Electrical Plug

[Doobage]

I'm lacking info...so my question might be rather silly.

I bought a used '03 1300 and it already had a 12v socket added to it. I have since used the socket to power things like CD players...

But this weekend I bought the air compressor from Sears that is a 12v and I was wondering if I should be concerned about fuses and such? Since I don't know where it is wired in (without removing lots of tupperware) is there a possibility that I could damage something other than the fuse for the 12v socket if it is pulling too much? Or is this very unlikely?

I say this because my friend owns a Venture which apparently comes with a BMW socket, but has a 5 amp fuse which will blow apparently if a compressor is plugged in.

[jgilmore]

The OEM 12 volt socket that attaches to the quartet harness that mounts in the glove box (if that's the one you are talking about) only has a 2-amp fuse in line, which isn't enough for a compressor. My compressor draws like 8-10 amps, I power it through the add-on BMW sockets from 2wheelinnovations (or powerlet products) fuse connected to the battery.

-John

[Doobage]

Is there any easy way to determine if it is a BMW plug? Is there any easy way to determine if it is in the quartet harness?

The only digging I've done on my bike was to take the seat off so I could add on my luggage rack to the back.

[crazykz]

Is there any easy way to determine if it is a BMW plug? Is there any easy way to determine if it is in the quartet harness?

The only digging I've done on my bike was to take the seat off so I could add on my luggage rack to the back.

Hi Doobage. The socket you have in the fairing pocket is most likely not a BMW plug. If it's the one from Honda, and it probably is, then it's not a BMW plug. If you have something that you can plug into it like a 12V accessory then plug it in there but DON'T turn it on. Just see if it will fit. If it fits then it's not a BMW plug type socket and is most likely the Honda one.

DON'T hook a compressor up that or the fuse will fail (ask me how I know) and the fuse is a 2A glass tube style that is on the quartet harness that can be accessed by removing the left side middle cowling. (PITA)

I got a battery tender harness that hooks to the battery and I leave it on the bike under the seat. Then I went to Walmart and in the automotive section I found an adaptor that goes from the SAE style connector that the battery tender cable uses to a cigarette style 12V accessory plug. I keep the adaptor with the compressor and now I can hook up the battery tender or the compressor depending on what I need.

Curt

[Littlejohn64]

A cigar lighter plug wont fit in a BMW style plug. The BMW style plug has an actual "clip" for the center electrode that you should see when you look into the socket, unlike a cigar lighter style, that is just a spring tension contact on the center electrode of the plug.

As far as where its wired, I deither call the guy you bought it form if possible, or start following wires.

[Doobage]

Cool, thanks all!

At some point I'll have to actually see somebody elses BMW plug.

One of the other things the previous owner mentioned was that he had a battery tender socket underneath the seat. So perhaps I can just go buy the tender-to-12v socket like Curt has done. Hopefully I can find that at Auto-Zone.

I'll go rip my seat off and see what it looks like and maybe come back with more questions.

Thanks!

[crazykz]

Here's a site for the BMW plugs:
http://www.powerletproducts.com/products.php?mid=1

Here's a link to the battery tender cable and they also have the SAE to cigarette lighter adaptor although it's more money.
http://www.powerletproducts.com/products/cables.php

Curt

[Doobage]

Curt...thanks. That confirms what I probably need to get. I went and looked under my seat and the lead coming off the battery goes to a socket that is white plastic with a square on one side and a half square/half triangle for the other side. All I know about it is that he bought it at Walmart. So I'm guessing it probably won't have the convertion I need like the connection cables you showed me.

Thanks again.

[crazykz]

Get rid of that thing and just get the ones I point out to you. You should be fine then.

Curt


Curt...thanks. That confirms what I probably need to get. I went and looked under my seat and the lead coming off the battery goes to a socket that is white plastic with a square on one side and a half square/half triangle for the other side. All I know about it is that he bought it at Walmart. So I'm guessing it probably won't have the convertion I need like the connection cables you showed me.

Thanks again.