Auxilary lighter plug...

Is this unwise to add in? It should obviously have a fuse. How hard is this to do?

 

You just have to make sure you don't overload the charging system as they tend to be on the edge of having enough power to keep everything running right as it is.

 

if your just using it for a phone charger or something like that you'll be ok. when ever i take a long trip ill run one up to my tank bag so i can run the gps on my phone and keep it topped off.

 

^^ Good idea to also throw on a toggle switch so you can cut the draw when it's not needed.

 

Easiest way to install in a to wire it directly to the battery with a toggle switch and small fuse. For phones and gps units it should be fine but i wouldnt run any lights of blenders off it.

 

So no laptop, for instance?

 

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-08 ... 883&sr=8-3

Now that's cool. I already have mine wired up for mini jumper cables/battery tender, so would be a dummy 'on/off' switch as well. No fuse though... What's the risk here?

 

On one of my other bikes, my Vstrom 1000 I added a set of aux lights down at the front axle, I removed the 55w halogens and inserted 35w bulbs. I also added a "lighter" to connect my radar detector or phone charger (when parked). Those are the only electrical adds I did, each has its own fuse and toggle switch. I also have a habit of running my high beams at the same time as my lows by finding that sweet spot on the switch where both come on.

Now to check....I started my engine and connected the meter to the battery. In any combination of radar detector, aux lights and high OR low beams, my battery was still charging. If I however had the aux lights AND both high and low beams, my battery was draining, not by much but it was draining. I could easily run the aux lights, radar detector and high beams without a problem.

So, I'd suggest that the XJ may have enough electrical overhead to handle the laptop charger but it might be a good idea to check, just so you know for sure. That way, you may decide to use it enough to get your laptop topped off, but then give your bike some "unloaded" running time to recharge your battery

jeff

 

a usb type charger is about 0.5A. I have a plug on mine located on the fairing dead center between the gauges. Keep the phone plugged in when doing GPS or goole maps with my own route.

I've had no issues.

For the link, you'd want to make sure your adapter that plugs into the lighter socket has a fuse.

 

If you are concerned about overloading the charging circuit, might I add that swapping out your instrument lights with LED's will help free up the load you could then use for your AUX port. Just a thought...

 

I'm a novice at all things electrical, but when I try and think about it...

A fuse prevents a surge of electricity from going to (in this case) the lighter outlet by having a piece of metal thin enough that too much power will melt it and break the circuit. But in a straight shot from the battery to the lighter socket, what could possibly cause a voltage surge? Is the fuse really necessary?

 

If I wanted to wire in my own fuse, what size should I put on it?

Also, laptop would be something I would charge while riding, not sitting still. Just pop it on the cable and drive for a couple hours.

 

Fuses react to current, not voltage. The primary purpose of the fuse is to prevent too much current from flowing through the protected circuit, causing the wire to heat up and catch something on fire. Protection of connected devices, instruments etc. is secondary.

A defective device plugged into the lighter socket, cut insulation on a charger cable, or a short circuit can draw a lot of current in a hurry. Better to have the fuse melt than have a wire burst into flame.

 

gotcha. Good to know.

(If the voltage is high enough and the current is low enough, though, isn't it equivalent in terms of power? gah... I'll never fully understand electricity.)

 

I have 12v cig lighter outlet running off the battery with a 12v fused switch.
It is activated by a wire (I forget which one) that is hot when the bike is turned on, so you can't run the battery down. I had it on the handlebar, now it's hidden in the chain lock box.

 

Fuses burn out because of too much current. Don't even think of power or voltage, it has nothing to do with it.

Fuses "melt" from too much current (above its rating)

 

I like the idea of mounting it in the chain pocket, but where do you put the phone when you're riding? I'd like to try mounting it in the tail compartment myself. That way you could charge the phone as you go. Hell, maybe even build some side cases with an outlet inside. The only bad thing about Secas is the lack of storage and room for accessories. I'm converting my dash and tail lights to LED to free up a little juice. No sense in making an old horse work harder than it has to...

 

I will post pictures of my setup tomorrow.

works great.