Wiring a GPS

[Ghostryder]

I have a 1200 GS and I recently had a centech fuse pannel installed. I was assuming that it would have + and - that would be clearly marked....well it dosent. I purchased the power/audio cable for the 2610 and I was attempting to install it. I see that the power/audio line has a fuse already installed in it. Here are my questions.
1. What is the way to determine what is the + and - leads on the fuse pannel?
2. Would leaving the fuse that was installed on the cable matter....two fuses better that 1 I guess?
3. What would be the best way to seurethe wires to the fuse pannel. It dosent seem as if the wires are big enough to sat in contact with th pannel comections.
Any advise would be a HUGE help. Thanks

[dancogan]

I2. Would leaving the fuse that was installed on the cable matter....two fuses better that 1 I guess?
Thanks

I just wired a 2610 to my CLC. Unfortunately, I didn't have the luxury of a fuse panel, so I used tap-in connectors at the wiring to the 2 auxiliary power outlets. In any event, the fuse in the 2610 is, if I remember correctly, just a 1 amp fuse. That's probably quite a bit smaller than the fuses in your fuse panel, and may be smaller than you can buy in the blade type of fuse. So I would definitely leave the fuse that was in the 2610 wiring harness. That wiring, as I'm sure you noticed, is very fine gauge wire.

[Emoto]

1. What is the way to determine what is the + and - leads on the fuse pannel?

Use a multi-meter. One direction will be +12v, the other will be -12v, and then ytou'll know. Radio shack has a great little one about the size of a credit card but thicker. Worth having. I just did this a few weeks ago to power my GPSMap 60C, but I didn't have this fuse panel you bought.

Or, you could ground a test light to the chassis and touch the other wire to the wires in question and whichever wire makes the bulb light up is the positive.

2. Would leaving the fuse that was installed on the cable matter....two fuses better that 1 I guess?

Leave it in or change the fuse in the curcuit you use for the GPS to the value of the inline fuse.

3. What would be the best way to seurethe wires to the fuse pannel. It dosent seem as if the wires are big enough to sat in contact with th pannel comections.

The best way is to use the type of connectors the panel is set up for. You can buy a whole assortment of crimp on connectors at a hardware or auto parts store, along with the crimping pliers for very little money.

You'll never regret having the ability to put good connectors on wires. They can make the difference between a hack job and a nice job.

:thumb

[dlearl476]

Not to contradict Emoto, but IMHO the best place to buy wiring connectors is an electronics store. Not only will they have a larger selectio, generally by a factor of 10+, but they will have quality name brands (Thomas and Betts or Molex). I prefer T&B with VINYL insulators. The ones you buy at the CheckerZoneBoys will be plastic and you'll break about 25% of them installing them.

And although I've never actually held a Centech in my hands, most "fuse blocks" don't have a ground. You just run + to them, through the fuse, and to the device. You find a ground wherever you can. (Any brown wire on a BMW is a ground, unless they've changed it for the new-fangled bikes)

[Emoto]

Not to contradict Emoto, but IMHO the best place to buy wiring connectors is an electronics store. Not only will they have a larger selectio, generally by a factor of 10+, but they will have quality name brands (Thomas and Betts or Molex). I prefer T&B with VINYL insulators. The ones you buy at the CheckerZoneBoys will be plastic and you'll break about 25% of them installing them.

No harm done, dlearl! I don't know why I didn't think of an electronics store. You will certainly get high quality stuff at one. A place like You Do It (http://www.youdoitelectronics.com/) is a fascinating place to visit. Great fun just to walk around and browse. That's where I went for a waterproof switch for my driving lights. And that brings to mind another point: for motorcycles, you can get the connectors that have little rubber covers that help keep water out of things. Those are, as far as I know, the best kind to use.

[Ghostryder]

Thanks for the help guys. I took the cover off the fuse block and saw that there was a + and a - side where the power was hooked up. I assumed that this was the same way with the "outlets". Tried it......wished.......it worked.
THANKS AGAIN.