When I attach the USB to my computer it only charges the Garmin unit, it will not turn it on. Wont this be the same thing if I use the USB adapter in my cigarette lighter. Plus arent you shooting 12 volts into the GPS which is stepped down using the cig lighter cord to 5 volts ??? Really confused now !!!

 

My Garmin is the 1450 LMT and the USB will only charge the device and download map updates to the device. It will not turn the device on. Im assuming if I get the USB adapter for the cigarette lighter on the bike it will act the same. Also if it is shooting 12 volts into the GPS constantly, wont this burn out the device because the GPS is stepped down to 5 volts using the cigarette lighter adapter it came with ??? Just Sayin' ..... Really confused now....

 

There is a difference between USB data and power cables.
What comes with your GPS is usually a data cable, that you plug into your PC to transfer data.
Also, the USB socket that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket steps down to the correct voltage for your Garmin.

You can buy a USB power cable though.
Click the link, and then scroll down to USB power cables
http://www.3brpowersports.com/products_usb_cables.htm

Check out my GPS install thread, where I used USB power.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...gps-mount.html

 

COOL !!! Didnt know there was a difference between data transfer cable and power cable... THANKS you ARE the man Its hell to be computerly challenged !!!!!!!!!!!

 

I know you said you don't want to pull the fairing, but if you do you can wire the GPS to work just like it does in the lighter. The orange/white & black leads that are spare on the wire harness going to your headlight are ignition switched 12VDC. They are common with the lighter, just look at the wiring diagram in your service manual. I've been using them to power my GPS & garage opener for 4 years.

BTW, if you're worried about cutting off the lighter plug from the GPS just plug it in the lighter, turn on the bike, & read the voltage on the pins with a volt ohm meter. I've never seen a lighter plug that reduced voltage, that's done inside the GPS. But it's a simple test to make you feel more confident.

 

Don't know if you know this but your fairing comes off very easily 7 screws if it is a batwing...

 

To keep life simple I would buy the HD harness and used the prewired plug under the seat. If you want to get fancy and splice wires there are 1000 other ways to set it up. But I just installed a speaker system with amp using the HD wiring harness and it took all of 20 minutes, most of that was spent running wire. As simple as could be.

 

I myself have a Road King. Just to put it out there, I have a cigarette lighter plug that attaches to my battery tender plug. You could fish the gps line to the cigarette plug under the seat and unplug it as needed.

 

I bought the regulated power supply and Ram mount from Amazon. Went to the dealer and got a bare Deutsch plug assembly. Ran the usb end along the frame under the gas tank and up to the handle bars at the mount. Wired the bare ends of the power supply with fuse to the Deutsch plug. Secured the power supply under the seat, plugged it into the accessory jack and all's fine. Exact same thing the dealer would do without their labor cost. Took about half an hour.

 

Another vote for hooking to the back of the cig lighter wiring inside the fairing. Taking the fairing front off to get at it is a pretty simple task (just make sure you protect the paint from drops etc while removing it), then the wiring into the CLA is straight forward. Have the Zumo 550, works like a charm for me and it is nice to have the wiring running properly.