wire the SAE cord directly from the battery with an inline fuse vs. the fuse box, this would all the lead to be used to hook up a battery tender to the bike. ...some heated gear uses this same SAE connector, so the lead could be used for this as well.

 

Thanks, I'll have to look on amazon.co.uk but nonetheless, time to go shopping!
:smile:

 

It took a while but I've ordered everything in the USA and received it this week, along with a USB connector to power the phone. Thanks to my American friend who - again - was so kind as to order it and re-pack and send it on to me.
Thanks for the descriptions, I'll get started tomorrow as it's too late to heat up the garage now. The only thing I cannot do is route the cable under the Corbin seat: there's just not enough room. But I'll find another way, rest assured.

 

Those BlueSea fuse boxes are just a top notch product. I used one to re-wire my motorhome.

Jose

 

Just done mine. SAE-USB with LED showing it's powered.
According to my American buddy way overpriced (I mean the USB part) but it's the kind of thing you forget about the price after the first use. Or in my case, before the first use!

I think he got everything from Amazon and Burnsmoto.

And that's my wife's phone. I don't have such purdy colors. :redface:

 

I'm glad you found it useful; I love having power back there. I even run the power lead onto my tail-bag (which is on the bike all the time) so I can keep my phone charged.

 

Yeah and what a great write-up too. I have a Mac G4 in my garage so I could follow all the steps. Found a place to get the cable underneath the Corbin too, just took 5 minutes with the Dremel and a knife.

I'm kind of snowed in so no riding the next few days but I have one question as I'm new to these SAE connectors:
it's often a tight fit to connect them. Do I use dielectric grease or leave them be?

Thanks in advance, Zen.

 

Hey ZenMoto

If you don't mind my asking, who did you order the BlueSea power box from and do you remember how much it was. I just purchased a top case rack and box for my bike and I would like to add a powered connector for my iPhone and that power center of yours looks really compact.

 

No problem. I've never used any of the dielectric grease on the SAE connectors, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt anything either.

zoom-zoom, I think I ordered it here, as it was the cheapest at the time; I don't know if it still is:
http://www.digitalprovisions.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=FARKLEMASTER&Category_Code=BLUESEA

I'm pretty sure you can find them on Amazon.com as well.

Another favorite source for electrical connectors is Eastern Beaver:
http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/main.html