08 GSA and Autocom

[podsobinski]

I would like to hook up my Autocom to my new GSA. Under the front seat, under the tool kit tray is access to the auxillary plug. Those wires look like they are easily accessed. Can I hook my Autocom wires to those without interfering with the fancy electrical on the GSA?

gpodzo

[ylexot]

I'm pretty sure that as long as the Autocom plus whatever you plug into the accessory plug doesn't draw more than 5A, you should be fine.

[BobFV1]

I would like to hook up my Autocom to my new GSA. Under the front seat, under the tool kit tray is access to the auxillary plug. Those wires look like they are easily accessed. Can I hook my Autocom wires to those without interfering with the fancy electrical on the GSA?

gpodzo

You can, but I really suggest leaving the CanBus system alone to the extent possible. That underseat socket is, as was said, rated at 5 amps. A heated jacket will trip it, forget about using an air pump in it. The best thing you can do with that socket is to tap the switched power wire (striped) to trigger a relay to operate an auxiliary fuse panel - which you can power your AutoCom off of.

[podsobinski]

Thanks both of you ylexot and BobFV1, looks like I will wire it off the battery with a swith off the auxillary plug wires to cut power off when the ignition is off. That 5 amps sounds worthless.

gpodzo

[cmannie]

Hello,
I have a 08 GSA and an Autocomm Pro...I DID NOT want to conect direct to battery,as I KNOW that sooer or later,I will leave it on by accident,and return to a dead battery.
I called the BMW wrench that I know,and He advised Me to simply splice into the aux post on left side,below seat...I did this,and it works perfectly...The Autocomm is switched now,and when I get off the bike,it shuts down in 1 minute...works for Me...

[MrGrocer]

I put an Electrical connections fusebox in the tool tray and ran my autocom to a "wired topcase." I like the arrangement. There isn't a lot of room for gidgies under the seat plus I like to charge my Ipod and phone and plug them into the autocom. This is all made easier by the wired topcase.

Also, you could wire a tankbag. Anyway, I would recommend (strongly) the installation of a key hot relayed fusebox. It really is easy, will give you the ability to plug in up to 8 farkles and give you a professional install with little further effort.

[amoroso6]

Hello,
I have a 08 GSA and an Autocomm Pro...I DID NOT want to conect direct to battery,as I KNOW that sooer or later,I will leave it on by accident,and return to a dead battery.
I called the BMW wrench that I know,and He advised Me to simply splice into the aux post on left side,below seat...I did this,and it works perfectly...The Autocomm is switched now,and when I get off the bike,it shuts down in 1 minute...works for Me...


I installed the centeck fuse box under the seat direct to the battery and installed the relay to the bmw acessory wire. the relay pulls less than 1 amp and will allow all devices attached to the fuse block to be controlled by the key switch. I now have my gps, autocom and passport detector wired to the fuse block with five more spaces available. oh, the relay activates the hotwire running direct from the battery to the fuse box.

[podsobinski]

I tried the AutoCom off my auxillary power plug under the seat and works great and is switched off soon after the key is off. Then, my wife and I head to Sipapu for the rally in New Mexico and Friday was "cold". We plug in her Gerbing and off goes our intercom and now power to the liner. I get the book out and it says "5amps" but will be reset after the engine is turned off. So. . . unplug the liner and the AutoCom works fine. Sounds like amoroso6 did it right. I will get a centeck fuse box and future stuff will be hooked up on that. Big question is "why only 5 amps on that plug? My old GS ran the Gerbing no problem.

gpodzo

[amoroso6]

I tried the AutoCom off my auxillary power plug under the seat and works great and is switched off soon after the key is off. Then, my wife and I head to Sipapu for the rally in New Mexico and Friday was "cold". We plug in her Gerbing and off goes our intercom and now power to the liner. I get the book out and it says "5amps" but will be reset after the engine is turned off. So. . . unplug the liner and the AutoCom works fine. Sounds like amoroso6 did it right. I will get a centeck fuse box and future stuff will be hooked up on that. Big question is "why only 5 amps on that plug? My old GS ran the Gerbing no problem.

gpodzo


You know thats a good question, why 5amps when they know it is going to be used for heated clothing. Does BMW suggest a line of clothing and is it low voltage? I doubt it.

[ylexot]

You know thats a good question, why 5amps when they know it is going to be used for heated clothing. Does BMW suggest a line of clothing and is it low voltage? I doubt it.

BMW's own heated gear will draw more than 5A and make the plug turn off. :doh

Basically, it was a bad decision that BMW could probably change in the software, but I'm not sure if the hardware is rated for more current.

[podsobinski]

Is there some way we can generate a recall or service dept. upgrade to get BMW to change that stupid plug to be upgradded to at least 10 amps so we could run at least one liner?

gpodzo

[soffiler]

Is there some way we can generate a recall or service dept. upgrade to get BMW to change that stupid plug to be upgradded to at least 10 amps so we could run at least one liner?

gpodzo


It is FAR easier to just install an aux fuse panel like a Centech. It is not a safety issue so you can forget a recall. Beyond that, fighting with BMW seems futile and the chance for success miniscule at best, and even if the miracle did occur, it would probably take years.

[podsobinski]

I guess I would just like to know why on earth they put an auxillary plug on the GSA with only 5 amps. Why even bother, it is worthless for almost anything. They could use it as a sales point but what good is it? Is it a engineering or sales or what . . . ? I will be checking out Centech on the old computer, it is getting cool in Colorado, the leaves will start turning and off into the mountains we go and I better get this worked out for the wife.

gpodzo

[amoroso6]

I guess I would just like to know why on earth they put an auxillary plug on the GSA with only 5 amps. Why even bother, it is worthless for almost anything. They could use it as a sales point but what good is it? Is it a engineering or sales or what . . . ? I will be checking out Centech on the old computer, it is getting cool in Colorado, the leaves will start turning and off into the mountains we go and I better get this worked out for the wife.

gpodzo

A friend and I were talking about this today and came up with two possibilities first maybe its their to run things like an air pump to fix a flat? or, could you use this socket to trickle charge the battery? my charger set on slow will push about 2 amps do you think this is possible?

[marchyman]

A friend and I were talking about this today and came up with two possibilities first maybe its their to run things like an air pump to fix a flat? or, could you use this socket to trickle charge the battery? my charger set on slow will push about 2 amps do you think this is possible?

My air pump takes slightly less than 5 amps with NO load. As soon as I attach it to a tire it draws more. Needless to say I do not attach it via the accessory socket on my GS.

Your charger will work IF it sends the magic code to the ZFE telling it not to disable the socket. Otherwise the socket will be turned off a short (1-15 minutes) period after turning off the ignition. At least on my '05 GS it is between 1 and 15 minutes. For that reason I hook the charger, or my heated gear, or my air pump, etc., to a fused SAE socket hooked directly to the battery.

// marc

[soffiler]

I guess I would just like to know why on earth they put an auxillary plug on the GSA with only 5 amps. Why even bother, it is worthless for almost anything. They could use it as a sales point but what good is it? Is it a engineering or sales or what . . . ? I will be checking out Centech on the old computer, it is getting cool in Colorado, the leaves will start turning and off into the mountains we go and I better get this worked out for the wife.

gpodzo

I suspect, just a guess, that the hardware isn't good for 10 amps. They are switching that accessory outlet with a semiconductor device of some kind, and there's a BIG difference between a 5-amp device and a 10-amp device.

Your question "why even bother" is a rational one, given the typical usage of accessory outlets by BMW riders everywhere. Why don't the designers understand how the outlets are used???

I run a Widder electric vest off my 5-amp plug with no problem at all. If I try to add my Widder chaps, I am forced to run the t'stat at roughly halfway or so. Fortunately I don't really like my chaps and don't use them much so at the end of the day the 5-amp limit doesn't affect me. I realize I am not typical.