Adding a Switched USB Port

[RAYK47]

Hi all

 

What is the best and simplest way to add the USB port to my bike (2015 Street Triple R) as I am going to IOM in a couple of weeks and will need a good source of power for SatNav on my phone.  

 

I have an Ultimate addons USB socket but I don't want to wire it directly to my battery (mainly as it has a blue LED that is always on and i don't want it to drain the battery).  

 

I am not the most handy person so I need a simple fix, I don't want to be having to splice into wires for example as I will mess it up. 

 

any help will be greatly appreciated.  

Edited May 15, 2023 by RAYK47

[Ian Frog]

A switched live and neutral that is easy to find for the most hamfisted of us is what you need.

I usually use the rear brake light wires if the accessory has sufficent cable to route under the tank neatly out of sight.

Cheers

Ian 

[RAYK47]

11 minutes ago, Ian Frog said:

A switched live and neutral that is easy to find for the most hamfisted of us is what you need.

I usually use the rear brake light wires if the accessory has sufficent cable to route under the tank neatly out of sight.

Cheers

Ian 

Thanks Ian

 

so you mean adding a separate inline switch?  

[Ian Frog]

Hi mate no I mean the wires going to your back brake light switch are only live when your ignition is on.

Cheers

Ian

[RAYK47]

i see, wont i have to splice into the cable though?  I know i will f*** that up.  

[Ian Frog]

You will have to splice in but it is one of the easiest locations I can think of and being pretty central on most bikes it`s convenient for most things.

Cheers

Ian

[RAYK47]

thanks for all the help Ian

[Capt Sisko]

Triumph 2015 Street Triples use a Canbus system so you'll need to be careful with where you tap into for your power. If you're using a trigger wire into a ignition on & live only wire it won't cause a problem, try to drawer power from it and it may throw a wobbly.

[Bender]

I would use a relay, the switch wire then draws very little power, the main feeds can be taken straight from the battery with a fuse protecting it, might be better fitting a 12v socket, that way you can push in a usb adapter or run any other 12v device that plugs into a standard 12v cigarette accessory socket 

[Pie man]

You could use something similar to this, connects to the battery and the little blue pin connects to the switch live without cutting into the wiring. 6 Switched and 2 live. Plenty of cheap variants on the web.  

 

 

[Mickly]

I did this on my 2015 Speedtriple for the same reason  - an in line switch connected directly to the battery.

[Gerontious]

23 hours ago, Bender said:

might be better fitting a 12v socket, that way you can push in a usb adapter or run any other 12v device that plugs into a standard 12v cigarette accessory socket 

 

To my mind this is the most useful of all. standard on BMWs before canbus arrived. cables plus a 15A fuse and marine grade socket. direct to the battery. can power anything from a USB socket to heated clothing. and also be used to charge the battery. power in or power out.

 

A damn sight more useful than the stupid 2A socket that came fitted to my bike. 

Edited May 16, 2023 by Gerontious

[Pie man]

15 minutes ago, Gerontious said:

A damn sight more useful than the stupid 2A socket that came fitted to my bike. 

That's just  for such an iconic adventure bike. 

[Gerontious]

17 minutes ago, Pie man said:

That's just  for such an iconic adventure bike. 

 

Its the way it is. nowadays all people want is a way to charge their phones. so most modern bikes just have a USB-A socket or two, at least I have the choice between A and C. but... the socket itself is still a wasted opportunity.

[Stu]

1 hour ago, Gerontious said:

 

To my mind this is the most useful of all. standard on BMWs before canbus arrived.

 

I have a 12v socket on mine well in fact I have two. canbus included  

 

One is fitted as standard the second is optional 

[RAYK47]

thanks to everyone for the advice, really useful.  

[Gerontious]

14 hours ago, Stu said:

 

I have a 12v socket on mine well in fact I have two. canbus included  

 

One is fitted as standard the second is optional 

 

It took a while for the technology to catch up, but the main thing I remember was that suddenly battery chargers wouldn't work as they did before and people had to go back to direct connections. There were other effects too like some items that could be plugged in before the change wouldn't work because the computer registered it as a fault and would isolate the socket. its all changed now. but, it took a few years.                        

[Pie man]

On 16/05/2023 at 20:39, Gerontious said:

 

Its the way it is. nowadays all people want is a way to charge their phones. so most modern bikes just have a USB-A socket or two, at least I have the choice between A and C. but... the socket itself is still a wasted opportunity.

 

Even the Austrian has a 10A Auxiliary socket. As well as the sat nav connection behind the headlight, it has another one under the rear seat and a waterproof money pouch or it could be phone holder   

[Mickly]

The bracket on my Ultimateaddons double USB socket has snapped, their customer service has been excellent over the matter, I sent a picture and now they’re sending a replacement.

I’ve no idea why it broke though, but there might be a max speed caveat

Or it’s just another victim of the chronic state of our roads.

[RAYK47]

mine also snapped but not in the same place, i did buy another from them but i am not using the UA USB port any more, changed to one with a switch