Can you tap into the wires that power the outlet in the trunk that run under the seat for a dash board power outlet?
Printable View
Can you tap into the wires that power the outlet in the trunk that run under the seat for a dash board power outlet?
Yes - but there are better ways. That outlet is fused at 5 amps, which probably OK for charging cell phone, etc. But I would suggest what a lot of us do: Those two round 55mm gauges for temp & gas - they pop out very easy with the 4 screws in that panel. Turn handlebars fully to easily take it out. Now you can take those out and replace with: 12V cigarette socket; dual USB; Voltage monitor; etc. etc. Kits from vendors on this site, very nice aluminum frames. Those readings automatically show up on your LCD screen when unplugged. Since the battery is right there up front, I found it easy to snake wires down to it (with the inline fuse) supplied by the vendors. You want to keep those off of existing circuits that are monitored by the computers. Just my 2 cents, very happy with them. I have a cigarette socket with a high power dual 2.1A adaptor one side and voltage monitor on the other $18 on EBay). I have the RTS (no GPS or chrome) but the rest is exactly the same.
Yes, you can tap into that circuit without a problem provided you stay withing the max current draw. You can fit a replacement higher rated fuse into the fuse box if need be. Take care how big you go though.
To add to stevencovert's post. If you need battery power up front there is no need to fight threading a positive supply from the battery; the battery positive is connected directly to the main alternator post so you can pick up power there and it's easily accessible at the lefthand front side panel. Battery negative is also engine ground to you can pick that up off an engine bolt near the alternator also. Just to reiterate what Steven said, if you go directly from a battery source, include a fuse close by your +ve connection.
What are you going to power? Look in my posts for one titled "Look what I found" or maybe "Guess what I found". I describe where to find the power taps and how to run the wires up under the headlights to the switch panel.
I use a accessories board to hook up things like this, of course you do have to tap into a lighting wire that turns the board on, but its the only tap you have to make, it feeds off the battery but its safer then tapping into wires all over the Bike.