Irregular 12v supply

[kma_jg]

I split off an 12v supply from one of the wires going to the LH socket to an outlet under the seat.
I plugged a USB charger connector in there and used it to charge my iPhone.
Sometimes I get a mesage that charging is not support for this device and I am not sure what is causing it.
It is just a normal iphone cable connected via a USB port on an 12v outlet used in a car.
Using the same cable and connector, the phone charges just fine in the car.
when the bike is just switched on or idling, it charges fine as well.

I tested the voltage from the socket and on the battery and get the following levels.
when the bike is on, but not running, the voltage is +-12.6v.
Bike running, voltage = +-13.3v
Bike refs @ about 4k rpms, the volatge is +-13.8v
When I let the throttle go, it drops down to about 11.4v

My thought is that the irregular voltage is causing the iPhone to complain and not charge.

Is there anybody else that had a simular experience or know if there is something that can be done to regulate the voltage supply and get a stable output?

Maybe I should look into one of those other boxes people use for aux power supply to devices. Not sure what it is called.

Thanks for your inputs

[Earthshake]

My guess is that it is due to the canbus system. They don't take well to splicing into random wires.

[LaRossa]

3 Circuit

[Bugsbunny]

Check your regulator/rectifier first before anything else.

u will need a multimeter and touch the connectors on battery.

if it hits 14.5 v at 3-4 rpm then its working ok, any less than there is something up/time to replace unit.

Had it on mine, took about 2-3 months to work it out after 1 year of daily mts1200 use, first heated grips didnt work then struggling to start, finally didnt start at all....

so first check would be multimeter check - its in the service manual and if it looks dodgy take it to dealer as they have diagnostic kit to detect fault.

if bike underwarranty then just a straight forwards replacement will be fitted, else you are looking at around 80-100 cost for new reg/rec unit.

bugs

[CamDLux]

I love this guys stuff... high quality and well made solutions!

Originally Posted by LaRossa

3 Circuit

[LaRossa]

Originally Posted by CamDLux

I love this guys stuff... high quality and well made solutions!

and best of all simple!

[TimOz]

Kma_jg,
While those solutions seem OK I don't think they answer your problem. From your original post, your problem seems to be one purely of voltage.

Many modern (non-automotive) electronic devices are designed to have a DIRECT power input of near 5.5Volt DC. This is the voltage used for USB systems and it therefore allows the device to be charged from a USB port. iPhones are such a device.

If you have wired in a USB charging cable directly to your active circuit, it will be wired for 5.5V and unless you step it down, you are giving it 12V. This may actually fry your iPhone.

When you plug a charger into your car cigarette lighter, the plug itself has a small step down transformer built into the plug to take the 12V to 5.5V. You could wire one of these into your system and the wires you have chosen are OK as they are not controlled by the CANBUS.

[wcieslik]

Originally Posted by TimOz

the wires you have chosen are OK as they are not controlled by the CANBUS.

Agreed ! I don't htink this has anything to do with CANBUS.

My first guess would be the USB charger itself... or more explicitly, it's connection inside your additional power socket. Remember, these things are suject to much more vibration, and even dirt and water, compared to a car setup ....

BTW.. I had a similar issue with my set up for this. Turned out to be my USB cable. The connector had corroded just enough to make a poor connection whilst underway.

Cheers,
Wit C.

[Duccer]

I also wanted to install an USB-charger under the seat to load the accu of my camera's. I also thought this would work, I'm reading this thread with big interesse.

[TimOz]

OK then,
Just to expand a bit.
If your device is charged with a USB cable (with a rectangular end), it HAS to be plugged into a 5V source. The are actually 2 kinds of USB outputs that have the same voltage but differ in the potential amperage they can deliver. For example, many Apple laptops have a high output USB port that is designed for the high power drain of an external CD/DVD burner. Macbook Airs have this.
Most devices now have USB 2 specification ports but USB 3 is around and this provides higher amperage outputs if needed.

If you want to charge a number of devices, and you had a topbox, I would mount a device like this in the box on velcro and wire it to the 12 volt supply. You can choose to wire it to the unswitched supply (like the external wire for the battery tender or you could wire it to the switched wires in the merit accessory plugs. If you wire it to the unswitched supply you could drain the bikes battery. If you use the switched supply it will only charge devices when the bike is switched on. Some have multiple USB ports.

Things like these: