USB Port

nimrod

nimrod

Joined
Nov 4, 2020
Messages
60
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Hi all, I want to fit a USB port onto my mk3 1976 roadster, for reading GPX files ie routes, on a rally I am going on in a few weeks time,
the connection cable has a red and a black wire with a one way only plug to connect to the USB cable, making sure red to red etc. other end has eye connectors for battery connection, my question is which way do I connect to the battery as its a positive earth making red earth/black positive. I think on switches etc it wouldn't matter but I have no understanding what or how USB works. I don't want to wreck my phone. Help required please.
 
The USB socket is 5V, does your assembly take the 12V and present only 5V at the USB socket ?

When I did mine which included a 12V to 5V dropdown circuit then red went to positive and black to negative. Does not matter how the battery is wired pos or negative earth, red goes to +ve black to -ve.
 
kommando said:
The USB socket is 5V, does your assembly take the 12V and present only 5V at the USB socket ?

When I did mine which included a 12V to 5V dropdown circuit then red went to positive and black to negative. Does not matter how the battery is wired pos or negative earth, red goes to +ve black to -ve.
Click to expand...
yes it should drop, not sure how I check that but I am sure it happens inside the black box., thanks for the connection info, makes sense that way but looked odd.
 
You can take an old USB cable and cut the male plug off with a foot of cable, strip to the internal wires and then plug into the socket and put a multimeter onto the internal wires looking for 5V. The are pinouts online telling you the colours of the internal wires and what they mean, but they are guidelines only as I found when testing once to find + and - reversed :eek: , only the Chinese could do such stuff. Before I took it apart it worked so they reversed it at both ends.
 
Have fun on the rally.

Made me look. Type USB Charger into google and hold on to your butt. There are a zillion of them. Most if not all of them are made in China.

The ones with the amp and volt meter look interesting, but would a hardwired (no switch) unit drain the battery on a bike parked for several weeks?
 
I use this continually, as I run the Wazeapp continually. It gobbles battery.
IMG_1520.jpeg
IMG_1519.jpeg
USB Port
 
Last edited:
I have a USB port on my N15.
(the knob on the right is to adjust the head light)
The voltmeter normally shows 13.5 V when riding.
When a device is plugged in, usually GPS, it indicates 5 V.

USB Port
 
All these modern gizmos, they didn't have all this crap back in the 70s, motorcycling was so simple back then, no wonder people get so distracted these days, how things have changed everywhere I go now people with phones stuck in their hands and living in their own little world, I like being lost have found some great roads being lost lol.
Give me the simple life and less things to worry about.
 
ashman said:
All these modern gizmos, they didn't have all this crap back in the 70s, motorcycling was so simple back then, no wonder people get so distracted these days, how things have changed everywhere I go now people with phones stuck in their hands and living in their own little world, I like being lost have found some great roads being lost lol.
Give me the simple life and less things to worry about.
Click to expand...
A true story...(me) Bob. Where are we? (Bob) i dont know, lost gps a half hour ago...lets turn right. And so about 45 minutes later we came the first of two stream crossings. Good thing we were on loaded down Commandos or that rushing water might have washed us down stream. Good times.
 
I am going on a VMCC run soon and they are supplying routes on a GPX format or a Tulip format. as it is between 150 and 200 miles each day I think it will be easier to follow GPX on my phone. I totally agree with going out and winging it but on these rallies 200 bikers trying to find the correct route on older bikes could be quite comical.
I fitted a USB fitting today and when I removed the charging cable the inwards of the USB fitting came out with it and seem to be jammed in the cable, it won't come out so a new cable and replacement fitting now.
 
I don't ride all that far anymore but I've always been one to just start down a road I've never been on to see where it goes. Those are often the best rides. Nowadays if I absolutely get lost I can always get my phone out but I usually find a road I know or find a sign pointing me in the right direction.
 
nimrod said:
I am going on a VMCC run soon and they are supplying routes on a GPX format or a Tulip format. as it is between 150 and 200 miles each day I think it will be easier to follow GPX on my phone. I totally agree with going out and winging it but on these rallies 200 bikers trying to find the correct route on older bikes could be quite comical.
I fitted a USB fitting today and when I removed the charging cable the inwards of the USB fitting came out with it and seem to be jammed in the cable, it won't come out so a new cable and replacement fitting now.
Click to expand...
I would suggest a Beeline MOTO2. A .gpx file can be uploaded into the app, and the display gadget points you in the right direction. The app can be downloaded free should you want to look at it before buying the gadget. There is a subscription version of the app, but it's only to open up additional (to my mind, unnecessary) features.

p.s I use it on our local VMCC's 'Herefordshire on the Edge' event. Couldn't do the event without the Beeline.
 
I was out riding in traffic one day and was watching a young rider in front of me he had his phone mounted on the handlebars and for about 7 miles he was all over the place playing with his phone while riding then all of a sudden the traffic slowed right down and guess what, bang right up the arse of the car in front of him, lucky it was a slow speed bang but he went down, distraction is not good on 2 wheels or four for that matter while riding.
My phone stays in my pocket when out and about, if I get lost easy to pull over and look at the maps but never while riding, roads are a dangerous place and less distractions the better.
 

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