Want to hardwire my GPS... Power comes from Mini-USB...

[GARover]

I have a rather inexpensive, but *VERY* good GPS unit I keep in the Disco. I usually power it via the cigarette lighter (12v) adapter and the end that plugs into the GPS unit itself is simply a Mini-USB plug.

I really want to use the lone cigarette lighter for cell phone charger and other things that need charging on a less frequent basis and want to hard-wire the GPS unit.

I've got some other USB to Mini-USB cords laying around the house, and I hacked into one. I found that they are actually 4-conductor wire. One red, one black, one white and one green.

I am GUESSING that the red is going to be the power lead and the black will be for ground. I would like to know for sure. Has anyone else hardwired thier GPS units or powered anything off the car with a splice that used a Mini-USB??

The reason this is timely as the mounting tabs on the pod cover over the instrument cluster has broken (yes, all four of them!)... And, so it's loose. While fixing it, I want to tap power off a hot lead in for the inst cluster. I'm just going to splice in my USB harness to power my GPS and then afix the inst cluster cover properly.

Any suggestions on where to tap the power from??? I've got a voltage meeter, but it's less reliable withe lots of wires in the close of proximity... Any suggestions on where to tap power, would be great!

Any info or suggestions appreciated. I'd like to finnish up this mini-project tomorrow night! Thanks!

 

[adriatic04]

did you not sell your truck?

 

[AMCM Disco]

Found this... hardwire to the fuse box seems the most reliable source of power. If you are to power from something on the instrument cluster a) might overload that particular circuit and b) might not be reliable power source for your unit.


http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43576&referrerid=6228

 

[bleizit]

Dan - Try to find the specs on your GPS unit to see what the charging voltage requirement is. I think 5v is more common than 12v with these applications. The other post indicates 10-15 amp fuse which is too high to protect most GPS units. It should be more like 2-3 amps. I have a garmin vistacx and if it were spliced directly into 12v, the unit would smoke. If you want, send me the GPS make and model and I'll see what I can find on the database at REI. My solution was to get a traditional car charger for my unit, which I dismantled and put the 'guts' into a small project box that I spliced directly into a fuse block I added near the steering column.

 

[KyleT]

usb is 5.5v so you will need something to lower it down.

 

[bribassguy]

Typically, your USB port provides 5v of power through a single wire in a 4 pin USB cable. The normal operating voltage for most USB devices is between 4.75 V and 5.25 V. Unless you can work out a way to change the output voltage I'd just buy this:

http://www.amazon.com/GA-NHWC-Garmin-Hardwire-Mini-USB-connector/dp/B002ALTKBM/

 

[gmookher]

buy the adapter hide it to look cool

 

[GARover]

Typically, your USB port provides 5v of power through a single wire in a 4 pin USB cable. The normal operating voltage for most USB devices is between 4.75 V and 5.25 V. Unless you can work out a way to change the output voltage I'd just buy this:

http://www.amazon.com/GA-NHWC-Garmin-Hardwire-Mini-USB-connector/dp/B002ALTKBM/http://www.amazon.com/GA-NHWC-Garmin-Hardwire-Mini-USB-connector/dp/B002ALTKBM/http://www.amazon.com/GA-NHWC-Garmin-Hardwire-Mini-USB-connector/dp/B002ALTKBM/

I think that may be the ticket. I will check the specs on my GPS Unit to see if it matches the specs of the Garmin Nuvi.

I have a much less expensive unit, but really love this thing... It's a ViaMichelin. It was well rated on the forums I read and was inexpensive at about $160 (that was two years ago). This one doesn't have the "frills", but it is simple, easy to use, and works great. I think the ViaMichelin product is much more widely used in Europe and there is a larger feature set offering there. They make another unit now, which I think has more "frills".

This is what I have:
ViaMichelin X-930
http://www.viamichelin.us/overview.php

I'll try to find the specs and go from there. Are there any open fuses in the fuse box to put this on?? Remember, I am planning on auxiliary lighting and things like that down the road, so I have to save room for that.

Thanks for the info! And, to whoever asked... Yes, I still have and plan on keeping my Disco.

 

[bribassguy]

I would tap a fuse in the box under the hood, make sure you get a switched fuse other wise you'll have a dead battery and a very well charged GPS.

You can get one at the local auto parts place.

http://www.cooperbussmann.com/images/3c2dce34-cf0b-43a1-aabf-d886ccd13aad.JPG

 

[jeffro0502]

This is the one I used for my nuvi.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A4HAQ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1205011348&sr=8-1

Also look at this thread.

http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46580&highlight=GPS

 

[fadedout]

If it was me, i'd use the gps auto adapter. Chop the plug off the adapter and connect the leads to the switched 12v power that goes to the cig lighter in the center console.

If you are set on using that mini-usb cable, you can order usb ports that power off the cig lighter. I got an auto adapter from dealextreme that gives you 3 cig lighters and a female usb to plug into. I've also got a splitter for the usb power that allows me to hook up a couple usb devices at the same time if needed.

So you could connect one of their auto usb ports directly to 12 v, then connect the mini-usb cable to that, but why not just use the original auto adapter with the plug chopped?

I would be really carefull trying to get power elsewhere or directly to the mini-usb cable...

 

[piper109]

That might not get it. If there is something to drop the voltage, it is probably inside the plug you would chop off....