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Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:18 am
by Zapata
Hello Team:


New owner here. I found this loose connector under the ignition key. Can I use it to adapt a USB charger?


I don't want to cut the connector, what type of connector do I need to use this one? Picture on link.


http://img.gg/yWobc9X


Thank you very much.

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:24 am
by temesvar
That looks like the key activated connection, should use for GPS

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:37 am
by Zapata
^^^ Got it. But what connector do I need to get to attach a 12v socket the cigarette lighter adapter type?




https://www.amazon.com/SMAKN%C2%AE-Ciga ... er+adapter

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:49 am
by Zapata

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:38 am
by Sullivj
Yes, that looks like the one I got. Puts out 12v when the ignition is on.


I wanted to run a car SatNav, so stepped it done to 5v and hard wired it.


Take a look here for identification of each wire:


https://1200rt.com/index.php?topic=3181.msg33335#new

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:39 am
by guest2360
Quick word of warning.  We had an incident in the summer when on tour where an owner found he had a flat battery the morning after riding 400 miles.  It turned out he had plugged in a USB adaptor plug into an accessory socket and left it there.  Nothing was plugged into,it but it kept the socket live and over 8 hours flattened the battery.

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 8:30 am
by David.
Does the connector under the ignition key work in the same way as an accessory socket.

My understanding is that it is a switched live & doesn't stay live when the ignition is switched off, unlike the accessory socket.

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 8:51 am
by guest2360
Not correct.  They all shut down when you switch off.  If something is left connected it can fool canbus into leaving it live.  That’s why a GPS shuts down when you switch off. However even those have been known to run down batteries.

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 9:21 am
by David.
Thank you for clarifying that.

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 9:37 am
by futterweasel
RTman10 wrote: Quick word of warning.  We had an incident in the summer when on tour where an owner found he had a flat battery the morning after riding 400 miles.  It turned out he had plugged in a USB adaptor plug into an accessory socket and left it there.  Nothing was plugged into,it but it kept the socket live and over 8 hours flattened the battery.
Don't understand if nothing was plugged into the usb adapter what was drawing the current?   

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 10:04 am
by guest2360
futterweasel wrote: Don't understand if nothing was plugged into the usb adapter what was drawing the current? 
The crap aftermarket adaptor.  When it was removed the drain stopped.

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 10:11 am
by exportman
futterweasel wrote: Don't understand if nothing was plugged into the usb adapter what was drawing the current? 

Because the device is still stepping down the output circuit,  they still draw a small amount of power even with nothing plugged in.  When I wired my accessories  I took a live feed from the accessory socket to a relay  then powered the actual devices via the relay from the battery.  That way only the relay switch circuit was being fed from the accessory socket.  Once the ignition turns off there is a 20 second delay until the accessory socket check if it is OK to power down  as the relay switch drain is negligible the socket shuts down.  The relays cuts the power to the accessories  everything switches off.

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 11:32 am
by David.
The Autocom control hub on my 2012 TC is wired as follows, -ve wire directly to the battery negative terminal & +ve to live switched feed (rear power socket).

When the ignition is switched on, the Autocom works, with the ignition off, it doesn't.
As above, this must mean, when not in use, the control hub is drawing insufficient current to keep the circuit open.

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 1:53 pm
by beemerboy9
futterweasel wrote: Don't understand if nothing was plugged into the usb adapter what was drawing the current? 

The 12V to 5V step-down transformer. DAMHIK.

Re: Loose connector under ignition key?

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 2:54 pm
by guest2360
David. wrote: The Autocom control hub on my 2012 TC is wired as follows, -ve wire directly to the battery negative terminal & +ve to live switched feed (rear power socket).

When the ignition is switched on, the Autocom works, with the ignition off, it doesn't.
As above, this must mean, when not in use, the control hub is drawing insufficient current to keep the circuit open.




For. Number of years now Autocom units only power up if a headset is connected.  No headset no,drain.  The downside to using an accessory socket for the positive feed is this can stop a battery charger working as it detects the unit and thinks there is a fault.