I have this adaptor and want to use it to power stuff on my Varadero.
Q’s:
Will I be safe connecting it directly to the battery?
Will it drain the battery even if there is nothing connected to it (i.e. TomTom)?
What is the correct procedure for removing and connecting the terminals? (Black first & last, right?)
ideally it should be fused between the battery and attched item.
and no it wont have any drian on the battery when not in use, but do try to keep it covered up away from the elements
Cheers stevo.
I’ve added a fuse on the red wire of the adaptor. I reckon that should do it.
no problem mate, normally fused to 10amp (well they are in mercedes etc i work on)
Just a thought…Would you want this live all the time or working only with the ignition on?:)It’s easy enough to find the ignition feed from the fuse box and wire the +ve to a spare fuse:)
Well, I’d only be actually using it when I am riding, but if it being ‘always on’ is dangerous in any way, it might be better to put it on the backlight loom (wiring).
The 12v adaptor fitted as standard on my bike is always on. I don’t think it is a safety issue as long as it is somewhere dry and has some sort of cover to ensure things can’t fall into it and short it out.
Ditto, I added a lighter adaptor to my bike and it sits under my seat with a USB cable permanently connected for when I add my phone for GPS. The lighter adaptor I use has a small LED on it to show the power’s on but this is the only draw on the system. I’ve left it continuously for 5 days and the battery has been fine- bike started first time every time. It would be better if I unplugged the adaptor every time but TBH that’s just a pain in the a$$.
So to recap- mine’s directly onto the battery with an inline fuse. If I could find the ignition loom I would add it to this though for a ‘neater’ solution.
The adaptor is now on the bike along with a mount for my TomTom ONE V1. GPS on the cheap!
It was a very easy job, just an excuse to use a couple of cable ties really. You’re welcome to have a look if I’m around.
Thanks for the help everyone.
cant wait to see the handy work on the bike mate 
I should be at the BMM. Will show off my cable attachment skills then!
where did you get the adaptor, from a car shop ? I wanna fit summat like that under my seat to power stuff
he got the hein gericke waterproof one, there £10.99 
Err…yea.
As far as I remember it was German, although it definitely wasn’t branded HG.
The price might vary online.
think i’ve seen your bike around; do you live near hackney road?
Not me.
I’m in SW London.
(@ Gaffertape - did you ask me that so you’d know who to keep away from?
There’s tons of places cell 'em online. speeding.co.uk do one for about £3.50 (not waterproof). Keep it stashed under your seat and feed the device cable through to it. I used to have heated glove and satnav cables plugged into mine (so I could navigate but I’d have cold hands, or I’d be warm and lost) - just used to stow the ends somewhere they would not get wet.
Hehe.
I’m going to face that dilemma when it gets cold!
No if you were who I thought you were you’d be my neighbour. Would be hard.
Was considering leaving subliminal messages convincing you to get a license though; such as painting a big L with a cross through it in petrol on the wall, then setting fire to it as you left the house. Or possibly continually riding behind you with a megaphone ranting about the benefits of more training. Or maybe ride in front of you with L-plates, then to the sound of an 80s guitar hero track, rip them off, at which point loads of bikini clad women would come and admire me, gasping in wonderment at my full license, whilst shunning you for having an L-plate.
