Convert USB cable to power GPS?

[setasai]

I have like a gazillion USB to mini+micro USB cables but all of them cant charge a GPS by themselves. I also know you can purchase them premade but I really dont think making a DIY should cost more than $5 for resistors and stuff. I have a relay installed already so I would like to do some splicing and hardwire a mini USB cable to it as a charger.

Here's the wiring idea: battery --> relay w/ (+) and ground --> miniUSB cable

Anybody know what kind of wiring adjustments I need to make to the USB cable so that it can regulate 5v at preferably 1000mA? I know USB cables are usually 500mA but I believe garmin Nuvi's prefer 1000mA's to charge and navigate at the same time.

[ithaca00]

Check this out.

http://forums.ninja250.org/viewtopic...=usb+gps+cable

[setasai]

That's perfect. Thanks. I really didnt want to install a 12v or powerlet because I'd have the garmin car charger sticking out and powerlets are fairly expensive.

Anyone try something like this for the Nuvi series? I find that the nuvi doesnt like generic USB chargers and switch to PC/Data mode if I dont use the Garmin branded adapters. I believe it has to do with some resistor adjustment that the Nuvi's use to detect what's connected to it.

Also, they mention adding a heatsink to the voltage regulator, you think i'll have an issue with heat? Especially with the summers?

[setasai]

Sweet. So I followed the directions on that linked page. Pretty simple. Basically power coming from my relay to the voltage regulator and then out to the miniUSB cable to plug into the GPS.

I've seen a bunch of GPS mounts but only a few ideas on where to wire the power cable. I ended up feeding it through the mirror/windscreen mount. There is a small hole on both sides and after tightening the bolts, the wire is still loose. Only issue I have is the excess cable is capable of flopping around. I have some velcro securing it right now. Anybody have any better ideas?

[ithaca00]

ZIPTIES

Or i'm sure you have some extra wire ties (like on bread) lying around. I use velcro ties that I got at Radio Shack.

[setasai]

Originally Posted by ithaca00

ZIPTIES

Or i'm sure you have some extra wire ties (like on bread) lying around. I use velcro ties that I got at Radio Shack.

Zip ties wouldnt work because it has to be extended when plugged in. As for wire ties, it'd still be sliding around on top of the dash wouldnt it? I have velcro stuck to it right now so it doesnt flap around but I wonder if there is some sort of retractable apparatus I could use. That'd be neat.

[ithaca00]

Maybe something like this?

http://www.lanyardsupply.com/lanyard...-rt-33s-14.htm

[setasai]

Resurrecting an old thread.

So I tried to do this again on my KLR650 but it's not working. Power and the connections are fine but the stupid Garmin Nuvi switches to DATA mode on the KLR. On the Ninja, it works great and charges directly. The only difference I can tell is the USB cable I used is different. The one I used for the Ninja was an old one lying around the house, nothing special about it. The one i'm using for the KLR is new that I just bought from amazon.

The only other thing I can tell is in garmin's diagnostic screen, it says USB ID and USB type that is different.

Ninja250
USB ID: 0.00
USB type: type-A

KLR650
USB ID: 3.30
USB type: type-B

No clue what that means and no clue how to fix or change it. I suspect this is the reason why it's different.

I also am FULLY aware of the whole resistor thing that is floating around some other websites but the fact that it works without doing the resistor thing, means that we should be able to do it again.

Also, seeing as I dont recall doing a resistor thing for the first one, it should work somehow. I feel as though I would have mentioned it in my first report back when I did the ninja if there was a modification other than just wiring everything up.

Ideas guys?

[verboten1]

Best suggestion for USB power.


Blue sea usb outlet.

[setasai]

Originally Posted by verboten1

Best suggestion for USB power.


Blue sea usb outlet.

That doesn't solve the Garmin NUVI issue. Garmin automatically switching to data mode is a known "feature/issue" that requires a special cable with some sort of resistor blah blah blah thing in it. I'm trying to bypass that part. The USB plug itself isn't the problem. Thanks for the input though. Generic USB might be something I'll add if I can find a use for it.

[verboten1]

It's set up as power only. My zumo worked just fine on it. It's only the power lines, and as far as I can tell the data is shorted so it can use full power on anything i have plugged into it. Maybe the zumo is made different, I don't know. I'll try my nuvi when I get the new one on the tenere.

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by setasai

That doesn't solve the Garmin NUVI issue. Garmin automatically switching to data mode is a known "feature/issue" that requires a special cable with some sort of resistor blah blah blah thing in it. I'm trying to bypass that part. The USB plug itself isn't the problem. Thanks for the input though. Generic USB might be something I'll add if I can find a use for it.

http://pinoutsguide.com/GPS/garmin_n...r_pinout.shtml

Nuvi behavior depends on mini-USB plug connection. (IMHO) it is like this:
pin 4 not connected - data cable, nuvi connects to PC as removable drive, navigation NOT possible.
pin 4 & 5 short-circuited - USB supply 500mA, possible navigation,
pin 4 & 5 connected through 18kOhm resistor - Garmin supply 1A, possible navigation.
pin 4 & 5 connected through 22kOhm resistor - Garmin supply 500mA, possible navigation.

That's the mechanism that lets the Nuvi figure out what it's connected to. Just make the cable to give the Nuvi what it's looking for, and it'll always work correctly. It seems pointless to me to try to troubleshoot and come up with some workaround when the proper solution is just to add a 10¢ resistor.

Did you possibly use the Nuvi's original USB cable the first time? If so, it may have had the resistor already.


Also, they now sell this whole setup pre-made for <$15. Just hook up red and black to + and -, and you're good to go. Yes, it's more expensive, but it's still relatively cheap and Just Works™. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ISXXY8/

Or you can simply get/make a "Nuvi charging USB cable" with the resistor, and pair it with any of the 12V USB power ports that are available. This method has the benefit of providing a port to power anything that can be used with USB, and giving you a universal charging cable for your GPS that will work in any 1A USB port.