I'm looking into this as a means of using accessories that use a cigarette lighter adapter (heated vest?). Or maybe I'd just like to light fags off my bike (how cool is that?). What do I have to be concerned about in terms of power output and drain on the battery? Anyone got experience of this?

I'm aware of issues such as wiring, greasing, fuses and vibration. Not sure how it's going to affect my tiny Fazer battery though.

If you only do short trips with lights on you may have a problem, particularly if you do stop/start stuff liike papershop, petrol station etc.

Long runs at decent revs should pick the battery up ok, and an Optimate type charger would help overnight.

So a long motorway journey with gps or a heated vest would be ok. I'll leave the satnav off when I'm pootling to work.

Parts are arriving soon, looking forward to getting her wired up.

i have a ciggy lighter socket on my gpz (tucked uner the fairing) so i can run my gps system when i need to, when i dont have anything plugged into it it makes no difference, but i wouldnt leave anything plugged in without the engine running and i would only use it on long journeys, though i have been known to charge my phone on it

i do need to find somewhere to mount it more securely (but still out of the way) though

how do you avoid getting water into the socket? the system isnt exactly designed to be weather proof and would be very wary about it shorting?

Perhaps you could get advice/info from theses people:

http://www.powerletproducts.com/products.php?mid=1

Finn, I'm planning on leaving the socket under the fazer's (generous) seat. Just means popping it up when I need it.

Bluebrakes, that was the first thing I found when I searched - few other places sell the sockets, I got one from a car accessory site (12v)! I may dig further and see if they have more info. It seems like an easy thing to do, I just don't know why more people don't do it, or if there is some expectation that doing this is a bad thing. After all, my battery is already feeding a datatool alarm and people wouldn't think twice about wiring heated grips in. As long as its wired right and the accessories have a fuse...

Cheddies, did you fit that yourself?

Even if the accessories have a fuse put a fuse in the live feed for the socket also then if it does short the fuse will go before frying your bike.

mine is inside the fairing, it is hidden and secluded and out of the way

I have fitted one under the seat of my XJR, i use it to charge my phone & blow up the air beds at rallys. It works a treat, when blowing up the beds i run the engine, but when i am charging the phone i just lock it under the seat and come back after about 45 mins, the power used by a charger is so neglegable that it has little effect on the battery.

As for running other accesories, i have no experience of that, but as has been said, so long as you are doing a reasonable amount of time i the saddle i doubt there would be a problem.

Ian has a good point about the inline fuse, some thing i had not considered and will be amending, chears Ian.

Sweet, it arrived today. Looks the business if a little basic. Still, for £3.45 it comes with an inline fuse so I can literally plug and play. It's not the same type as my datatool uses so I can always remedy that at a later date with a £1 fuse jobbie and a soldering kit.

I also spotted a few other potential solutions online, dual sockets, sockets with fuses (I thought this one might just be the socket sans fuse), waterproofed sockets. Might have to consider a jiffy bag and an elastic band for the moment...

With any luck I'll be lighting ciggies with my bike by the end of the week, lmao

Just dont forget the sandwhich bags mate. I usually charge for stuff like that, sandwhich bags info, thats free that is and i was eating at the time - always switched on thats ZOMB!E!

The advice and abuse are usually free!!

Now where did I put my old socks, I have plenty of visors to cover...

i have 2 12v ciggy sockets fitted to my fighter,
ones for the camera detector
the others for running the gps reciever,
both are 100% waterproof,
and were secured from ebay,
these are made for boating,
so are well resistant to water,

so much so i have them mounted by my clocks

hope this helps

I have one of these to fit under the seat on the trike.

Was at a rally once where a bloke was running a small fluorescent tube to light his tent, from his bike battery, said he'd been doing it for years!

We have power!

Fitted it this morning (fuses and all) after a little faffing and worrying and much datatool setting-off. But it only took 10 minutes.

Ciggy socket is comfortably under the seat. I can plug my accessory cables in under there when I need them and stow the cables if unused and it's raining. I'm now thinking about a 2 plug socket but worried about the strain on the battery as I have a GPS and heated inner gloves.

Mmmmm, warm hands.

Nice,,,,,, very nice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Success!!

Resounding. Gloves work (but didn't need 'em today) and the GPS works, power and all. I need to re-tie the socket cables so the GPS cable isn't stretched but it all works and it got me and Tony all around NW London without getting lost. Result. And some nice twisty roads into the bargain!

I am gonna tour the brains out of me fazer!

Excellent Michael........

Now when I need some help with electrics I know where to cry for help......


Looking forward to another ride,,,,,,, sometime soon..........