12v power socket
 

Hi

just wondering what type you have but more importantly......where have you mounted it???

Can you guess what my next mod is?

Tar

I used waterproof DIN sockets, which are more robust and watertight than cigarette lighter sockets, also being physically smaller they are easier to mount in a wider choice of locations.

http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse03b0260.jpg

RH socket is ignition switched, the one on the left is direct to battery.

I fitted one of these: link

�19 delivered, fully waterproof, and seems well made. The only problem I had was finding somewhere on the handlebar to mount it - there wasn't anywhere. I ended up fixing it to the right hand crash bar, just in front of my right knee. It's quite unobtrusive there, but whether it will be convenient for the satnav (the main purpose of fitting it) remains to be seen. I may well re-mount it somewhere else if it proves awkward.

I quite like flush-fitting sockets, but there's not a lot of panel area on the XTR for this.

(Update, having now read the post above): When I had the Bonnie (which I fitted with a Triumph accessory socket of the DIN variety) I promised myself that I would go over to DIN exclusively. It never happened. It meant that every device I owned would have to have a dedicated DIN cable, and I ended up with a splitter cable with cigarette sockets on the end just for convenience. The DIN system is mechanically superior, no doubt about it, but in the real world I have never had a problem with a good-quality, weather-sealed cig-type socket.

I few years ago I felt the same, but what's happened is increasingly more and more devises are fitted with USB plugs for charging these days (Sat Nav, phones, Mp3, tablet, iPad/Pod, blah, blah...) - so you're going to have to use a cigarette to USB or DIN to USB adaptor whatever (or hard wire a USB socket). At present nearly all high power consuming equipment (heated kit mainly) come with either bare tails for hard wiring, SAE plugs (most USA designed kit, Optimate connector etc) or DIN plugs (most European gear), very little (if any) biker kit comes with cigarette lighter sockets.

However, I should point out that I also have all ends covered with an "Old School" fag lighter socket in the dry of my top case! ;)

Hmm. Perhaps I need to rethink my power facilities :) I like the DIN connectors for the way they click positively into place and seem to be robustly made. But they are relatively pricey. At the moment, I don't have heated kit (may change next winter) and my main use is powering the satnav, charging my phone and operating a compressor - all of which came with car-type plugs, so at the moment that is all I need. I like the SAE type for their simplicity, though.

some good points!!

ive always heard good stuff about DIN, but as pointed out in the "real world" ciggy lighter style easier.

But the point about most things are USB is a good one! My satnav wont use it as i have an AMPS mont, my phone & ipod is USB....the only thing would be a portable compressor that i want to get for the forture.


mmmm....decisions :icon_question:

Re: 12v power socket
 

I have one DIN socket mounted as Pleiades and use it with converter to charge my electric devices in tankbag while I ride. Additionally, I have one regular cigarette socket on a long cable which I have connected directly to the batterie below the seat. The cable is long enough to reach to my tent when I camp so I can charge my devices overnight.

Sent from my GT-I9100G

Beware not to drain your battery overnight. Otherwise your devices are loaded but your bike doesn't start next morning ;-)

Thats the first thing i thought!!

I reckon im going to fit a din socket like in the pioctures above.

so just to confirm...you can get

DIN - ciggy lighter converter
DIN - USB converter

All bases covered then :048:

12v power socket
 

Yep

Sorry for being stupid. So do you fit this DIN thing.. which is smaller than a cigarette type thing, because its easier to fit on the Tenere especially because its smaller, then buy a lead like this
http://www.windingroads.co.uk/shop/p...socket_adaptor
So then you use your normal plug in type charging leads for phone ,satnav etc
Or are you supposed to have your leads you need made to fit the smaller DIN type thing ??

You can certainly do that, but where possible I'd swap to a DIN plug, they aren't expensive (unless you buy them from Touratech ;) ). You've only got a problem really if you've got a devise with a cigarette plug with built in transformer, like phones used to have, otherwise it's pretty easy to standardise everything to DIN. Trouble with adapters is they aren't always watertight and the more connections you have the more you're prone to electrical gremlins.

How it's done is up to you, lay out everything you think you might need to plug into the bike, then look at which is going to be the best connector/plug to use across them all, then rationalise to a common connector.

If you want to load 2 USB-devices at the same time, you should think about taking a cigarette socket. There are plugs with 2 USB sockets f�r cigs but not for DINs.

I'm looking at one of those at the moment. If you want to charge an iPad as well as a phone you need one with a dual outlet, as the iPad needs 2A for a proper charge. Not all dual USB chargers have the higher power option. Most are 1A only.

Don't forget that most cig-type adapters have a voltage reduction circuit, as most devices need 5V, not the 12V of a bare DIN or cig-type outlet. You can get dedicated 5V leads for phones, satnavs etc with DIN terminals, but they are expensive. For all its faults, the cig socket type is cheaper and more adaptable.

I use a DIN 16A socket in the dash area, then a 4-way cigar extension fitted with a DIN 16A plug. The 4 way goes into a waterproof bag/tankbag/Kriega etc with anything I need to charge - Phone/palmtop/camera etc. Worked perfectly for the best part of 5 years on the Ten.

thanks for the info guys.

Think im going to go with a ciggy lighter. just need to find a decent waterproof one, dont mind paying more if its good quality.

Also...cant decide where to mount it :) im thinking under the seat but....as you know....theres not a massive amount of room under there!

If you've got a yacht chandler nearby, try to get something for a marine application. Should be proof against drenching with salt water, which means it will shrug off anything on a bike. Under the seat, perhaps not so important.

A cigarette style socket will fit in the panels behind the front indicators, I've seen it done, but it is a tight squeeze and you've got to get the position just right to find the space behind the panel. This is a pretty solidly constructed waterproof one...

http://www.zenoverland.com/electrica...cigsocket.html

It is what I've got in the topcase.

I have bought one these to fit, but havent got round to it yet. Its going in the same place as Pleiades' left one. Cost about a tenner.