USB Charger (Front Mount)

[TrailBoss]

For those of you who have mounted a USB charger into the factory spot by the handlebars:

1. Which one did you buy?
2. Where did you tap in for power? Switched/unswitched?

 

[r80rt]

I had a factory accessory outlet that I bought for my Rebel and never used. It wouldn't connect to the wiring harness on the CT125 so I cut the plug off and ran wires directly to the battery, un-switched.

 

[FRAC]

I'm liking the looks of these:

Amazon.com

(Or lots of others just like it.
With the USB-C for future proofing and the volt meter. Should fit right? I wish they had a power switch. Suppose I will figure out how to wire to ignition side so it only has power when bike is on/ running.

 

[TrailBoss]

I'm liking the looks of these:

Amazon.com

(Or lots of others just like it.
With the USB-C for future proofing and the volt meter. Should fit right? I wish they had a power switch. Suppose I will figure out how to wire to ignition side so it only has power when bike is on/ running.

With a 46W output I'd think a dedicated line with a relay fed by a switched wire is the way to go. Which switched wire though is the question!

 

[FRAC]

Reading the comments: 46 watts is the MAX and only if it had 24volt input. I guess it puts out 18W on the TYPE C with 12 volt. Not sure the wire as my bike is still on order :<

 

[G19Tony]

I removed the headlight from mine, and used a Posi-tap, and tapped into the Black/Yellow stripe wire. I was happy with the result. Enlarging the hole, only took a few minutes with a Dremel and a sanding drum attachment.

 

[sonnystile]

I find that every usb connection eventually wears out from having a cord shaking around inside while riding.

And since I didn’t want have to rewire in order to replace, I went with a panel mount SAE connection direct to the battery. It also saves from having a separate pigtail somewhere as I can pop the battery tender straight in.

The Optimate brand I used has the opposite issue of all your USB outlets: it’s actually a bit too small. I picked up a rubber grommet and two flat washers and she fits great!

Pro tip: get the 40” version even though it’s way too long once paired with the battery lead. When I tried the short version (maybe 8”) the two SAE plugs met right at the headstock and pushed/pulled pretty hard when you turn the bars.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AZ7000']

It also saves from having a separate pigtail somewhere as I can pop the battery tender straight in.

This!! Have them on all the big bikes

 

[Msfitoy]

For those of you who have mounted a USB charger into the factory spot by the handlebars:

1. Which one did you buy?
2. Where did you tap in for power? Switched/unswitched?

I got this black one with red voltage...not the red one with blue voltage shown in my mod thread...both are metal...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088M24K8W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I soldered them to the headlamp harness...black + and green -...comes on with ignition...

 

[timmmy todd]

For those of you who have mounted a USB charger into the factory spot by the handlebars:

1. Which one did you buy?
2. Where did you tap in for power? Switched/unswitched?

Bought dual socket w/volt meter Tapped into 3wire plug from ignition switch tha goes into headlight. 1 wire is hot when ignition is turned on. Striped wire, soldered end and shoved into back side of hot terminal and taped it up. Did not want to hack up wiring.
Small draw should not be a problem?

 

[VornadoFan]

With a 46W output I'd think a dedicated line with a relay fed by a switched wire is the way to go. Which switched wire though is the question!

View attachment 122

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088WV4PWN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I found this version that is switched if you are running directly to the battery and not the headlight.

 

[G19Tony]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088WV4PWN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I found this version that is switched if you are running directly to the battery and not the headlight.

I bought one of those, but then I decided to run it from a headlight wire. I had too many things on the battery as it was. So I bought one without the switch.

 

[op46]

I am thinking a DIN connector in the mount with a plug in for USB and a SAE two prong from battery recharging wired directly to battery but that would make outlet hot/energized all the time. Might be better to go with the switched headlight hot wire or equivalent somewhere else in the system so when key is off no power to outlet. Problem then is no ability to use as battery recharger. Not sure that is necessary with kick start? Decisions, decisions....
Hyper Link = <Cllena DIN>

They have a nice companion USB plug with both old and new mini C too.
Hyper Link = <Cllena USB outlet>

Update: Din came in today and while the barrel fit into the dash hole next to the speedo the threads are to wide so these don't go all the way in and seat at upper ring. Going to have to file/dremmel something or maybe force the DIN as its plastic and may just give enough to push in with vigor. Maybe a one way and could strip threads so locking ring doesn't screw back on and up the barrel?

I also ordered a switched USB one with display which came in with the DIN. The USB one is metal and it or the dash hole is going to need a little fitting. Rather do the USB than the dash hole right now.

I mic'd the dash hole and it was smaller than the specs on these two fixtures so this no go wasn't surprising as the measures are really close. Any one find a drop in?

 

[m in sc]

Like i did, i ran one under the seat as a battery charge port as well thats hot to the battery at all times. figure if i need to charge comething while the bike is off i can hook up an adapter there and leave it in the basket on the rack. .

 

[G19Tony]

Like i did, i ran one under the seat as a battery charge port as well thats hot to the battery at all times. figure if i need to charge comething while the bike is off i can hook up an adapter there and leave it in the basket on the rack. .View attachment 490

I have one of those, I'm going to connect it to the cable that's inside my Apache case.

 

[Slowrideiowa]

I removed the headlight from mine, and used a Posi-tap, and tapped into the Black/Yellow stripe wire. I was happy with the result. Enlarging the hole, only took a few minutes with a Dremel and a sanding drum attachment.

View attachment 124View attachment 125

Where did you tap in your ground wire? I am thinking I’ll tap into one of the green wires off of either turn signal wire set. Those are the ones coming out of the blue and orange connectors inside the headlight housing. The greens are both ground. Either should work.

 

[G19Tony]

Where did you tap in your ground wire? I am thinking I’ll tap into one of the green wires off of either turn signal wire set. Those are the ones coming out of the blue and orange connectors inside the headlight housing. The greens are both ground. Either should work.

Good question, I don't remember. I'll have to go take a look.

 

[zamdrang]

I just installed the Kitaco USB kit I found on ebay from Japan. It ships with what looks like a plug and play harness. But... from what I can tell the US bike doesn't have the same wiring harness, so the plugs are worthless. I ended up tapping into the hot black/yellow wire in the headlight housing, and running a ground back to the battery.

THEN of course I see the battery tender solution posted above at Wal Mart. The Kitaco looks to be a high quality part, but it wasn't cheap.

 

[Slowrideiowa]

Got a Video on the Kitaco charger install.