The International CBX Owners Association

I would like to hook wire in a GPS system to my CBX. Would it be wise to wire it into the fuse box, or should I perhaps wire it directly to the battery? Also though the battery is a 12 volt system, will it matter to hook up a GPS to the bike due to the fact that a bike may have a different voltage system then a car.

DevonCbx wrote:I would like to hook wire in a GPS system to my CBX. Would it be wise to wire it into the fuse box, or should I perhaps wire it directly to the battery? Also though the battery is a 12 volt system, will it matter to hook up a GPS to the bike due to the fact that a bike may have a different voltage system then a car.

Devon,

That should be pretty straightforward, and most GPS with a hard-wire option include in inline fuse. If this is the sole electrical accessory I'd go straight to the battery with a fuse and call it good. Downside of going straight to the battery is the potential to leave the GPS on when the bike is switched off, draining the battery. If you were doing several devices I'd suggest a fused block on a switched relay, like a Centech or a BlueSea, that powers accessories on and off with the key. Cars and bikes are all 12 volts, nothing to worry about there (with rare exception).

N.

Thanks for the info. The Garmin GPS does not have a hard wire option. This GPS was purchased for a car. I would like to mount a cigarette type plug so I can plug in the GPS 12 volt plug into the socket. This way I will not damage the original cord that came with the GPS.

Thanks

DevonCbx wrote:Thanks for the info. The Garmin GPS does not have a hard wire option. This GPS was purchased for a car. I would like to mount a cigarette type plug so I can plug in the GPS 12 volt plug into the socket. This way I will not damage the original cord that came with the GPS.

Thanks

Ahh, OK, in that case check these guys out. They'll sell you a kit to add a cigarette-lighter power outlet and a bracket to mount it to a frame member:

http://electricalconnection.com/category_breakdown.htm

N.

I wired mine directly to the battery posts with an inline fuse. As you said Garmin offer a hardwire kit. I put it on my BMW 1200GS & it's a great tool....

Regarding hooking up a GPS straight to the battery, does it matter if I ground the negative to the frame or run the negative terminal directly to the battery. When hooking up accesories to a car, I generally grounded the negative to the frame and then run the positive to the positive terminal of the battery.

Thanks :)

It does not matter. You can ground to the frame.

You could buy the hardwire cable for the Garmin - I got one for $20 shipped on fleabay. That way, you *could* just wire it into the fuse panel below the key for a nice, neat, simple hook-up . . . . assuming your GPS is going to be mounted near the center of the handlebars anyway. I mounted one hardwired to my ST1100 that way . . . . I used the clock fuse. On the CBX I *think* you'd have your choice of an always on or a key only on fuse

Don