Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Well today I finally had some time to fit a 12v socket to the bike - thought I'd share the install.

Note: I'm not an auto electrician or hold any expertise in this - I just need something to recharge my GPS / Mobile while travelling. This install produces 14-15v when travelling so anything plugged into it must be able to cope with more voltage.

Also - I'm personally not keen on this install and will be re-doing it over the next month with something much neater for accessories.

Ok - first step - I wanted a socket that was waterproof and needed to fit somewhere neatly on the bike. I found a waterproof kit on eBay with everything needed - wires, inline fuse, socket with cover and mounting kit - total cost approx $16 delivered.
After looking around the bike I decided the best option was to install the socket in a hobby box I had and attach that to the triple tree. The box needed a couple of holes - one for the socket and one for cables.
Once that was done it was a case of installing it on the bike...
Run the cables and attach to the battery
And test
All done
Yes I know the cables could be tidier but as I said I'm working on a better install for wiring in accessories which includes a relay.

Cheers

Nice way to kill a few hours Wayne. My only suggestion would be to connect to +wire to a switched power, ie something that only energises when the ignition is on. I only say this so that if you leave something plugged in overnight with the current setup you may (read will) end up with a flat battery.

Hey Pete - actually when I re-do the wiring it will be going through a relay - live only when ignition is on - but thats to come

Come in useful when using one of those small Supercheap compressors to reinflate tyres, excellent.

you did better than me. I have a three way socket installed on my rf, though it sits under the seat, electrical tape & zip ties FTW!

I just put one on my 08 ZX14.....

I got an auto electrician to wire up the loom for me (lugs, mini blade fuse, and spade connectors)

Good idea about the relay though...... what would be the simplist way of doing this ?

Cheers

OZ

Wiring a relay is pretty simple - the hardest job is locating a powered wire which is live while your bike is running - this can be a wire from you ignition switch or headlight. I'd suggest you connect it at the junction / fuse box.

Hey Wayne,
I think I just bought the same kit you did off ebay for about the same price, and I was thinking of tapping mine off the horn (live when ignition is on, runs on a separate fuse, etc) but was wondering what you (or any other electrically minded people on here) think...
I don't particularly like the idea of running it straight off the battery because knowing my luck I'll leave something plugged in and won't be able to get her started in the morning...
Cheers!

I've just managed to get the gear together to wire my accessories separately rather than tapping into the OEM loom. Basically like this

1. Find a wire which is live when the key is turned on - tap into this at wire it to connector 86 of a 30a/12v relay.
2. Run a wire from 87 to a aux fuse box - couple of options, use a Narva fuse box or go to a wrecker and get a motorbike fuse box.
3. Run a wire from 85 to ground -this could be on the neg terminal of the battery or a frame bolt.
4. Run a wire with an in-line fuse from the + terminal off the battery to 30 on the relay.

You now have a separate fuse box just for accessories - heated grips, GPS, 12v socket etc - just take the + line off the new fuse box to whatever you're wiring in. It will only be live when the ignition is on. Make sure the fuse you install is suitable for your new addition. Each accessory can now be fused separately.

A few proviso's - I'm not an auto-electrician just a hobbiest. Make sure all connections are clean, dry and preferably soldered rather than just crimped - and cover all joints with heatshrink tubing for the best results. Make sure you electrical charging system can handle any other accessories you wire in. Should you blow up, burn down or damage your bike in any way it rests on your head (sorry - just used to covering my arse from possible come backs).

I'll be posting this with photos in the next week or so.

Cheers

I've always found the neatest instal is a relay close to the battery, with the switch wire to the relay taking power from the tail light (not the brake light); that way all the wiring is under the seat and neat. The power for accessories (eg heated hand grips) is still straight from the battery through the relay. I've done a few sets of heated grips that way, with no problems. Fuse between battery and relay. The newer Oxford heated grips with low voltage cut-off still drain enough to stop the bike starting before the handgrips cut-off (I found ) so they still need the relay. Should work for any accessory.

My 12V socket on the 12R runs off the park light + feed, fused, considering it is only drawing milliamps for the phone it is fine. I used a weatherproof socket and is ok tucked up behind the screen, but a good marine style plug socket would be better.. Took me all of 10 minutes to fit.

Always good to see some-one doing stuff for themselves, good work Wayno