Successful Install!!! Updated 12/30/10


Santa got me a Garmin 550 for Christmas. Not being overly mechanically inclined, and even less so with simple electronics, how do I hard-wire this to the bike? I have a 2005 Ultra, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
Oh, and Merry Christmas y'all!

 

I went with the Powerlet set up and Ram mount on my last three bikes. The set up works like a champ and if you can't/don't integrate the GPS into the fairing then this is the ticket.

 

Specific hard-wire options? I want to avoid plugging into cig. lighter.

 

I ran my wires down to the acc plug under the seat, there's a pin for power that turns on with ignition and one that's turned on with the acc switch on the dash. I used ign so I could use the switched for something else.You'll need to get the male part of the connector and crimp wires to the pins, it's easy. Don't hard-wire it to the battery. At Zumoforums they've found if the contacts are hot all the time they corrode.

 

Thanks -- I'll give that a shot in the next day or two! I appreciate the information and advice.

 

The Powerlet does not use the cigarette lighter. Do a search for Powerlet and you will see what I'm talking about.

 

I used the the connector at the back of the headlamp that is only utilized for HDI models. Easy to do. I also installed a two pole flat into the line so I could remove the entire cradle if need be. I keep a lock **** on the ram mount.

 

To Dawg and others here -- thanks for the input! Got the Garmin hardwired, though I modified the install and offer my method for others' future consideration and use.

1. I initially took the light out, looking for that unused lead -- couldn't locate it. So I ended up taking the fairing off.

2. Once I got the fairing off, I found the unused lead. (Isn't that the way these things happen?) But since I had the fairing off, I decided to patch off the wires from the lighter rather than tie into the lead by the light. AND, rather than cut and splice, I used the clamp-over connectors (sorry for the lack of technical jargon) which allowed me to just splice into the lighter wiring with the wires from the Garmin. After clamping, I taped the whole set of wires with electrical tape, then secured the extra wiring to another cable in the spaghetti jungle next to the radio -- making sure I had enough slack to work with at the other end where it connects to the bracket and GPS.

3. I ran the lead for the power to the GPS unit through the same side opening where the cables exit the fairing with the handlebars. After installing and plugging the unit it (making sure it worked before putting the fairing back on!), I zip-tied the wire to the bottom side of the handlebar to make it look as neat as possible. (Dawg -- your idea for having a 2-pin flat connector to allow you to take the whole unit and bracket off is a good idea -- and a project for another day.)

4. Once I got it all installed, looking good and properly placed for best field of view, I tightened everything down and put the fairing back on. Despite best efforts, one of the brass fittings on the fairing below the windshield "stripped" and now needs to be replaced. BUMMER! But all said and done, it is done and now just needs to be road-tested (and the operator needs to become familiar with yet another software mapping program...).

Thanks to all who posted and PM'd me with suggestions.

 

it'll be the best software mapping program you'll ever use.

congrats on the install and the only difference in the wiring you chose is the cigarette lighter plug is always "hot" (at least it is on my 09) and the orange/red wire is an ignition wire.

as far as the brass fitting you can take a tap and clean up the threads instead of fighting with pulling it out and replacing it. rule of thumb with these fairing screws is always use a hand screw driver to remove and replace the screws. using cordless stuff on this just creates headaches if you're not careful.

Enjoy, the Garmin is the best product out there and I've used my zumo 550 for over 4 years with the utmost success in carrying my lost a$$ back home. :-)

 

Thanks for the follow up. No, my lighter is not "hot" when the bike is not on. As soon as I cut the bike off, the GPS flips to battery power.

As far as the brass fitting, I apparently over-torqued the screw and cracked the inner fairing (not my strength, but probably built-in weakness) as I use hand screw driver always -- knowing the possibility of damaging the brass.

Now to learn the mapping. Thanks again for the comments and input.