Ok, I searched for info on this and I don't know if I just didn't use the right words or what, but I really couldn't find much.
So, I am planning to take a trip from Santa Barbara to Portland next summer. I am in the early stages of planning out what I'll need to make the trip. One thing I know I need is a means to charge my phone on the ride in case of disaster or if I decide to camp rather than stay in a hotel, which is my plan, sounds like much more fun. So, what are your suggestions on which devices to purchase and how to install them? Thanks in advance.
I had the same concern regarding charging and to make my life more difficult, refuse to install anything that is permanent on the Stella.
So, off to Harbor Freight where I purchassed a 12v charging socket with clip on ends.
It is item #66407 shown in their online catalog.
To use it, I just remove the left cowl to expose the battery and clip the adaptor on to the terminals...plug in the phone and it is fully charged in about an hour and, it doesn't seem to affect the bikes battery at all......starts just fine.
When not on use I keep it in a ziplock (with other small items I think I need to haul around) and store it in the glovebox.
Robbie wrote:I had the same concern regarding charging and to make my life more difficult, refuse to install anything that is permanent on the Stella.
So, off to Harbor Freight where I purchassed a 12v charging socket with clip on ends.
It is item #66407 shown in their online catalog.
To use it, I just remove the left cowl to expose the battery and clip the adaptor on to the terminals...plug in the phone and it is fully charged in about an hour and, it doesn't seem to affect the bikes battery at all......starts just fine.
When not on use I keep it in a ziplock (with other small items I think I need to haul around) and store it in the glovebox.
Rob
I took a look at that, and it seems like a simple option, but you can't really charge while you're on the go, I was hoping for something I can wire up easily and it can live in the glove box. I will definitely keep this one on the list though. Thanks Robbie
If you are looking for a permanent installation, many auto and marine outlets suppliers sell 12V (cigarette lighter-type) outlets. A permanent installation wouild require cutting a hole for mounting as well as wiring and an in-line fuse. A permanently wired circuit with a "loose" connector could also be used so that it could be stowed in a handy place instead. It is common for Vespa GTS owners to install such a 12V outlet through one of the "knee pads". Motorsport sells a kit to do this on the Vespa.
Dooglas wrote:If you are looking for a permanent installation, many auto and marine outlets suppliers sell 12V (cigarette lighter-type) outlets. A permanent installation wouild require cutting a hole for mounting as well as wiring and an in-line fuse. A permanently wired circuit with a "loose" connector could also be used so that it could be stowed in a handy place instead. It is common for Vespa GTS owners to install such a 12V outlet through one of the "knee pads". Motorsport sells a kit to do this on the Vespa.
I'd say I am looking for semi permanent. I want the unit to be self contained like the Harbor Freight unit that Robbie posted (don't want to drill any holes), but I want to be able to hard wire it. Best of both worlds,
if you want to hard wire it, say,in your glove box....so you can charge while you're riding or parked.....
you may have to end up drilling a hole anyways.
to get power into your glove box.... what's another hole in a Stella anyways. there are probally a hundred in there now...
good luck and post up results of your completed project
I remember Ericalm saying he was going to do something like this with his Stella, I wonder if he ever did? I wish this was like Facebook and I could type his name and he'd get a notification and come look at this thread, haha
magnato1 wrote:
I took a look at that, and it seems like a simple option, but you can't really charge while you're on the go, I was hoping for something I can wire up easily and it can live in the glove box. I will definitely keep this one on the list though. Thanks Robbie
What makes you say you can't charge the phone on the go with this setup? If the cord is long enough, can't you hook it up, put the side cowl back on and place the phone somewhere it is not going to fall off and ride?
I don't think there is any inhibition for drawing power from the battery while the scooter is moving. Please correct me if I am wrong.
magnato1 wrote:I remember Ericalm saying he was going to do something like this with his Stella, I wonder if he ever did? I wish this was like Facebook and I could type his name and he'd get a notification and come look at this thread, haha
I haven't on the Stella yet, but I did wire one up for my Vespa. It was originally in my glovebox but a couple weeks ago I moved it to the inside of the legshield. For GPS/iPhone, it didn't do much good in the glovebox.
For the Stella, you might be able to wire one up without drilling, depending on what you need. I was thinking of putting in a USB power port (smaller than a 12V; there's a place under the headset I could run wires and probably tuck it up into. You can also run a wire into the glovebox without drilling.
The install was very easy. 12ga. wire (IIRC) connected directly to the battery, an inline fuse, 12v plug from Radio Shack. About $15 for everything. If you wanted, you could tap a wire connected to the ignition, but I didn't want to mess with that.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
magnato1 wrote:
I took a look at that, and it seems like a simple option, but you can't really charge while you're on the go, I was hoping for something I can wire up easily and it can live in the glove box. I will definitely keep this one on the list though. Thanks Robbie
What makes you say you can't charge the phone on the go with this setup? If the cord is long enough, can't you hook it up, put the side cowl back on and place the phone somewhere it is not going to fall off and ride?
I don't think there is any inhibition for drawing power from the battery while the scooter is moving. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Jamis,
I don't think you're wrong about drawing power while the bike is running, but this device just clips to the battery terminals. Chances are you'll hit a bump and the clips will come off. Not to mention, they may be too big to fit the cowl over. Other wise I think it would work. And you could probably cut the clamps off and wire it to the battery, but I am more interested in something that is designed to be hard wired. Also, I think that the thick cord on the Harbor Freight unit would prevent the wire from being run through the existing holes on the Stella.
magnato1 wrote:I remember Ericalm saying he was going to do something like this with his Stella, I wonder if he ever did? I wish this was like Facebook and I could type his name and he'd get a notification and come look at this thread, haha
I haven't on the Stella yet, but I did wire one up for my Vespa. It was originally in my glovebox but a couple weeks ago I moved it to the inside of the legshield. For GPS/iPhone, it didn't do much good in the glovebox.
For the Stella, you might be able to wire one up without drilling, depending on what you need. I was thinking of putting in a USB power port (smaller than a 12V; there's a place under the headset I could run wires and probably tuck it up into. You can also run a wire into the glovebox without drilling.
The install was very easy. 12ga. wire (IIRC) connected directly to the battery, an inline fuse, 12v plug from Radio Shack. About $15 for everything. If you wanted, you could tap a wire connected to the ignition, but I didn't want to mess with that.
Eric,
So, any idea where I can find one of these usb power ports? Also, what did you use on your Vespas? Thanks
magnato1 wrote:
I don't think you're wrong about drawing power while the bike is running, but this device just clips to the battery terminals. Chances are you'll hit a bump and the clips will come off. Not to mention, they may be too big to fit the cowl over.
I cannibalized the 12V outlet on Luna's Buddy for my 2000 miles round trip to Amerivespa.
What I need was splice open one of the ignition wires in the horncast and attached the 12V there.
There is absolutely no need to drill a hole. There are two holes already within the glovebox that lead to the horncast, same holes that the turn signal cables come through. I used a relatively low gage wire to run from the ignition to the glovebox but there is plenty of space to spare. Then I used one of the screws within the glovebox that hold the horncast in place in order to ground the other wire from the 12V socket.
Disclaimer: when I did this I might have shorted something because I immediately lost the electric start and all power when the engine isn't running (i.e. no position lights when you switch on the ignition). However months later I am still unable to find exactly what went wrong, but my bike is still running just fine. It may just have been a dead battery (the bike sat for 3 years with 50 miles on it after being purchased until I got it so that may be the case).
i used a plug like this along with 10 pound 2 sided tape,stuck it to the lower bottom right side of the glovebox and pulled a power line form the horn.you can slide the power line under the glovebox seal and use the right turn signal for ground http://www.amazon.com/Attwood-Marine-12 ... power+plug i payed about 5 bucks from a local store for the plug
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