hardwire a portable GPS
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Tigard, OR
hardwire a portable GPS
It was about 15 years ago that I hardwired a radar detector to one of my old cars. Now I want to do the same for my portable GPS but I can't remember how I did it. What's the best way without frying anything? I'm guessing I'd have to cut off the peice that goes into the power port or cigarette lighter and then connect it to the fuse box somewhere, but which wires go where. I want to make sure it has power even when the truck is off.
One of the reasons I want to do this is because every time I start the truck up the GPS reboots. Doesn't matter if i'm plugged into the powerport or the cig lighter. I want the GPS to stay on all the time.
One of the reasons I want to do this is because every time I start the truck up the GPS reboots. Doesn't matter if i'm plugged into the powerport or the cig lighter. I want the GPS to stay on all the time.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Utah County, UT
Sounds to me like you are going to need some type of back up power for your GPS, when you turn the truck over it is causing a drop in voltage, probably enough to shut the gps off. One thing you might try is to get a small battery isolator and a second battery to run the GPS and any other accessories.
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Webster, NY
I keep a set of batteries in my GPS, when it detects that the truck's power is gone (cigarette lighter is on all the time in my Mountaineer) during turning on or other quick times then it just defaults back to batteries for that short time. You do not even need really good batteries as the amount of time it needs to run on them is mininal.
In order to do what you are looking to do with the wiring you will need to find a source of uninterrupted power that you can tap into after the fuse box. Or if you were really inclined you could run a wire all the way to the positive terminal on the battery (just be sure that you fuse it close to the battery if you do). But I think it would be easier to find a power lead inside the cabin that does not go off with the key. For the ground there are a bunch of points you could use.
In order to do what you are looking to do with the wiring you will need to find a source of uninterrupted power that you can tap into after the fuse box. Or if you were really inclined you could run a wire all the way to the positive terminal on the battery (just be sure that you fuse it close to the battery if you do). But I think it would be easier to find a power lead inside the cabin that does not go off with the key. For the ground there are a bunch of points you could use.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Tigard, OR
Thanks for the replies/suggestions. The GPS doesn't take batteries, unfortunetly. I think I'll just go the hardwire route to and plug 'er into the fuse box. I don't plan on adding a lot of other (if any) accessories so I think that may be the cheapest route.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
You know, these other guys have a point I think. Most cigarette lighter circuits are on all the time. I would double check this(I guess the GPS works with the ignition off in the cigarette lighter port?). If the GPS is that sensitive to voltage drop, then wiring it into the fuse box may not help your re-booting problem.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Tigard, OR
Originally Posted by Franklin2
You know, these other guys have a point I think. Most cigarette lighter circuits are on all the time. I would double check this(I guess the GPS works with the ignition off in the cigarette lighter port?). If the GPS is that sensitive to voltage drop, then wiring it into the fuse box may not help your re-booting problem.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Utah County, UT
ready for you 5 dollar isolator? What you need is an electronic store, not radio shack, doubt they would have one any way, you need one that carries electrical components. Find a diode, limits current flow in one direction, that is rated for probably around 5 amps continuous. They are normally black with a silver/white line on one side of it. Find a point to tap you power off of, make sure and put a fuse inline, 5 amps would be my recomendation, the diode oreintates so that the line is facing the + terminal on AUX battery, if it is the other direction, you'll be using the aux battery to aid the vehicle battery.
Either at the electronics store or a specialized battery store. find a little 12V battery, like 2 Ahr or so, should only be like 1x3x4 (WxHxL). Wire this battery in parallel with your 12V constant source, making sure to orientate the diode correctly.
The diode should be much more than a couple of buck, the battery probably around 10. I'd shop for the battery that you like and would think would be the easiest to mount in a secure location.
Either at the electronics store or a specialized battery store. find a little 12V battery, like 2 Ahr or so, should only be like 1x3x4 (WxHxL). Wire this battery in parallel with your 12V constant source, making sure to orientate the diode correctly.
The diode should be much more than a couple of buck, the battery probably around 10. I'd shop for the battery that you like and would think would be the easiest to mount in a secure location.
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Utah County, UT
Forgot to mention that you are going to want a fuse after that AUX battery as well, this setup is only going to work for very low current applications, i.e. determined by the size of DIODE you find.
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