super1c
Super Moderator
I finally got my garmin nuvi 500. Ive searched and read everything i could find without a answer. I want to wire a 12v cigarette adapter right to my battery. That way i can plug my gps in and charge my cell phone if needed, or whatever. I know to fuse it and ground it to frame. But do i need to regulate the power if im using the already regulating power cords from my gps and phone? I dont want to direct wire the outlet then plug my gps in and blow it up. Most posts talk about wiring to sled without battery and i want to just use my battery. That way im not messing with any draw issues on stator. My heated shied is also wired to battery. Will all of this draw effect the battery at all? This is on my viper s with add on e start.
If you wire direct to the battery you will have a hot cigarette lighter all of the time, meaning that the lighter will always have power.
You car has 12v power to the lighter so the cord does the work of regulating the power.
I dont think that the light draw of your cell phone or Gps will have much effect on your battery, unless you use it a ton and dont run your machine to recharge it.
You car has 12v power to the lighter so the cord does the work of regulating the power.
I dont think that the light draw of your cell phone or Gps will have much effect on your battery, unless you use it a ton and dont run your machine to recharge it.
super1c
Super Moderator
Thanks for the reply bandit, Just thinking on what u said about the 12v adapter always being hot if direct wired. I thought they were all direct wired? I know in my truck they are always hot, and i thought sleds are the same? I guess i would just need to make sure i always unplug whatever i have plugged in. Any better ideas if i want to use the battery and not draw off my stator?
the battery is still only 12 volts, so its 12 volts going to your gps or whatever, your voltage regulator on the sled only allows 12 volts to be charged to battery.(sometimes its more like 13-13.5 but I say 12 volt for just lamen speaking). Your car would have the same set up, nothing differnt.
Of course your going to be drawing on the battery when its not running but its exactly the same with your car, all batterys have a reserve capacity. I doubt unless you add all kinds of devices if youll eat your battery up with a gps unless you run it for hours and hours,charge the phone a couple times without running the engine. Much the same as if you leave on your cars headlights, long enough the battery goes dead....
The cord is also protected in most gps and radar detectors, etc.
The reserve capcity of the battery will have more effect then anything else will, the longer the reserve the more draw for a longer period of time can be sustained.
take a multi meter and put it in your truck, check voltage at acces lighter port, then start up truck check it, then check battery on truck not running then start it up and check it.
do same to sled on the battery not running then running and youll see roughly the same thing. likely 12.5-12.8 not running(if newer battery, lower like 11.8-12.2 if older) and 12.8-13 something running
Of course your going to be drawing on the battery when its not running but its exactly the same with your car, all batterys have a reserve capacity. I doubt unless you add all kinds of devices if youll eat your battery up with a gps unless you run it for hours and hours,charge the phone a couple times without running the engine. Much the same as if you leave on your cars headlights, long enough the battery goes dead....
The cord is also protected in most gps and radar detectors, etc.
The reserve capcity of the battery will have more effect then anything else will, the longer the reserve the more draw for a longer period of time can be sustained.
take a multi meter and put it in your truck, check voltage at acces lighter port, then start up truck check it, then check battery on truck not running then start it up and check it.
do same to sled on the battery not running then running and youll see roughly the same thing. likely 12.5-12.8 not running(if newer battery, lower like 11.8-12.2 if older) and 12.8-13 something running
super1c
Super Moderator
Thanks for the great info, think i got it now. One last thought, question! I leave my battery with my heated shield rca plug hooked up at all times during the season. I would assume under the right circumstances that live plug could touch metal and short out? Just thinking of it flopping around when im not using my shield. I am fuse protected but! Or is it not hot unless somthing is plugged into it causing a draw. Im thinking its hot and just for safety i may wire in a on off switch or would this be a bit of overkill and overthinking. Thanks guys
I think your "over thinking" it but the center is the hot and outside is ground if memory serves me, but you can double check real quick with a multi meter.
same with 12v outlet, the center is hot and outside is ground so as long as you dont put a penny inside it your good....
same with 12v outlet, the center is hot and outside is ground so as long as you dont put a penny inside it your good....
super1c
Super Moderator
Cool, thanks!
Timbaahb
New member
If you look at the specs for the Garmin, it might be like the older ones that operated at 10 to 40 volts. I don't know about your model, but my old stuff is that way. So even if my battery is dead and my alternator starts putting out 13.8 volts, I'm still ok.
I don't know about the cell phone
I don't know about the cell phone
If you draw power from your battery, eventually the stator has to replace it to recharge the battery. Does it really matter then where the power comes from to run your electronics?
If you would like to make a disconnect, you can install a master on off switch. This switch could be wired to turn both the GPS and Heat shield off. On My sled I do not have a battery, I run directly off of the power output from the engine, ie 12 dc power source. My GPS is a Lowrance 3500 5" color display. The display has an overlay feature of many items. I typically have voltage and speed displayed. Usually while running the voltage is around 14 volts. Here is a photo of the GPS installed
super1c
Super Moderator
yamabrute said:
I never though of it like that? Well either way im only going to be drawing about 3 amps at most from both items as it turns out (shield and GPS). So it sounds like the draw will not effect much anyway. Al thats how im going to mount mine. I have a Garmin nuvi 500, i saw yours in the GPS section and liked that mount idea a lot.