[Skiela]

Anyone installed and had success/failures installing a charging station add-on for their motorcycle (predominantly to charge a cell phone) who can share comments/wisdom on the subject?

Been on Ebay, Amazon, DealXtreme, etc., seen lots, but can't tell which is crap and which is worth the money. My preference is the cigarette lighter style over USB port and I don't care if I'm cutting into plastics or mounting on the bars.

Experiences? Thoughts?

 

[gwilo]

Simple cheap easy

And kill to birds with one stone.

Get a Battery Tender from the SAE connector that you have attached to your battery attach a cigarette lighter attachment (now called accessory port) from that you can run any cheap USB adapter/charger.

Can also be used for GPS.

There are also many attachement that can go onto the SAE plug.

http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/2199/PN-SAE-71/Battery-Leads-SAE-plug-with-fuse

or you can buy one of these but you can not charge your bike battery with this.
http://burnsmoto.com/waterproof-usb-charger-socket-panel-mount.php

 

[cvrle1]

http://www.bcsportbikes.com/forum/showthread.php/169194-Smart-Phone-charging-off-bike

 

[gwilo]

Search is no fun

 

[Skiela]

Nice. You guys are awesome! Thanks

:tredmill.

 

[NuclearTester]

I installed this one: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/12V-Waterproof-Motorcycle-USB-Charger-Cigarette-Lighter-Power-Outlet-Socket-Hot-/380919087638?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item58b08c0216&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1

Less than $6 total plus some zip ties.
You can use any $2 phone charger with a standard car power outlet, plus many other accessories. Mine handled even 70 watt turbo air pump for inflatable mattress.

 

[Skiela]

Defo like the price tag. I looked at one similar. Have you used it with a cell phone? Used it while riding? Wondering if you had any issues charging or with things vibrating out of the socket?

 

[BROSKI]

If you're going for a permanent solution i would suggest adding a fuse and a switch to the circuit.

(Battery +) ---- Fuse ---- USB/lighter----- Switch--- (Battery - )/ground

All in series in any order. This will protect from any potential short circuits and the switch will kill the circuit and will keep the battery from draining when the bikes not being used for extended periods. Also would be a good idea to look into a USB or lighter charger that comes with an LED to indicate when the circuit is live.

 

[NuclearTester]

Defo like the price tag. I looked at one similar. Have you used it with a cell phone? Used it while riding? Wondering if you had any issues charging or with things vibrating out of the socket?

I used it for about 3000 km now with phone charger plugged in using the phone as GPS. Not a single problem and my bike vibrates a lot. I'd suggest using a model with a fuse, like this one for $7
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Motorcycle-Motorbike-12V-Fused-Waterproof-Accessory-Cigar-Lighter-Cable-Socket-/171449009642?pt=US_12_Volt_Portable_Car_Appliances&hash=item27eb2845ea&_uhb=1

 

[gwilo]

To take the strain of the bikes electrical system I would suggest adding this

 

[kerberos]

I installed one of these. I know the OP preferred a cigarette style port, but what tech these days even uses those? Pretty much everything comes with a USB charging cable so you'd need another component to provide the USB ports. This port that I installed provides enough power to charge my iPad as well, and its weatherproof.

(The Amazon review states that the guy couldn't charge his Samsung Tablet, he must have done something wrong or the port was faulty, because I was able to charge my buddies Galaxy Tab on a recent trip no problem)

 

[ar79]

I got one of these, haven't install it, yet.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/waterproof-motorcycle-usb-port/

 

[BROSKI]

To take the strain of the bikes electrical system I would suggest adding this

Hahahaha, now that's a genius idea!!!

That dyno is guaranteed to work even if your battery dies... As long as you push the bike down the road. Will even charge your battery.

I'm ordering 4 of those; two for each wheel. Thanks gwilo!! ;-)

 

[NuclearTester]

I know the OP preferred a cigarette style port, but what tech these days even uses those?

Wow, really? Where do I start?

• Tire inflators
• Matress inflators
• Laptops
• Many tablets. Yes, there are more than iPads. Surface Pro uses 48 watt charger. Try that with USB.
• Battery chargers for many flashlights
• Chargers for DSLR cameras
• Digital voltmeter, so you know when to stop abusing your battery.

 

[kerberos]

Wow, really? Where do I start?

• Tire inflators
• Matress inflators
• Laptops
• Many tablets. Yes, there are more than iPads. Surface Pro uses 48 watt charger. Try that with USB.
• Battery chargers for many flashlights
• Chargers for DSLR cameras
• Digital voltmeter, so you know when to stop abusing your battery.

I'll give you the first two, but probably not something the average sport biker is going to require. I don't know many laptops and DSLRS that have 12V cigarette chargers, you would also need a 120v power inverter to charges these. Also not something that would generally need charging on the go. My DSLR battery lasts for weeks, maybe days with heavy use, I'd simply plug that in at night. I've been on the bike for 3+ weeks at a time, and the only thing I've ever wished I could charge on the go was cell phone, tablet and now my Sena headsets. Anything else would get charged prior to leaving, or at the end of the day.

Its seems as though the OP was referring more the "personal electronics" rather than heavier duty use.

 

[gwilo]

^

That is why you start with a fused SEA connector from the battery, from there you add the options you need.

2nd Gear in Coquitlam has/had a good collection of USB/lighter/BMW connectors

 

[NuclearTester]

I don't know many laptops and DSLRS that have 12V cigarette chargers, you would also need a 120v power inverter to charges these.

Ever considered using Google before posting replies? A universal 12 volt laptop charger is about $20. I've been using one with Asus, Lenovo and Dell laptops for years now. I don't know what DSLR you are using, but I know that Nikon D5300 12v charger is about $25. I'm often traveling for 2 - 3 weeks at a time without sleeping in a hotel for a single night. None of my batteries last that long.
Edit: Btw, if your DSLR batteries last for weeks, you probably don't need it in the first place. Long exposure night shots, timelapse and Gigapixel stitched panoramas kill the battery very quickly.

 

[kerberos]

Ever considered using Google before posting replies? A universal 12 volt laptop charger is about $20. I've been using one with Asus, Lenovo and Dell laptops for years now. I don't know what DSLR you are using, but I know that Nikon D5300 12v charger is about $25. I'm often traveling for 2 - 3 weeks at a time without sleeping in a hotel for a single night. None of my batteries last that long.
Edit: Btw, if your DSLR batteries last for weeks, you probably don't need it in the first place. Long exposure night shots, timelapse and Gigapixel stitched panoramas kill the battery very quickly.

Don't be a jerk, obviously your particular needs are beyond those of the average rider. OP was talking about primarily a cell phone, therefore my response was geared towards that type of tech. Obviously if you are going to be away from an outlet for 3 weeks at a time, then you've got a whole different set of issues.

BTW, I shoot with a D800, but I also have the battery grip which helps. I don't do gigapans, but even with some video and long exposures, I have no problem with the battery lasting over a week of daily usage. If shooting tethered to a MacBook Air, then I do need to charge the laptop but 90 mins in a coffee shop fixes that.

 

[NuclearTester]

Don't be a jerk, obviously your particular needs are beyond those of the average rider. OP was talking about primarily a cell phone, therefore my response was geared towards that type of tech. Obviously if you are going to be away from an outlet for 3 weeks at a time, then you've got a whole different set of issues.

BTW, I shoot with a D800, but I also have the battery grip which helps. I don't do gigapans, but even with some video and long exposures, I have no problem with the battery lasting over a week of daily usage. If shooting tethered to a MacBook Air, then I do need to charge the laptop but 90 mins in a coffee shop fixes that.

So you call me a jerk for pointing out that you post false information and then proceed to call yourself an expert on the needs of average rider and then brag about your gear and then tell everyone how you like to sit in coffeshop to charge your gear. What's the point of all that? I suggest a cheap and universal charging solution that is useful in many situations. If a rider need any more information about it, I can help. Why bother replying to my suggestions telling how it's all crap because YOU don't need it? Ignore what you don't need and move on.

 

[BROSKI]

Guys, guys Come on. I read both if your posts and both of you gave good valuable information. No need to argue over a small misunderstanding.

Let's end it here and hug it out.