Direct wire to fuse box

 

I just bought a radar detector and Escort have a nice doodad to wire it directly to the fuse box.

https://www.escortradar.com/store/direct-wire-smartcord-blue...

Is there a similar item for the Garmins? As the cigarette lighter adapter has a fuse in it I'm assuming that this would be needed in the direct-to-fuse box solution too.

Any youtube video's or DIY pages anywhere?

thanks
paul

Probably not

pvoorn wrote:

Is there a similar item for the Garmins?

You would need to ask about your specific model but, in general, the answer is no.....because the power cord on a "typical" GPS drops the voltage from 12 to ~5 with some components IN one end of the power cord.

You can, however, wire an extra "cigarette lighter" plug directly to the fuse box and leave it behind the dash.

--
Magellan Maestro 4250// MIO C310X

DIRECT WIRE TO FUSE BLOCK

I ADDED AN EXTRA CIGARETTE LIGHTER PLUG WIRED TO THE FUSE BLOCK AND THEN PLUGGED IN THE GARMIN.....IT IS WIRED TO AN ACCESSORY TERMINAL, SO WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON THE GARMIN TURNS ON ALSO, AND VICE VERSA...

--
Fred Stelly

pvoorn, I wired my 680

pvoorn,

I wired my 680 directly to the fuse box via "add-a-circuit fuseholder tap" and cig lighter adapter. I used the supplied ac adapter and plugged it into the cig lighter adapter.

Check out this post in another forum on how I did it.
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2...

It has some pics and additional links for more clarification.

--
“It’s their world. We’re just living in it.”

Wow... you guys are FAST!

Thanks for the replies...

I also found

http://www.amazon.com/Gilsson-GUSB5V-B-Colorado-Magellan-Mot...

which I could find at gpsgeek for $16.95.

Seems like a pretty clean option (and less soldering required). Obviously the 'egg' remains in the way (a tradeoff... with the other solutions I have an extra cig-lighter somewhere). I'm going to have to look at the layout in my cars and work out which solution is best.

thanks for the responses!
paul

Really?

fstelly wrote:

... WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON THE GARMIN TURNS ON ALSO, AND VICE VERSA...

wink
Interesting wiring: I'd never seen that: A car that is turned on by the GPS unit ...

thanks for the link and pics

e_piph_a_ny wrote:

pvoorn,

I wired my 680 directly to the fuse box via "add-a-circuit fuseholder tap" and cig lighter adapter. I used the supplied ac adapter and plugged it into the cig lighter adapter.

Check out this post in another forum on how I did it.
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2...

It has some pics and additional links for more clarification.

I have a 2002 CR-V with the in dash map pocket, where I have mounted the dash disc on the "tailgate" style drop down door, and then use the windshield mount in an inverted position to mount to the disc.

This allows me to remove it from the disc, close the dash pocket door, and conceal that I have a GPS.

I am thinking that I can use your Ridgeline installation as a guide to do something similar through the back of the dash pocket.

But what about the traffic receiver?

--
— (Garmin nuvi 765T) — "people who say money can't buy happiness, don't know where to shop"

Traffic receiver

There's the rub! I've been looking for a cleaner installation for my 765t as well & even found a kit online with which I could hardwire. However, after I emailed the vendor regarding traffic, he admitted that I would lose it without the receiver so I'm in the process of doing a similar hook-up to e_piph_a_ny's (sure can't type that name fast) in my car.

Since I like the unit on mounted to the left side of my windshield, hated the wire draping across my speedometer & continually scraped my knuckles on the nuvi's traffic receiver whenever I shifted into either third or fifth gear, I decided to add a 12v outlet (purchased at Murray's for about $6) which will be tapped into either to the fuse box, using the method above, or directly to the existing cigarette lighter's wire. Since there's nowhere that I can drill into my lower dash to mount this outlet, because of vents, wiring etc. behind the panels, I'm simply going to velcro the outlet to my lower dash panel so that it's tucked out of sight. This way, I'm still using the traffic receiver & can take it to a different car if needed.

I'm just waiting for weather to rise above freezing to do it!

--
Not lost anymore. Well, not as it pertains to driving anyway. -Garmin Nuvi 765t, 56 unt Mac user.

But what about the traffic receiver?

jim8650 wrote:

I am thinking that I can use your Ridgeline installation as a guide to do something similar through the back of the dash pocket.

But what about the traffic receiver?

The 680 uses MSN Direct for traffic information. The traffic receiver is embedded in the garmin ac adapter and has no problems receiving a signal.

The only negative is if I wanted to use the 680 in another vehicle (i.e. rental car), I can either rely on the internal battery or buy another ac adapter with (mucho $$) or w/o the traffic receiver (not as much $$).

--
“It’s their world. We’re just living in it.”

thanks for the traffic adapter feedback

this might be a dumb question, but does the location of the adapter affect it's ability to receive the FM data signal?

in other words, say I mount a concealed adapter socket up under, and behind, my dash, plug the power/traffic adapter in there, and then bring the power cord through the back of my CR-V's dash pocket...will I get the same reception on the traffic adapter as I do now?...currently I have it connected to a typical dash cig socket.

--
— (Garmin nuvi 765T) — "people who say money can't buy happiness, don't know where to shop"

does the location of the adapter affect it's ability to receive

FWIW, I have not noticed any degradation in signal performance.

In my instance, the traffic transmitter is beneath the dash and about 12 inches from the fuse box which is mounted on the left side kick panel.

--
“It’s their world. We’re just living in it.”

Does location affect the FM data signal....

It can and will, but how much depends on your car, and where exactly you put it. Some might not see much at all....