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GPS Power Source Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:37 am

Discovered this interesting thread on the forum, since I am about to purchase a Garmin Nuvi 550 and need a power source.

So, I pulled back the tank and found not one but two spare electrical connectors. See photos. Presume the first one is , as stated in thread (above), available for the optional BMW GPS. Has anyone any idea what the second one is for? Presume it's for one of the other electrical extras not fitted to my bike eg ESA.

I intend to use the first for the Garmin if I can purchase a mating connector (and can work out how to connect the wires to it). Would like to hear from anyone who has already done this.

...or do I just keep it simple and take a direct (fused) feed from the battery?

I have used the one that is mounted on my RT.

To connect to it you need what is called Repair Connector

The BMW part number is 83 30 0 413 585 and it is about 24 dollars.

One wire is hot the other is ground and the third is for the dead reckoning signal if you have the BMW GPS installed.

I use the hot wire to trigger my centech panel.

Semper Fidelis wrote:I have used the one that is mounted on my RT.

To connect to it you need what is called Repair Connector

The BMW part number is 83 30 0 413 585 and it is about 24 dollars.

One wire is hot the other is ground and the third is for the dead reckoning signal if you have the BMW GPS installed.

I use the hot wire to trigger my centech panel.

I 'm in UK so will check part number with the local dealer, thankyou. It'll be interesting to see how much they know about it. They're not the sharpest tools in the toolbox

I didn't read the whole thread so some one may have covered this. I ran into this when ordering a 'repair connector'. The repair connector is considered a tool by BMW and will be found in the tools listings not the parts listing. Apparently they are on two different sets of microfiche. The repair connector also has a tool number assigned to it that is usually different from the standard BMW part number. A good parts guy should be able to find it using either number. Be nice to your parts guy - he (or his boss) is most likely only making four or five bucks for the time he will spend looking for this item.

BMW also offers a complete cable for the Zumo 550 that plugs into the first connector. It is part number 72607710789 'connecting cable (power supply)', but is pricey at just under $100 in the US compared to the repair connector.

Ron,

I am using the first power supply on my 550. See thread this forum: http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17807.

Here's a better thread: http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f ... 3300413585

Works like a charm.

Doug

Rocket wrote:GPS Power Source Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:37 am

Discovered this interesting thread on the forum, since I am about to purchase a Garmin Nuvi 550 and need a power source.

So, I pulled back the tank and found not one but two spare electrical connectors. See photos. Presume the first one is , as stated in thread (above), available for the optional BMW GPS. Has anyone any idea what the second one is for? Presume it's for one of the other electrical extras not fitted to my bike eg ESA.

The second one - probably on the opposite side of the bike from the GPS connector - looks like the power feed to the vacuum valve for the charcoal canister. Since it's disconnected and tied off - you're either not in the US (your sig doesn't indicate where you are) or someone may have removed the canister and vacuum valve.

I intend to use the first for the Garmin if I can purchase a mating connector (and can work out how to connect the wires to it). Would like to hear from anyone who has already done this.

...or do I just keep it simple and take a direct (fused) feed from the battery?

Depends on what Garmin you have. Ones without a battery are actually better connected direct to the battery - that way they can be used (for programming, plotting courses, etc) without the ignition on. Mine is NOT wired that way - and I regret it. Ones with a battery (ZUMO for instance) - can get by with the BMW GPS power connector. And if you have one that supports it - that connection also has a wire that tells the GPS how far you've traveled if you loose signal (like in a tunnel). The BMW Navigators use that signal.

Have a look at this thread on UKGSer rocket

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread ... ght=canbus

The can bus socket is the one in your first picture,i got a plug from southport superbikes which was about a tenner.

rex akro wrote:Have a look at this thread on UKGSer rocket

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread ... ght=canbus

The can bus socket is the one in your first picture,i got a plug from southport superbikes which was about a tenner.

My local dealer wants £40 for the Canbus connector and lead (presume it is specifically for Zumo's).

Will try to get the £10 canbus socket you mention from Southport superbikes tomorrow. Thanks for the tip , and the great link on this subject. Have printed the pictures as a step by step guide.

Cheers matey

Think I now have a plan which is reasonably simple, offers the flexibilty I need, and is relatively low cost :

1. Have selected the Garmin Nuvi 550. It's not in the same league as the Zumo but then it's nearly half the price at £240, has all the functionality I need, looks good and is a quality Garmin product. I have to sacrifice voice instructions via helmet speakers but think I can live with that. Sleeping on that decision one more night before I buy .

2. Will use a Ram mount suitable for the Garmin and locate on the right hand side near the front brake (since the clocks are left of centre on the bike, and I don't want to restrict visibility).

3. Intend to order a Canbus socket and make up the wires as explained in the thread, above, to allow easy connection to the Beema's existing GPS socket under the tank.

4. Also like the idea of inserting an additional connector in the GPS power cable near to the Ram mount and GPS to enable the whole assembly be completely removed from the bike (if left unattended for a long time)

The whole thing should cost around £280.

Thanks to all for the comments.

Rocket wrote:Think I now have a plan which is reasonably simple, offers the flexibilty I need, and is relatively low cost :

1. Have selected the Garmin Nuvi 550. It's not in the same league as the Zumo but then it's nearly half the price at £240, has all the functionality I need, looks good and is a quality Garmin product. I have to sacrifice voice instructions via helmet speakers but think I can live with that. Sleeping on that decision one more night before I buy .

How much weather do you get? The Zumo works fine in the same amount of rain that will drown a Nuvi. If the new Zumo 660 is available you might want to look at it. It is priced less than the Zumo 550, and works well. The downside is that the cable is permanently attache to the mount, and has 3 additional connectors attached to the cable that you will have to put somewhere. I tucked them behind the fairing on my R100S, but they can probably be hidden behind the plastic fairing on the R12R tank. The downside is that despite including the RAM mount the cost was $675 (£430?).

I have a Garmin 550 conncted directly to the battery. It was a trivial install--no messing around with connectors. Still looks professional.

And just a few general comments from one who has had a lot of GPS's:

• GPS's made for cars are often the wrong choice on a bike. The controls don't work well with gloved fingers - especially touch-screen ones. They distract you. That's dangerous. BTDT it sucked.
• Get one that talks to you. Looking at the screen is dangerous. Much better to have Ms. Duffus yell in your ear "Right turn on I95 1/2 mile ahead.." Avoid the distraction.
• BlueTooth is a good thing on a GPS - so Ms. Duffus can talk to you without you being tethered to the bike with a cord.
• The BMW Navigator-III is worth most of the extra money over the equivalent Garmin (which I also own) just for the extra left side buttons in the cradle. Well worth it actually if you find it slightly used like I did.
• There are those people who bought Garmins, and those people who wished they'd bought a Garmin.
• The best GPS bang-for-your-buck is the last generation Garmin. Heavily discounted, available as factory refurbs - they are hard to beat. I'm not rich enough for the current generation, but as soon as a new model comes out I start shopping the last model.

Ordered the Garmin Nuvi 550, Ram and wiring kit.

Noted the pearls of wisdom on GPS's but happy enough with the cheaper Nuvi. GPS on my bike is not that big a priority, and certainly not worth £500, would rather spend that sort of money on an Ackropovic. My problem is that I 'm not sure how much it will get used - have coped for the last 32 years without one. Hard copy maps in the map pocket been just fine. However, if it gets a lot of use and the spec is too basic, it will get relegated to the wifes car and I 'll upgrade.

+1 on the voice commands. I've used my Zumo 550 with and without earbuds (Etymotics) and I find that the voice commands keep my head up concentrating on traffic. OK, I listen to tunes on the built in MP3 player on long trips as well, but the voice commands are great.

Doug

snag wrote:+1 on the voice commands. I've used my Zumo 550 with and without earbuds (Etymotics) and I find that the voice commands keep my head up concentrating on traffic. OK, I listen to tunes on the built in MP3 player on long trips as well, but the voice commands are great.

Doug

Nuvi arrives today. Audio is by in-built speaker only, ie no link to helmet. Beginning to have second thoughts about it already . Proof of the pudding...as they say.

Rocket wrote:Nuvi arrives today. Audio is by in-built speaker only, ie no link to helmet. Beginning to have second thoughts about it already . Proof of the pudding...as they say.

Your wife will enjoy her new Nuvi.. Gonna be some killer deals on the Garmin Zumo 550 once the 660 really hits the street..

deilenberger wrote:

Rocket wrote:Nuvi arrives today. Audio is by in-built speaker only, ie no link to helmet. Beginning to have second thoughts about it already . Proof of the pudding...as they say.

Your wife will enjoy her new Nuvi.. Gonna be some killer deals on the Garmin Zumo 550 once the 660 really hits the street..

Will end up having more GPS's than PC's in the house - TOm TOm XL ONe (Car 1), Nuvi (R12), SATMAP (walking), one in the Blackberry (handy street map when in London) , hand-held Garmin E-trex (orig GPS for walking), ... just need one for the KTM now .

Don't know how we ever managed before...

I mounted a GARMIN ZUMO to my R1200R directly to the battery with an inline fuse. Very Easy

I use a Garmin GPSMap60CSx handheld, with Garmin's handlebar mount. I used to use an eTrex Legend, but I dropped 2 too many times!

I don't really use the GPS for navigation while in motion, usually it's got the "big number" display with Speed, Trip Odometer, and Moving Time in the display. But I do use the track logs to map out where I've been, and have started playing with adding geolocation data to pictures and the like. If I'm so confuseled as to where I is, then I stop, get off, take a break, put my reading glasses on (I hate trying to glimpse in the mirrors with my progressives!) and then sit down and work out where I am and where lunch is, and how to get there.

Having said all that, the 60CSx does have Garmin's four pin connector for external power etc, so I'm thinking I'm going to have to dig out the GPS power feed, and probably get the wiring bit from Nippy Norman's. Their Zumo wiring harness looks like it might do the job with a minimum of fuss and feathers on my part.

Kyle