Anyone fitted a USB charger on a later model blade? Looking to run one from the battery - but have a switch on it so I can turn it off to stop it draining battery. I'm looking at running an iphone with google maps instead of a GPS system. I'm confident I can secure the iphone close to the bars. Just need a USB charger that I can run from the battery via the seat module to the front of the bike. Theres a few on Amazon and Ebay - but with mixed reviews. Anyone on here done similar to the above with success?
I'm running an optimate cable from the optimate charging cable under the back seat to the handles bars, I just unplug it from the charger cable when I'm not using it, seems to work for me
Same here with the optimate extension from the battery charge cable. No need for a switch as it doesn't draw anything from the battery unless something's plugged into it, so just remember to unplug your sat nav or phone when done.
Just be aware the battery capacity isn't that great on these bikes. I have had a flat battery a couple of times resulting from the addition of three USB ports. I have now added a switch to turn them off. As far as I'm aware the USB ports are working all the time, using the built in transformer to reduce the voltage from 12v to 5v, unless you have a clever USB that only performs this task if it detects a load. I ended up with a flat battery recently whilst on holiday having just connected the tom-tom and my very flat camera battery. I have now installed a switch and I only turn it on when the engine is running. However the USB supplied with the Telferizer I leave on all the time, and so far it hasn't given me problems, but I'm always apprehensive when pressing the start button. Here's a few pics of the installation. These pics are for the installation of a twin USB charger bought off eBay. This is now on a switch as I think this is the one that flattens the battery. DSC02182 by Kevin Rushforth, on Flickr DSC02183 by Kevin Rushforth, on Flickr DSC02185 by Kevin Rushforth, on Flickr DSC02186 by Kevin Rushforth, on Flickr DSC02187 by Kevin Rushforth, on Flickr DSC02191 by Kevin Rushforth, on Flickr DSC02192 by Kevin Rushforth, on Flickr DSC02196 by Kevin Rushforth, on Flickr DSC02197 by Kevin Rushforth, on Flickr
I have a optimate USB charger, it plugs into the optimate plug that is connected to the battery that you normally plug the charger into. It has a auto switch off if the battery voltage gets below a certain voltage to stop the battery draining. The only problem is that it only has one outlet. https://www.amazon.co.uk/OptiMATE-Charger-Adapters-O101-TM-101/dp/B00AFXQ97A
I have the same USB plug from Ebay on mine as Kevin does. I had to put in a switch to as it flats the battery.
The 101 and 102 only output 1 amp which will struggle to charge a lot of mobiles. The newer models push out 2.1a.
Hi, I fitted a USB charger to my 2014 blade a couple of years ago and wired it to the ignition rather than the battery. Of late however I have realised my mistake in choosing a USB charger over a cigarette 12V charger. When I made the choice i considered that most modern tech uses USB charging but I overlooked the fact that some older tech, or companies like Garmin don't allow you to charge via USB (a Garmin satnav goes into data mode when connected to USB and is unusable). Additionally, if you have a 12V socket installed you can buy for £5 one of those USB power sockets that neatly slide into the 12V cigarette outlet and that will cover all your charging needs. I'm now in the situation where I have both a USB and a 12V socket wired to the ignition, but genuinely, the specific USB socket is redundant. One quick addition about using an iPhone for GPS: I did this successfully for years. It was Bluetooth paired to my Sena intercom and seemed the complete solution. That is until the iphone died suddenly mid-route. The phone was taken to the Apple Store and had apparently been killed by the high-frequency vibration transferred up the stem mount (telferizer) and into the phone. If you put you hand there during a ride you can feel the intense vibration yourself....makes sense that a delicate phone can't stand that indefinitely. So I now use a car-based Garmin satnav attached to the 12V charger and it works perfectly, is more rugged than a phone, and if it breaks, can be replaced at a fraction of the cost.
Problem I had using the optimate USB lead was that if you stopped for any longer than a quick fuel stop the unit would shut down and not start again until you disconnected and reconnected it. Not much use if it's under the rear seat and luggage strapped on top.
I fitted 2differnt usb points, both failed on testing trips, one was no enough amps. So went back to cigarette lighter , then picked up dual outlet 2.1 amps . Worked fine with my phone on sat nav and blu tooth last week.
Finally got fed up with the imperfect work around a and bought a TomTom Rider 410 from a dealership offering 0% APR over 6 months. Wired the mount into the ignition and it sits there very neatly under the dash, yet can be removed I seconds if I choose to instead place my GoPro in the fork stem mount. It's £310 so a lot of money but this truly is the ultimate solution. The rider 410 connects to my intercom flawlessly and is so much faster at processing than my older satnavs. My phone deal has unlimited data and 30GB/month personal hotspot, so I connect the rider 410 to the 4G that way and it therefore has constant traffic updates etc. With the 0% APR deal it was a simple choice and now it's been tested I have to admit, it's money well spent.
