A little electrickery advice please!

[Fat Crip]

I want to add a 12v socket to my 2013 STS. I know there's provision to fit one in the frunck, and I may do that, but I really want to do one on or around the dash so I can use my iPhone as a SatNav. I used it recently but it flattened the battery in no time. I'm pretty sure I can figure out how to mount it (a 29mm hole in one of the speaker grils), but how to wire it beats me as I'm a certified electrical idiot. Behind the blanked off switches rider side of the handle bars I believe there are various wires for heated grips, fog lights etc., but I haven't a clue where to start. I tried to pull one of these out to take a look, but couldn't even manage that! Do they just pull out, or do you need to take the panel off? Maybe I could even mount the socket here?

Any help much appreciated!


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[DrewNJ]

I have never been a fan of tapping into or hard wiring into a can bus vehicle. It can create some oddball problems or "ghosts" as we call them.
Personally, if your looking to add power somewhere either extend and wire in an aux fusebox directly from the battery or what I have been doing recently is just using a USB/CIG splitter from the factory CIG plugs and extending power with USB extension cords from there../
Good luck

 

[AZCowboy]

I want to add a 12v socket to my 2013 STS. I know there's provision to fit one in the frunck, and I may do that, but I really want to do one on or around the dash so I can use my iPhone as a SatNav. I used it recently but it flattened the battery in no time. I'm pretty sure I can figure out how to mount it (a 29mm hole in one of the speaker grils), but how to wire it beats me as I'm a certified electrical idiot. Behind the blanked off switches rider side of the handle bars I believe there are various wires for heated grips, fog lights etc., but I haven't a clue where to start. I tried to pull one of these out to take a look, but couldn't even manage that! Do they just pull out, or do you need to take the panel off? Maybe I could even mount the socket here?

Any help much appreciated!


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When the dealer put mine in they put in the mesh part on the left. They drilled a hole and ran the wires to the batt with a fuse link on the hot side leaving it hot all the time not like the one in the trunk. Hope this helps. REJ:spyder2:

 

[billrob71]

I got a USB charge port that has eyelet that I hooked up to the positive and negative power studs under the frunk lid. It only uses power then the phone is hooked up, didn't chop or splice any wiring and there is no external wiring seen. All the wiring feeds down the steering shaft along with the rest of the factory wiring .

 

[Chupaca]

Here's what I did..!!

installed it in the frunk as set up. Hooked to the exsisting wiring for the outlet. Then ran a cable up to the bar clipped it there to hook to gps...:thumbup:

 

[Fat Crip]

If I pull out the blanking plate where the 12v socket goes in the frunk, are there wires pre-connected to the fuse box for fitting the factory socket? Should I tap in there? Is it waste enough to get the wired down there? Please remember that, one, I am an electrical idiot and, two, I can't get down on my hands and knees as I'm quadriplegic and need to get my son to do the actual work.

Eric

 

[daveinva]

Really recommend installing a Powerlet system-- all in one, easy instructions, in-line fuses, clear directions. Heck, they even sell a drill bit.

http://www.powerlet.com/shop-by-vehicle/am/2010/am-spyder-rt-2010-present/19/746

On my RS, in addition to a 12v in the frunk which I use for my iPod, I run two Powerlet-sized sockets straight from my battery to my dash to plug in a battery tender, heated gear, GPS charger, etc.

 

[Fat Crip]

OK job done! I removed the shiny black plastic surround from the dials, then, using a wire coat-hanger to run two fused cables down to the jump-start posts under the left hand service cover. I then ran one to each of the two speaker grills. Each had a 29mm hole cut in it and on the left I fitted a waterproof double USB socket and on the right a standard 12v one. I waterproofed the back of the 12v with glue lined 39mm 3-1 shrink tube, but the USB draws a current all the time, so I decided to fit a switch in the positive side. All I could get in the short term was a pretty ugly toggle switch, so I made a little harness and waterproofed the back of it as before and fitted it next to the USB socket. Then I did something monumentally stupid! Have read the directions very carefully, I then, for reasons I can't fathom, connected the earth to the positive terminal on the socket and the positive to the earth...a small pop was clearly audible!!! So, the replacement should arrive tomorrow! As it all worked before the switch, it should work fine if I'm not so monumentally stupid again.

Oh, and despite my tetraplegia, I managed to do everything myself. I also fitted two RAM balls as well. It took me hours, when it might have taken most much less, but it left me deeply satisfied and, till I blew up the USB socket anyway, very happy!

Eric


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[NoLmtz]

I just finished the install of a dual USB port on the dash of my 2013 STS. I used a marine fade dual USB and 14 gauge wiring. My wrists look like I got in a fight with a cat but it's a job well done! I pulled the boot behind the plugged port of the frunk that's intended to be the aux power port to the frunk - which is a pain by itself! But one I got that pulled out I used a splicer to put together the wire that I fished from the speaker port along the clutch side molding. Once I got that done I carefully marked where I was going to drill the port in the speaker cover and then done!! Looks awesome!

QUESTION - In all previous posts I had read that aux power port that's prewired behind the frunk was switched... mine is hot all the time? Will that be a problem since the USB port has a small green light to indicate power?