USB in the top box
USB in the top box
When I next take my bike apart I was considering running a USB in the new style top box. Has anyone done this? Looks pretty straightforward by drilling on the bottom left hand side. This would be handy for charging my helmet or spare batteries. Would be interested to see how others have mounted a rubber gromet or gland to secure and keep connection water proof. Ask twice drill once as the say.
Re: USB in the top box
IMHO these are the easiest way to go for USB power https://www.nippynormans.com/f800-adven ... g-and-play
Won't charge anything in your top box but saves drilling holes.... HTH
Nick
Won't charge anything in your top box but saves drilling holes.... HTH
Nick
Re: USB in the top box
Thanks Nick. The desire for the socket in the top box is to charge my helmet which has an integrated comms. The helmet lives in the top box and saves me from having to bring it in the house, leave on a table and the young ones (or old ones) knock it. I’ve seen it done a few times but never looked at the routing. One guy ran power through the top box connector which seems like a lot of effort rather making a small hole for a new cable.
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Re: USB in the top box
Haven't done it myself but eventually came across this idea using Powerlet products.NLC wrote:Would be interested to see how others have mounted a rubber gromet or gland to secure and keep connection water proof.
"Powerlet brand stuff, such as the weatherproof passthrough that works on hard and soft luggage."
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Re: USB in the top box
Here is an option that requires one 25mm dia. hole, https://www.r1200gs.info/threads/pdm60- ... ses.25873/
This one only requires a 14mm dia. hole, https://www.optimate.co.uk/products/o30 ... -cable-set
This one only requires a 14mm dia. hole, https://www.optimate.co.uk/products/o30 ... -cable-set
Last edited by David. on Sat Jun 13, 2020 3:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: USB in the top box
David. wrote: Here is an option that requires one 25mm dia. hole, https://www.r1200gs.info/threads/pdm60-accessory-power-to-hard-cases.25873/
This one only requires a 14mm dia. hole, https://www.optimate.co.uk/products/o30-tank-bag-cable-set
Thanks David. Exactly what I am looking for. The cable or hole is not the issue but finding a gland. Like that you can also disconnect if you are taking box off.
Re: USB in the top box
NLC wrote:
Thanks David. Exactly what I am looking for. The cable or hole is not the issue but finding a gland. Like that you can also disconnect if you are taking box off.
Silicon bathroom sealant
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Re: USB in the top box
NLC wrote:The cable or hole is not the issue but finding a gland.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/tower-male-c ... pack/80851
Re: USB in the top box
Thanks David. I have a bunch of those but they don’t sit flush and are not long enough and the box is double skinned. The Optimate looks much better.
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Re: USB in the top box
I’d rather use duct tape.PeteM wrote:
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Re: USB in the top box
What thickness is the double skin of the top box. The Optimate O30 might not be long enough either. Could always make the inner hole a larger diameter.NLC wrote:Not long enough and the box is double skinned. The Optimate looks much better.
Or, with the Powerlet style connector, longer screws could be used.
Last edited by David. on Sun Jun 14, 2020 8:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: USB in the top box
David I am still looking for a schematic for the box and haven’t taken it apart yet. From my guess the box flairs from the mounting bracket. The Powerlet looks best since as you say you can use longer screws. Also as it is flat it will allow the box to sit flat when off the bike. One other think I am looking as it is if you can feed a cable through the existing gland and come out of the right hand side of the box. It is quite a clever box them Germans have built with gas struts, 4 point locking mechanism, brake light and vanity light. Shame they didn’t put an accessory socket in the box as it would have been easy to do.
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Re: USB in the top box
NLC wrote:One other think I am looking as it is if you can feed a cable through the existing gland and come out of the right hand side of the box.
https://www.bmwlt.com/forums/k1600gt-gt ... l-gtl.html
Last edited by David. on Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: USB in the top box
That is exactly what I want to do (except I would run two USB) and plug directly into the battery as I want things to charge my helmet while the bike is off. If I need a compressor or anything I will plug directly into my Optimate socket. I can see that from the post from the K1600 forum that getting the box apart looks like a challenge since there are some rivets and I can imagine the locking mechanism falling apart into a million pieces as you take it apart. Thanks for sharing David. I did a search on that but didn't think to include K1600 on R1200RT.David. wrote: Re: USB in the top box
https://www.bmwlt.com/forums/k1600gt-gtl/61851-aux-power-install-gtl.html
Re: USB in the top box
Well had some time this afternoon and the weather was nice. I took the top box off. I have no idea how it is held together. So I did want most responsible people do. Drill an 11m hole in the strut area. I took off the rubber grommet where the light cable exits the box. It is slightly awkward since the inlet hole is the opposite direction of the bike. Putting a soft cloth down I opened the box clam shell and ran some thin red cable until I could see it in the hole and ran the power cable. Pretty happy with the install. I have wired it directly to the battery with a 5 amp fuse. The socket that I got from Ebay has a voltmeter and an on/off switch. One thing that caught me out is that + in China is black and negative is red apparently.NLC wrote: That is exactly what I want to do (except I would run two USB) and plug directly into the battery as I want things to charge my helmet while the bike is off. If I need a compressor or anything I will plug directly into my Optimate socket. I can see that from the post from the K1600 forum that getting the box apart looks like a challenge since there are some rivets and I can imagine the locking mechanism falling apart into a million pieces as you take it apart. Thanks for sharing David. I did a search on that but didn't think to include K1600 on R1200RT.