Hard-Wire GPS mount in Vehicle?

DrData101 · 08-15-2009, 6:42 PM

zumo 550: Plan to hard-wire the windshield mount to the car's electrical system to cleanup dangling power cord. Any tips?
Connect to ignition-on only? or full time 12volts?

Any idea of the power consumption of a GPS unit with internal battery?

Thanks!

HumVee · 08-15-2009, 7:13 PM

Full time 12 volts. Just don't leave the GPS unit mounted when you're not using it. You're using the adapter to step it down to 5 volts, right? Otherwise you'll fry your GPS....

DrData101 · 08-15-2009, 7:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumVee

Full time 12 volts. Just don't leave the GPS unit mounted when you're not using it. You're using the adapter to step it down to 5 volts, right? Otherwise you'll fry your GPS....

I bought an extra Garmin zumo Cig lighter adapter power cord. Planned to cut cig ltr end off, connect to 12v. Will that work? Where is the adapter 5v step down function? At the mount end or cig plug end?

HumVee · 08-15-2009, 7:39 PM

It's at the big fat plug end! Don't cut that off, or at least do some heavy modding. If you search, you'll find sad stories about people who fried their GPS attaching direct 12v power to their GPS units. The simplest thing to do would be to solder power leads to the existing contacts (on the fat end), and then find a place behind your dashboard to splice them in...say to the back side of the accessory charger (lighter) socket! You'll want to be able to access the big fat end, in the event the integrated fuse ever blows....

DrData101 · 08-15-2009, 8:44 PM

WOW! I'm glad I asked for advice before proceeding1 Thanks again HumVee!

08-15-2009, 6:42 PM	#1
DrData101 Join Date: Jun 04 2009 Location: Grand Rapids MI Posts: 26	Hard-Wire GPS mount in Vehicle? zumo 550: Plan to hard-wire the windshield mount to the car's electrical system to cleanup dangling power cord. Any tips? Connect to ignition-on only? or full time 12volts? Any idea of the power consumption of a GPS unit with internal battery? Thanks!

08-15-2009, 7:13 PM	#2
HumVee Join Date: May 11 2009 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,254	Re: Hard-Wire GPS mount in Vehicle? Full time 12 volts. Just don't leave the GPS unit mounted when you're not using it. You're using the adapter to step it down to 5 volts, right? Otherwise you'll fry your GPS....

08-15-2009, 7:39 PM	#4
HumVee Join Date: May 11 2009 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,254	Re: Hard-Wire GPS mount in Vehicle? It's at the big fat plug end! Don't cut that off, or at least do some heavy modding. If you search, you'll find sad stories about people who fried their GPS attaching direct 12v power to their GPS units. The simplest thing to do would be to solder power leads to the existing contacts (on the fat end), and then find a place behind your dashboard to splice them in...say to the back side of the accessory charger (lighter) socket! You'll want to be able to access the big fat end, in the event the integrated fuse ever blows.... Last edited by HumVee; 08-15-2009 at 10:03 PM.

08-15-2009, 8:44 PM	#5
DrData101 Join Date: Jun 04 2009 Location: Grand Rapids MI Posts: 26	Re: Hard-Wire GPS mount in Vehicle? WOW! I'm glad I asked for advice before proceeding1 Thanks again HumVee!

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