USB plugs

[Dogsled]

After years of ending up with 'too many power ports' I bought a 5 USB plug bar to run my camera, GPS and i-pod/mp3. I'll take the time to remove alot of the plugs because of the insert to get power is large and in the way....But for whatever reason if I use one powerport to run these items and I gonna get any engine or outside noise or interference when operating them. Everything works well now, but a clean-up would be nice.
I tried once to operate a sansa disk mp3 from the powerport to the computor plug in on the MP3 and got nothing but noise. Using this USB bar would really make my dash alot cleaner.
Also a word of caution. When I would do a mod the required a switch I was using the top half of the plastic neck part where ther radio is. I have my MP3 switch, auxilliary headlight switch and 2 power ports snuck into the thin neck of the dash. I wanter to do my air filter and found all these wires needed disconnected to pull the radio. Removing the 2 powerports and re-modifying a place for the other Aux switches will make radio removal easier.

[keithg64]

A lot of use mount extra power supplies under the left front pocket cover. I use a sansa clip mp3 player hooked into my auxiliary port and clip it to tge left pocket cover. It's usually charged for the day so I'm not running the power supply to it. There is very little hum. I listen to it through earbuds or the speakers.

[Dogsled]

Keith, you got me a bit confused.....are you running this thru the factory stereo system? Your reference to running thru the speakers says yes, bud ear buds say no. I don't know what you got in your left pocket, but I got NOTHING so I don't know what kind of extra power supply you're talking about, tell me.
I want to stick this usb bar in my front left pocket and use the power from the closest port which I would eliminate. If everything Would run on usb (and it seems it does) I can eliminate the extra power ports. But back to the MP3, what is 'VERY LITTLE HUM'.....I want NO hum, like when it's running on the internal lithium battery.
I've rewired and had every bit of plastic off my bike and there is no secret power source in my left pocket....
The other thing is 'what appens if this usb bar gets wet in a rain? What kind of waterproofing does it need..... In fact, are the USB's even feasible?

[aj1500]

just my 2 cents here
I have the sansa MP3 and play it through the bike stereo, I can run it with the charging cord connected and get no feed back or engine noise
but I prefer not to, I get close to seven hours before it needs recharged. I use one of those cassett adapters to make it play through the bikes radio. keep a plastic ziploc bag to put it in in the event of rain, I just put it and my GPS together in the bag and keep on going

I think Keith meant a lot of us mount extra power supplies in the dash pocket

the SE models have a power outlet built into the left side compartment in the dash, I added another one and use the converters for USB
as my GPS doesn't work right if I power it with the USB cord over the old style plug


on the USB bar, it is doable but keep it protected, (covered) also not all devices will respond well to constant use while plugged into the USB port so having both might be a better idea
my GPS for example does not like being powered by the USB cable, I can charge it that way fine but if we are on the trip I have to use the power cord for a lighter type plug

[keithg64]

I am running a 12v power outlet, cigarette lighter, in the front left pocket. The se did not come with this, I add it extra from the battery. I have an auxiliary fm modulator wired into the bike system that I use with the stock stereo. I made an adapter into the 5 pin plug just outside the left pocket to use my earbuds with. I have a noise isolator that goes into the mp3 player if I have alternator noise in the system.

[Dogsled]

Keith, AJ; I have a 97 SE and there was no aux power source in either pocket. Maybe a year or two later they added this, I don't know, what year do you think they started this aux power source in the pocket?
I pulled my stereo out and rewired it for a direct send. I had an issue once with water a a cassette adapter. I assume the plastic bag covers the sansa and gps. My issue was with the open cassette door.
On the other hand, my GPS works perfect on the usb bar (I run with no volume, is that where you have issues, or the gps itself malfunctioning? I can use this USB bar in my car to run the gps, never got as far as the gps long term because when the music shut off, I disconnected it.....
Basically what I was wondering from what we were talking about is if the 5 usb bar plugged into a powerport can substitute individual wired powerports?

[aj1500]

I do believe using the 5 port with 1 power source would work fine. I have plans of doing something like that as well
I could be wrong but when I bought my 97SE it had a power outlet made into the pocket. I almost didn't see it until I went to take it out a add one. I considered the hard wire option for a 3.5 plug from the radio, just not sure I want to take the time

my GPS when using the USB, if I stop for fuel or unhook it's power, instead of asking if I want to go to battery power it tries to shut off or do a complete reboot. never does that when using the other power cord

[Dogsled]

OK AJ were on the same trac for some of the stuff. Is your power supply hooked to a relay. 3 of mine are, and I wired them to shut down when the engine is turned off. 2 stay on, once again intentional. My issue is I get no noise when running anything using the powerports, it's when I went to USB things went haywire.

It was as simple as this. I plugged in the 5usb port into one powerport and the noise was crazy. I was going on a ride and just unplugged it and ran on the litium battery all day. I never got a chance to run several devices because I have the ports (that I want to eliminate) but can't figure out how to isolate power coming into devises. Whats the difference between running power through a power port in compared to the usb??????

That I think is the original question....thanks for pin pointing that for me. No dis on you Keith, i'm just trying to figure this out and throught qestions to the wind

[aj1500]

I don't run my aux power through relays, I have one direct to the battery(fused) and the other direct to the acc. post on the fuse panel on the left side under the seat, also fused. The noise may be do to your 5 port set up, there is a converter built in to bring 12V down to anywhere from 3 to 5V the problem is it could be fluxuating some. I use the adapters that plug into the aux plug and have just 2 USB on the other end
it may also be because your hard wired to the radio and the voltage input is feeding your radio board. with the cassett adp the signal is coming from the heads not direct to the board. I'm only guessing on that
on a side note, you shouldn't leave it plugged in while playing anyway. Very bad for the internal battery. the only time I do that is if I'm riding and the battery drops out, I will plug it up just long enough to bring the batt back up then unplug it again. I get close to 7 hrs play time so that's a good day of riding, then just recharge when stopped.

[Dogsled]

AJ,
You brought up some good points. I didn't know about playing the sansa disk while plugged in may damage the battery. Also thanks for everybody's input, if it ever goes above freezing I may go out and try some new ideas.

[williamson_l]

I mounted a dual USB port in the left box. That one is plugged into the factory connector. All the other accessory power comes off a dedicated low voltage drop out solid state relay. This relay will drop out at 11.5V and allow you to still start the bike. The control power for the relay coil comes off of the bike's accessory fused circuit with a 1A fuse and the relay coil draws less than 500mA. The supply side of the relay is connected directly off of the battery with a 10A fuse. And the load side going to the switches have a 5A fuse for each switch housing. One switch housing on both the brake and clutch fluid housings. I also installed a separate negative buss.

I would try and keep any accessories separate from the factory circuits to minimize any issues later down the road. The system I used would work perfect. Just sub the USB bar for the two switch housings I have.

The noise you have is probably due to a ground loop issue. You can install a ground loop isolator to eliminate that.

[Dogsled]

Williamson,
I got no idea what those pictures are but I want to research your noise suppression info on the MP3. Now a key question since I never did it. I have wiring going to 2 powerports. can I just cut off the male end on my USB connector wiring and remove a power port to hard wire this thing in my right pocket. I don't have factory power goning to my front pockets. I have hard/waterproof covers on both sides so my usb ports are safe if it gets wet out. I was just wondering if you can cut off that power plug-in and hardwire or is there some noise suppression stuff in that plug.

ALSO...I want to get to the bottom of (I can't remember who he was cause I can't scroll back right now to get his name) BUT, his statement about not being able to run a Sansa MP3 while playing it and keeping it charged up. I got to talk to the 1-800 number and ask them and then read your relay info and try to apply it. Thanks loads for all the detailed info....I have re-wired my bike and have all the accesories on a seperate relayed board. Wiring seems to be the demo off the wing cause there's so much of it. I got it stripped down to the basics. I've spliced into the switches and eliminated the 10 cent sticking switches that are garbage with good stuff that is heavy duty. NOISE SUPPRESSION is a good subject to get into learning since my wiring is bare bones.

[WingAdmin]

I have had this 5-port charger mounted in my trunk for some time now, it works great:

http://www.amazon.com/Featuring-Intelli ... ingdocs-20

[Dogsled]

Scott, That's the exact same unit I bought. What do you think. Can I cut the plug off and hard wire it in using on of the wire from my array of individually wired power ports? I like the fact that you can turn each USB of and on on the plug bar.

[Dogsled]

OK I am running an independently wired usb bar through a relay. Now explain what a 'ground loop isolator is' ?????????????

[WingAdmin]

Scott, That's the exact same unit I bought. What do you think. Can I cut the plug off and hard wire it in using on of the wire from my array of individually wired power ports? I like the fact that you can turn each USB of and on on the plug bar.

I did on mine, but from what I've read, some of the newer ones actually have circuitry inside that plug - so I would pull it apart first and make sure it's just a fuse and nothing else in there.

[Dogsled]

I swear nothing easy, cut and dry with wiring, heck I never knew any of those even had a fuse in them. I'll cut it and find out!

Now any idea about the ground loop isolator. Hey maybe i'll google it!