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Author Topic: Auxiliary power  (Read 2550 times)

Offline NC Steve

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Auxiliary power
« on: July 09, 2007, 07:06:02 PM »
I'm looking to ad a "plug" to Ol' Blue, because my '84 didn't come from the factory with the dandy BMW auxiliary power socket/outlet (#4) pictured below. (I do have a #3 and part of #1, but try to avoid #2!)


Do I really need to use the BMW part, with it's $50 price tag, or would something like this   , made for BMWs by http://www.powerlet.net/products/plugs_sockets.php and priced @ $24 work just as well? For that matter, would a $5 WallyWorld Special be fine too? Any other suggestions??

Thanks much!  ;)
« Last Edit: July 09, 2007, 07:06:19 PM by NC_Steve »
'16 Triumph T100 Bonneville
'19 Royal Enfield Himalayan
82 R65-Blue II, 84 R65-Britta, 84 R65-Ol' Blue, 88 K75C, 99 R1100R
00 Guzzi Jackal, 89 Mille GT, 03 Cal Stone
07 Honda ST1300

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2007, 07:51:36 PM »
Steve, I think the first problem that you are going to have is mounting it, the outlet needs to go through a sheet-metal bracket as it probably has a nut on the backside that secures it.  If you are going to use the after market outlet for heated clothing, it might not be robust enough to handle the electrical load. But if you are just going to use it to charge the battery, it probably will do the job.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2007, 07:52:20 PM by Bob_Roller »
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

tagordon

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2007, 09:23:16 PM »
Can the charging system provide enough power? I have been wondering about this same project for my 81 R65.

Offline donbmw

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2007, 09:28:54 PM »
Steve
It would not take much to make the bracket item #7. I have the BMW kits installed on my bikes. The only problem is that the plug is not standard. The other kit does it use standard plugs or can you get extra plug to change what  you plug into the outlet. Also the bracket mount to the LH upper shock bolt and sticks down below the sub frame forward of the shock.

Don
1975 R90/6, 1980 R65, 1982 R65, 2015 Ural Patrol & 1959 Triumph TR3

Offline NC Steve

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2007, 10:25:04 PM »
Thanks guys, these are the questions I need answers to, as I'm really not sure about the size of the socket, what adapters are needed, etc. Probably all I'd ever use it for was to charge my cell phone, and maybe to power a small 12V compressor to add air to tires, both of which I could do with the engine/charging system running. Although, it would be nice to find an adapter to charge my camera's ni-cad battery too.

Thing is, I don't want to order the wrong thing online trying to go the cheapo route, and also don't feel right about going down to worry my local BMW guys and then walking out to buy elsewhere. I've got a feeling you could tie up a bundle of $$$ in adapters and such too, depending. As far as bracketry, I was possibly considering mounting thru a side cover, as they're already black plastic, and could be reinforced on the back side for strength.

Hmmmm, maybe I should only stay at campgrounds with 120V AC at each site... ::)
'16 Triumph T100 Bonneville
'19 Royal Enfield Himalayan
82 R65-Blue II, 84 R65-Britta, 84 R65-Ol' Blue, 88 K75C, 99 R1100R
00 Guzzi Jackal, 89 Mille GT, 03 Cal Stone
07 Honda ST1300

Chris_in_BC

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2007, 12:43:51 AM »
Not sure why you want to spend all that money on a plug. Personal choice of course.

The BMW plug is designed to handle electrical clothing and pretty much anything else. And yes, the R65 charging system can handle electrical clothing. It uses the same charging system as all the other airheads.  You don't have a lot of extra watts to play with, but it handles heated grips and an electric vest just fine. If you want auxiliary lights as well, then  you will need to turn off the grips and vest  :o

Myself, all our bikes are set up with the ubiquitous SAE plug. You can get them anywhere, for $2-$3. Add in a fuse and you are good to go. Make the female the 'live' wire. I also put a SAE plug on my battery chargers.
The bikes are setup with two plugs on every bike, hanging down 6-9" from the left side sidecover. One plug is switched to a switch on the dash via a relay and tied to the ignition. ( so off when ignition switch is off)  This is for the electric vest. The other is unswitched direct from battery and is used for the battery charger, tent light etc. It is also there as backup if the regular plug fails on that cold winter drive home!
« Last Edit: July 10, 2007, 12:45:47 AM by Chris_in_BC »

Offline Justin B.

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2007, 06:37:13 AM »
This looks identical to the harness that came with my Battery Tender!  I will get around to mounting it some day, but with an Odyssey the bikes rarely need to go "on the tender"...
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline NC Steve

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2007, 08:43:04 AM »
That is the same harness that came with my Battery Tender,  it's been on the bike for over a year and used dutifully with the charger.
Chris, are you saying that this same harness can be used in "reverse", feeding power out of the battery? Jeez, if so, that would solve the whole issue. Cool! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Where can I obtain adapters/connectors to allow use of a standard-type 12V "cigar lighter" plug?
'16 Triumph T100 Bonneville
'19 Royal Enfield Himalayan
82 R65-Blue II, 84 R65-Britta, 84 R65-Ol' Blue, 88 K75C, 99 R1100R
00 Guzzi Jackal, 89 Mille GT, 03 Cal Stone
07 Honda ST1300

Offline Justin B.

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2007, 09:04:52 AM »
Yeah, a direct connection to the battery is a two-way street.  As far as adapters, I have no idea.  BUT, Harbor Freight (and others) make a lighter socket with wires/alligator clips that one could cut off the gator clips and solder in the correct plug to mate with this harness.
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline NC Steve

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2007, 09:35:20 AM »
...and Harbor Freight's "Dollar Days" sale starts here today too, I think, just in time for my trip to Willville & the Running of The Urals.  8-)
Maybe I can stop in there & look around tonight on my way home from work...
Oh, Happy Day! [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]  [smiley=clap.gif]
« Last Edit: July 10, 2007, 10:12:42 AM by NC_Steve »
'16 Triumph T100 Bonneville
'19 Royal Enfield Himalayan
82 R65-Blue II, 84 R65-Britta, 84 R65-Ol' Blue, 88 K75C, 99 R1100R
00 Guzzi Jackal, 89 Mille GT, 03 Cal Stone
07 Honda ST1300

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2007, 01:47:51 PM »
Troy, the maximum output of the stock charging system is 280 watts. The normal load on the charging system, with no accessories, is about 100 - 120 watts, so you do have some power to add accessories, but just remember, that the 280 watts is at higher riding speeds. If you are using an accessory like my driving lights , PIAA 40's (2, 55 watt lights) you will wear the battery down to where it won't be able to operate the starter, after about 45 minutes of 'city driving'. So you have to limit the heavy power use accessories when in other than highway riding. I rigged up my digital multimeter directly to the battery, and velcroed it to the gas cap, to see what kind of voltage I had at the battery, while I was riding at varying speeds and accessory loads. I found that on my '81 R65, that as long as I don't ride under 45 mph, with no stopping, I can keep my driving lights on, anything slower, and the charging system was not making enough electrical power to meet the needs of the load, so the battery starts discharging. Also  remember that if you do add accessories, you are now running your charging system at near it's maximum output, and that you most likely have original charging system components ( 20-28 years old), and may cause a premature failure. There are two after market high output charging systems available for our bikes, the Omega 400 watt system, and the Enduralast 450 watt system. They are in the $500-600 cost range.
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Chris_in_BC

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2007, 02:46:57 PM »
Quote
That is the same harness that came with my Battery Tender,  it's been on the bike for over a year and used dutifully with the charger.
Chris, are you saying that this same harness can be used in "reverse", feeding power out of the battery? Jeez, if so, that would solve the whole issue. Cool! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Where can I obtain adapters/connectors to allow use of a standard-type 12V  "cigar lighter" plug?

As stated in above replies, electricity flows both ways, but runs downhill easier, which is why my cords hang down beside my sidecovers .  ;)

The two prong SAE plugs can be bought anywhere. Quite often in a place like Wal-Mart they would be in the trailer accessory section, but any auto supply will also have them. Aftermarket cigarette lighter plugs, both male and female are also available. These are all just two wire applications. You can merrily cut off the plug your don't want and with a bit of electrical tape join on the plug you do want. Of course you can do as neat or messy a job as want.  

Personally, I have had occasional problems with cigarette plugs on a bike, due to vibration causing occasional flaky connections. The SAE plugs make a solid connection, and although definitely not as robust as the BMW single pole plugs, they are readily  available anywhere in North America and they are cheap. If you have multiple bikes (3), multiple electric vests (my wife and I {2}), multiple chargers (2), accessories like GPS (2), the SAE plug makes everything interchangeable at a reasonable cost.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2007, 02:48:23 PM by Chris_in_BC »

Chris_in_BC

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2007, 02:57:06 PM »
Quote
Troy, the maximum output of the stock charging system is 280 watts. The normal load on the charging system, with no accessories, is about 100 - 120 watts, so you do have some power to add ................

Good writeup Bob. I find that when I do use my driving lights it is generally only at speed in open country, and they go off in areas where I am under 45mph. Similarly with electric vest ( 40 watts, not a full jacket with heated sleeves) and heated grips (40 watts) they are generally on at speed, and they quite often get turned off in slower city traffic as it is quite often warmer. Also, quite often if my vest is on, it warms the blood enough to not require the grips.

And like most of us, would love to have the Omega or Enduralst systems, if it wasn't so damn expensive.  :(

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2007, 03:18:22 PM »
I found an interesting website for power outlets on the Motorrad Elektrik website, the site is powerlet.com.
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline NC Steve

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Re: Auxiliary power
« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2007, 04:08:12 PM »
Yeah, Bob, that's who I referenced in the 1st post in the thread, it's www.powerlet.net.
They've got lots of nice stuff, made to/for BMW specs (they say), and a lot less expensive than BMW but still not "cheap".

I'm going to check on the costs & labor involved in homemaking some devices, but then may turn to them if I go with "fancy store-bought" parts. I just really like the idea of backfeeding thru the Battery Tender harness that's already on the bike, kind of a "2 birds with 1 stone" approach, you know?
Don't know why I never considered that in the 1st place!
Thanks again for everybody's help. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
'16 Triumph T100 Bonneville
'19 Royal Enfield Himalayan
82 R65-Blue II, 84 R65-Britta, 84 R65-Ol' Blue, 88 K75C, 99 R1100R
00 Guzzi Jackal, 89 Mille GT, 03 Cal Stone
07 Honda ST1300