Adding power to the saddlebags... without a plug. (Finished!)

[reh8388]

Hey guys,

I added a USB charging port to the front glovebox the other day and it works great, but it got me thinking about when I take a long trip in a couple weeks... What happens if I need to charge one of my other devices that either won't fit in the glovebox, or I just don't want it in there?

Well I decided I should add a 12V socket to one or both of the saddlebags. The problem is then I have a wire connecting my saddlebag to my bike, and I know me... I would break the wire the first time I removed the bag and forgot the connector was there. So, that meant I had to get power to the saddlebag without adding any steps to the current removal of the saddlebags. (Put key in -> pick up handle -> saddlebag off)

The basic idea is that I will use spring pins to make contact with the saddlebag when it is mounted. The spring pin allows the saddlebags to be removed and reinstalled exactly the same as if the contacts weren't there.

There are basically 3 parts to this project:

1. Power from the bike to a point that will contact the saddlebag.

2. A contact point on the saddlebag that will make contact with part 1 and deliver power to the saddlebag

3. A waterproof (or nearly) method of getting the wires into the saddlebag and to a cleanly mounted 12V socket.

So far I have the concept for part 1 figured out and a prototype done and I am not in the process of figuring out part 2. Unfortunately it is going to rain all weekend so I won't get to ride, but fortunately for this project, that means I should have part 2 figured out soon.

This is what I have come up with so far. I ordered some threaded spring-pins from McMaster and an extra saddlebag bracket from eBay. I mounted the spring-pins last night and am very pleased with the function and I put the pins when I remove and reinstall the saddlebag.





I will update this thread as I complete more of the project. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will be finished up with everything and will start testing it out on the bike to see what sorts of things vibration and rain will do to the system.

[B.D.F.]

Now that right there is a fantastic idea!

I had thought of doing something similar using a magnetic mount power tap, such as those used on Apple laptops, the Windows Surface, etc. but eventually I believe they would corrode enough to fail. Your spring loaded idea is much better I think because it will maintain some force between the contacts and continuously wipe away grime.

By the way, this is the same system used on things like some rear entry (easy boys!) doors on SUV's with great success.

Please let us know how this all turns out.

Brian

Hey guys,

<snip>

This is what I have come up with so far. I ordered some threaded spring-pins from McMaster and an extra saddlebag bracket from eBay. I mounted the spring-pins last night and am very pleased with the function and I put the pins when I remove and reinstall the saddlebag.





I will update this thread as I complete more of the project. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will be finished up with everything and will start testing it out on the bike to see what sorts of things vibration and rain will do to the system.

[RBX QB]

Check out the posts of MGValerio on this site... I think he did something similar for speakers in the saddlebags.

If you can get a good translation from Italian, he's got some rather clever ideas posted in these halls.

[reh8388]

Now that right there is a fantastic idea!

I had thought of doing something similar using a magnetic mount power tap, such as those used on Apple laptops, the Windows Surface, etc. but eventually I believe they would corrode enough to fail. Your spring loaded idea is much better I think because it will maintain some force between the contacts and continuously wipe away grime.

By the way, this is the same system used on things like some rear entry (easy boys!) doors on SUV's with great success.

Please let us know how this all turns out.

Brian

Brian,

Thanks for the compliment. Corrosion is obviously my biggest enemy for all of this. The spring pins are 100% brass and the contacts on the saddlebag will also be brass in an attempt to limit the corrosion. That being said, I will still have to clean them up every year or so.

[B.D.F.]

Well, the  in automotive use they are not that fussy: my brother did buy a Suburban that the rear door contacts did not work. After using abrasives to clean them and getting them all working, I just spread a smear of axle grease across the entire strip of contacts and they have been working consistently for years (maybe 8 or 9 years?). So given just a touch of grease, I think they will work very reliably for you over the long haul.

The biggest asset is the movement / vibration of the contacts themselves. It makes them sort of self- cleaning. Especially on the saddlebags as they move against the bike slightly- enough to keep them clean but not enough to wear them too quickly I believe. I think this is going to work very well for you because it is a great design; not too delicate like, say, GPS contacts, nor too clunky.

And by the way, it is ideas like this, shared across the collective of all Concours owners, that make these forums great IMO.

Brian

Brian,

Thanks for the compliment. Corrosion is obviously my biggest enemy for all of this. The spring pins are 100% brass and the contacts on the saddlebag will also be brass in an attempt to limit the corrosion. That being said, I will still have to clean them up every year or so.

[reh8388]

Check out the posts of MGValerio on this site... I think he did something similar for speakers in the saddlebags.

If you can get a good translation from Italian, he's got some rather clever ideas posted in these halls.

I skimmed through his posts but only saw pictures of the speakers in one post and that was in regards to a saddlebag retention system he had added. Maybe he will stop by this thread and share what he did.

[The Pope]

 

Interesting, very interesting.......

[JS_racer]

http://www.amazon.com/Upgrade-9000mAh-External-Technology-Smartphones/dp/B00DMWV3EU/ref=sr_1_20?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1399734398&sr=1-20

something like this ?? they have lots of other ones as well. this has two ports.
not as slick as the direction of the op

[MGvaleri]

I have 12 volts in each bag and trunk type contatto.Io I can make video clips, write not understand due to translation.

A contatto nel bauletto.
http://youtu.be/PWHQDCHullM

2 contatti luci interne,2 contatti x STOP al baueletto aggiuntivo.2 contacts interior lights, 2 x STOP to contact additional trunk.


2 birds with one stone.
http://youtu.be/FwUvPgYEWK4

Easiest way to get 12 volts on the stock exchanges of the contact type.


Other types contact still work after 6 years.
http://youtu.be/k2m_8pyfBhA

OFF TOPIC
http://youtu.be/92lwHUx6UQI
MGvalerio

[Stephen.Stallebrass]

2 contacts interior lights, 2 x STOP to contact additional trunk.

Easiest way to get 12 volts on the stock exchanges of the contact type.

MGvalerio, I would love to see a tutorial on how you did all that.

[UncleEd]

Keep thinking/tinkering guys your almost there...  Looking forward to testing finished results.

[Classvino]

..... I ordered some threaded spring-pins from McMaster and an extra saddlebag bracket from eBay. I mounted the spring-pins last night and am very pleased with the function and I put the pins when I remove and reinstall the saddlebag.


......

Won't you also need some kind of cut-off in-line to prevent the pins from being powered if/when the bags aren't in place? (This might not be a big issue if you never ride with the bags off...)   It's only 12v, so safety isn't an issue, but you'd be blowing fuses if it got shorted by weather or accidental contact with any sort of conductor...

Some sort of reed switch, or Hall effect sensor, with a magnet mounted on/in the saddlebag might work...  Then, when the bag wasn't mounted, the pins wouldn't be powered...  Not sure where you'd mount it though - maybe at the bottom, behind the passenger pegs?

Just thinking out loud - I like this, and am watching with interest...

Jamie

[reh8388]

Won't you also need some kind of cut-off in-line to prevent the pins from being powered if/when the bags aren't in place? (This might not be a big issue if you never ride with the bags off...)   It's only 12v, so safety isn't an issue, but you'd be blowing fuses if it got shorted by weather or accidental contact with any sort of conductor...

Some sort of reed switch, or Hall effect sensor, with a magnet mounted on/in the saddlebag might work...  Then, when the bag wasn't mounted, the pins wouldn't be powered...  Not sure where you'd mount it though - maybe at the bottom, behind the passenger pegs?

Just thinking out loud - I like this, and am watching with interest...

Jamie

Hey Jamie,

You have a very good point about blowing a fuse if I were to have a something conductive connect the two terminals. I think the addition of a reed switch is a great idea especially if this were to be a more commercially available system (liability and all that).

For my own bike I am not worried about running these on all the time simply because of their location. Being inside the bracket the way they are it would be very difficult to accidentally get something to contact both pins. Definitely possible, but very unlikely.

As far as weather shorting the pins, water, especially rain water (not salt water) is actually a pretty bad conductor in low voltage/low current situations such as this setup. Also, the location of the pins plays into my favor. Since they are mounted into a surface that is almost completely vertical with nothing to catch and hold the water against the pins. And since I don't plan on driving my motorcycle into the ocean any time soon I should be good to go.

But who knows, you might see me talk about adding a cut-off switch in the future, and if I do I will be sure to give you credit.

[MGvaleri]

Just thinking out loud - I like this, and am watching with interest...

Jamie
[/quote]
.
http://youtu.be/RzGBi2sfRwE

MGvalerio.

[VirginiaJim]

I knew you'd chime in at some point! 

[stevewfl]

great thread

[B.D.F.]

Hey, it looks like you really..... wait for it..... nailed that one!

Brian

.
http://youtu.be/RzGBi2sfRwE

MGvalerio.

[MGvaleri]

Hey, it looks like you really..... wait for it..... nailed that one!

Brian

http://youtu.be/mBEz4Jx9jJI

MGvalerio.

[Stephen.G.Fiddes]

Just thinking out loud - I like this, and am watching with interest...

Jamie

.
http://youtu.be/RzGBi2sfRwE

MGvalerio.

Im going to be doing something similar soon by putting an LED light into my pelican case trunk. That never comes off tho so it will be hard-wired in. Also putting some other charging equipment in there as well to charge my camera equipment and phone etc.


For the good of the order, look up "Anderson Power Poles".   Theyre pretty popular in robotics, and ham radio, and Im really surprised they haven't taken on more in the automotive world for their simplicity and reliability.

[reh8388]

Im going to be doing something similar soon by putting an LED light into my pelican case trunk. That never comes off tho so it will be hard-wired in. Also putting some other charging equipment in there as well to charge my camera equipment and phone etc.


For the good of the order, look up "Anderson Power Poles".   Theyre pretty popular in robotics, and ham radio, and Im really surprised they haven't taken on more in the automotive world for their simplicity and reliability.

Anderson power poles are popular where you need to deliver high current... and no other signals. The large connectors of their SB series are used in a lot of industries but they are for power connections only. The individual power poles that you can assemble into basically as many poles as you want or need aren't used in industry because they are very labor intensive to put together on a production scale and the physical size of the connector is very large compared to other connectors that are rated for the same current. Also without getting into the debate of sealed vs unsealed, the fact is ultimately most manufactures use sealed connectors and the power poles are not a sealed connector.

For projects and hobbyists they are a great connector since they are configurable if you need to change something. I personally prefer to use more compact connectors because on my bike I wont be pulling more than 5 amps (worst case) through any connection I add.