SPGrenier
07-17-2014, 10:36 AM
Now that you've found a place to mount and power your GPS, we have to think about those rainy days. I'm sure many already use an Aquabox but let me put a twist on getting power to it.
http://www.rammount.com/Gallery/aquaboxmotorcyclemountgarminnuvi1490t/tabid/4328/Default.aspx
At this site you can see a customer review and how he gets power into the box. Basically, you can either strategically punch about a 1/2 inch hole in it so you can pass the larger head of the mini usb connector through to the GPS or do like the guy in the review and notch the back plate area and install the GPS power cord into the box. His way in the 2nd option leaves a fairly long cable hanging out of the Aquabox that the reviewer then plugs into his 12 volt adapter location. This is good if you don't have a power line "permanently" routed to your GPS location.
About 6 years ago, I came up with something similar on my VTX. I ran a mini USB line to the handlebars along an existing wiring harness. A 1/4 plastic bolt cap works great as a rain shield over the exposed male end of the power cable.
- First get your GPS power cable to the handle bars. I just added the 12 volt adapter in the left cubby of my newly acquired F6B and, for now, brought the GPS power line out from where the intercom connector line is. I have pics of how I did that if anyone wants them. This will work fine with the GPS mounted on the left side.
- Instead of installing the entire GPS power cable (with male cigarette piece hanging) to the Aquabox, I added a 12 inch extension available here: http://www.usbfirewire.com/uextendminib.html So now, you can see in the picture that you simply have a short pigtail coming off the box. When you are in wet conditions, plug the GPS onto the cable already in the box and simply plug the cable hanging out of the box to your mini USB at the bars. A fast and simple plug and go when you need it. Works great!
http://www.rammount.com/Gallery/aquaboxmotorcyclemountgarminnuvi1490t/tabid/4328/Default.aspx
At this site you can see a customer review and how he gets power into the box. Basically, you can either strategically punch about a 1/2 inch hole in it so you can pass the larger head of the mini usb connector through to the GPS or do like the guy in the review and notch the back plate area and install the GPS power cord into the box. His way in the 2nd option leaves a fairly long cable hanging out of the Aquabox that the reviewer then plugs into his 12 volt adapter location. This is good if you don't have a power line "permanently" routed to your GPS location.
About 6 years ago, I came up with something similar on my VTX. I ran a mini USB line to the handlebars along an existing wiring harness. A 1/4 plastic bolt cap works great as a rain shield over the exposed male end of the power cable.
- First get your GPS power cable to the handle bars. I just added the 12 volt adapter in the left cubby of my newly acquired F6B and, for now, brought the GPS power line out from where the intercom connector line is. I have pics of how I did that if anyone wants them. This will work fine with the GPS mounted on the left side.
- Instead of installing the entire GPS power cable (with male cigarette piece hanging) to the Aquabox, I added a 12 inch extension available here: http://www.usbfirewire.com/uextendminib.html So now, you can see in the picture that you simply have a short pigtail coming off the box. When you are in wet conditions, plug the GPS onto the cable already in the box and simply plug the cable hanging out of the box to your mini USB at the bars. A fast and simple plug and go when you need it. Works great!