Hi, all! Just bought my first BMW - a new-to-me 1996 R 1100 RS. I'm installing a hard-wired quadlock phone charger with vibration dampener and plan to use my phone for navigation. The previous owner had an old Garmin GPS unit hard-wired directly to the battery terminals with an inline fuse, so I can follow that approach if necessary.
What I'd really like to do, above and beyond that, is ensure the unit is only powered when the ignition is on, perhaps using a relay switch setup. Obviously I need to avoid risking harm to any of the bike's electrical systems (ECU, fuel injection, ABS, etc).
- Could there be auxiliary power pre-wired behind the fairing - unused, capped-off connectors? I've got the plastics off but don't really know what to look for. Nothing is obviously jumping out at me.
- Could there be an accessory connection under the seat? Same thing here - I have the seat off and have unbolted the gas tank so I can access that area but I just don't know what I'm supposed to be looking for.
- I read that if you don't find a pre-wired connector, the cleanest install is to tap into the existing DIN socket wiring at the fuse box (Fuse #3, 10A, on the left side panel). I don't know enough yet to understand what that means.
- I know some people just install a manual switch and hope they remember to shut if off when they're away from the bike. This is an option but not ideal.
I've found very little information online about exactly how to do this, and appreciate any advice I can get!
u/DependentTaste283 — 11 days ago