USB port on bike = good/bad?

[Az]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-motorbike-mobile-phone-charger-USB-hardwired-iPad-Dell-Tablet-etc-/181156463760?pt=UK_MobilePhones_MobilePhoneAccessories_MobilePhoneChargers&hash=item2a2dc44490

I want to install that^ on to my bike, so that i can use the sat nav on my phone while riding without it dying and charge my phone while on camping trips. I'm unsure of how good they are and if my battery will cope with it, anyone own one or anything similar, what do u think of them?

[Lord Percy]

The battery should cope fine, methinks. The only possible issue is if you use it when the engine isn't running. Even then, I guess you can just check by giving the starter button a quick tap to see how strongly the engine turns over.

[esullivan]

I thought about something like that, but installed a normal 12v socket instead. Now I can use any of the many USB car adapters, plus anything else designed for those plugs, like compressors or kettles. I used it to charge my phone/satnav for a week in May. No battery issues, if installed correctly (because there's no power when the engine is off).

If you just put a USB socket in, can you go the other way? Do USB->12v adapters exist?
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[J.M.]

Should be fine, but dayum that price.

I bought something like this item for a fiver:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25W-DC-DC-12V-24V-TO-5V-STEP-DOWN-BUCK-CONVERTER-MODULE-FOR-VEHICLE-LED-DISPLAY-/200930951097?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item2ec86affb9

Then cut a usb extension lead's head off and wired it in (I had a few knocking around). Then glued the female side of the USB in my fairings. Worked a treat around Spain.

Only issue is to make sure the usb extension cable has heavy enough duty wires. So try charging any devices through a cable before chopping one. The wires in mine were fairly weak; it'd charge my phone but not my tablet. But I only needed it for charging my phone.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Rogerborg]

Agreed, eff that price, you can get a solution with a lighter socket and one or more USB sockets for much less.

That said, I had to get a DIN-to-human adaptor for my funky new BMW electronomics and just went with 2 x USB as I can't recall the last time I needed to plug in an actual lighter socket adapter.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Doovy]

Another vote for the cigarette lighter (got mine from Hein Gericke for a fiver I think) and USB adaptor.

It runs my tomtom just fine whilst riding, and can charge my phone at the same time too, as its a dual USB adaptor. Battery copes with it no problem, as long as it is getting recharged ok!
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[G]

Looks awfully expensive.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380662695954 - Fuse holder with fuse, 99p.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300899493314 - 2.1A dual USB £1.88
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330957300738 - 4 pin 12v 40a relay £1.39

Then get some wire and wire it to the battery via a relay on something that's live with the engine running/ignition on, permanently connecting it to the USB.

I would also consider directly wiring it to sidelights, skipping the relay, if they always come on with the ignition, or other similar live.
2.1a@5v=10.5w, Say 12w for inefficiency and you've got around 1a on the bike system - reckon all circuits should be ok to handle an extra amp, providing you're not already running heated grips from them or something, anyway.

I'd then find a place where it can be kept dry - as while the waterproof cap on the linked one is nice, the time you're going to really want it to work is when it's got something plugged in - at which point the cap's not going to help!

Could consider making a little waterproof box for it to sit in, with some approrpiate way to seal the end. Or permantly connecting the micro USB lead and keeping that end out of trouble when not being used.

[keggyhander]

I went the other way to installing a lighter socket.

I butchered and re-wired a standard car charger. Took the pins out, and soldered wires on. Added an isolator switch for when it's not in use, and an in-line fuse. Crimp terminals on wires go to battery.

[Az]

Thanks for the replies, majority of you are saying it's expensive and to make one myself but.. i'm useless at electrics and as simple as this little job may sound i think i'd do a shitty possibly dangerous job lol and i don't mind paying the £25 as long as it works.

[Az]

Thanks for the replies, majority of you are saying it's expensive and to make one myself but.. i'm useless at electrics and as simple as this little job may sound i think i'd do a shitty possibly dangerous job lol and i don't mind paying the £25 as long as it works.

[Doovy]

Jesus, get a £5 cig lighter to battery jobby and wire that in, with a USB adaptor. It's the same amount of wiring you'd have to do and cheaper!
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[P.addy]

_Iain_ has that one, it does seem to charge far quicker than my cig socket > twin USB one.

Costs about £24 more though.

[Charlie]

The voltage regulator will always draw power from your battery and eventually flatten it over time. Granted it wont draw much but it still will, whereas a cig socket wont (unless you leave some plugged in).

You could get past this with a relay or a mosfet which disconnects it when the ignition is off.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere