GPS wired to bike: Switched or Unswitched and WHY?

[Sadlsor]

I've done this before, and I have an opinion of course.
On my KTM, my GPSmap 478 would drain the battery completely in 2 - 3 days if I didn't run the bike. And I've spoken to at least one ST1300 rider in Canada who confirmed this, even with this unit switched OFF.
If tied into unswitched power (I'll use the Quartet Harness), this is not a possibility, correct? Assuming no underlying power / electrical issues, of course.
I haven't hard-wired any of my handful of GPSs to the ST1300 yet, been using internal battery or power outlet.
Now it's time to make it sortof permanent.
Let's get this thing started!

 

[rwthomas1]

Not a user of dedicated GPS, but for anything hardwired I'd have it off a switched relay. No reason to subject the machine to ghost loads.

RT

 

[Sadlsor]

Off the top of my head, I'd think Honda's quartet harness would go through "some" relay somewhere, for Switched power, wouldn't it?
It's basically a pre-wired extension into the factory wiring, right?
Hadn't considered a relay for such a low-draw component.

 

[Nashcat]

If you wire it as unswitched, the bike will keep charging the GPS internal battery. Give me a few minutes to look at the service manual, to see if it goes through a relay. Probably not.

John

 

[v8-7]

use switched due to battery drain.

not positive but I think the quartet harness has both switched and unswitched.

 

[kiltman]

I have mine switched via a fuzebloc. Though my installation is on an 1100. My GPS unit sits in a cradle so I can pop it out and program a route by using the internal battery.

 

[klaproth]

It’s not the GPS that drains the battery, but the power supply/voltage regulator that drains the battery. Similar to a USB “ converter”- although it only draws milliamperes, it is a constant drain. PO of my NC700X had a USB adaptor hardwired to the battery, and could not fathom why he had to buy two batteries in two years…..( probably why I got a good deal on it)

 

[Nashcat]

I just spent a half hour, looking through the service manual, and can find no mention of a quartet harness. In the electrical schematic, I found one unterminated connector that was labeled OPTION, but I don't want to speculate if that connector is actually for the quartet harness.

I think the "Unswitched" would be as the name implied, and not go through any relay, but would go directly to an always hot fuse.

Here's all you need to know about the harness.
Harness guide
John

 

[jfheilman]

The only accessory on my ST that is not wired through a relay controlled fuse block are the PIAA lights under the mirrors. The little LED on the switch is always one and yes, it will tend to drain the battery if the bike is not ridden frequently or you don't have your battery on a "battery tender" type device.

GPS, the radar detector, the Autocom unit the CB Radio all are powered via a relay controlled fuse block which is only energized when the ignition switch is in the on position (or ACC).

 

[SMSW]

@v8-7 got it right. The quartet harness has one unswitched connector and the rest are switched.

Pin0ut connections: Read post #8.

Also: Post #2

And, your diety of choice forbid, if you are still reading: The final word on Quartet Harni.

It is amazing what you can find using the search function above right (blue band).

P.S. Read the final word first.

 

[Bulitt]

Unswitched. I use my GPS a lot when my bike is off to plan a route or reprogram at gas stations or on the side of the road. I also don’t want it rebooting every time I turn the bike off for a minute or two, etc, etc.

I trust myself to turn it off when needed and when on the road I always carry a power brick that also will jump the bike if necessary. I suppose I could forget to turn it off and drain the battery, but in all my years of riding I never have.

I simply push the button and turn it on when I want to use it and do the same to turn it off at the end of the ride. Many days it never gets turned on.

edit: the Garmin 396 I use on my VFR is a fairly new offering from them and they now recommend wiring straight to any hot power source including the battery. These new units also have a built in, inline fuse that can’t be replaced and “resets itself” when the short situation is removed.

 

[SMSW]

Switched/Unswitched. Were I in this predicament, and like @Bulitt, wanted to be able to use the GPS with the bike parked, I would provide hardwired power to a single pole double throw switch. This switch has three contacts, Center connects to the Top contact or the Bottom contact. I'd send switched power to the top contact, constant power to the bottom contact, and the center goes to the GPS. Push the switch up and you get power controlled by the ignition, push the switch down and you get constant power. Were I really anal I would use a double pole double throw switch and rig up an LED that would illuminate when the switch was in the constant power mode.

Since I don't use my gps at gas stations, or when the bike is not moving, I'd more likely just get a patch cord that would provide power from my power brick to the GPS and not bother hard wiring the bike for constant power.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

Switched power.

Make sure that the cradle that you install on your motorcycle is the motorcycle cradle. The motorcycle and automobile cradle control the ZUmo 550 differently.
Wired to a switched power source, it automatically boots up when you turn the ignition switch to on. It automatically shuts off when you turn the ignition switch to off. This does not happen when it is in the automobile cradle. I find this to be a very convenient feature. If you already have a route running, just start the bike and go. It will power on automatically and be ready to go.

As far as not wanting it to reboot when you turn the ignition off, it gives you a warning that it will power down in 30 seconds when the power is turned off. It asks you if you want it to continue operating on its battery. Push one button to answer yes, that simple and it will remain on.

If you want it to stay on because you want to use it after turning off the ignition, same as above. Just push one button to answer yes after you turn off the ignition and it will stay on until you turn it off manually.

In the car cradle, it will drain your battery if you leave it connected to power. If the automobile cradle is powered, the GPS screen shuts off when you push the power button but the unit doesn't power down. To shut it off, you need to hold the power button until it powers down. Easy to forget because the screen goes black, but it isn't off. In the motorcycle cradle it powers down when the power source is turned off, unless you tell it not to. I have left mine in the cradle on the motorcycle for over a week at a time and it did not kill the battery.

Much easier to have it power on and off automatically by having it connected to switched power. You can and forget about it and not worry about killing your motorcycle battery.

 

[diferg]

power for GPS, cell phone charger, and fore and aft heated clothing on same switched relay

 

[ColinW1981]

Switched. Because when you accidently jumper the exposed Garmin electrical connection (meaning the Zumo is out of the cradle), it fries the whole Garmin cable. Don't ask me how I know this...

 

[ST1100Y]

... when you accidently jumper the exposed Garmin electrical connection (meaning the Zumo is out of the cradle), it fries the whole Garmin cable ...

Rain or dew while parked outside over night will also lead to contact corrosion, eating away the nice gold plating of the spring loaded contacts...
Defo switched, on it's own easy accessible (inline) fuse, so if something cooks up, you can simply pull it and continue your voyage...

 

[STRider]

Switched power.
...
As far as not wanting it to reboot when you turn the ignition off, it gives you a warning that it will power down in 30 seconds when the power is turned off. It asks you if you want it to continue operating on its battery. Push one button to answer yes, that simple and it will remain on.
...

What @Andrew Shadow said. Same behavior on my zumo XT, though its auto-shutdown sequence is more like 10s than 30s.

Says, "External power has been lost. Will check for updates and shutdown" Cancel button available to remain on using internal battery.

 

[ad.hom]

Just to buck the trend, I voted switched.

Will a GPS with it's own internal battery flatten the bike battery enough (in a warm climate) that it won't start the bike? Probably not, depends how often you ride.
Will adding a switched relay be more effort? Sure.

What happens in future if you want to put another electrical farkle on the dash? Or you want to change GPS to something that draws more current, more regularly? You'll probably thank yourself for adding an ignition switched relay & good wiring.

 

[dduelin]

In past conversations on the subject I voted for unswitched so I could use the GPS with the bike turned off but my thoughts have changed as my Garmin devices have changed. I wire them switched now as the Zumo 550 & 396 I use allows use in or out of the cradle on internal GPS battery power. If I want the unit to stay on when I turn off the bike I cancel the Garmin's power-down sequence or use the device on/off button to control it.

 

[Sunday Rider]

I’ve had them I switched as I’ve run the old Garmin 2610 2720 series with no battery in them and like to have them working with bike off and seeing stopped bs moving time. When I updated to the Zumo I never thought about the constant battery charging as it is on a battery tender when not ridden. I have it wired to a Centechii fuse box, so will move power to switched. Thanks to this thread!

Edit: I had them unswitched for old Garmins.