| Author | Message | ||
     Supertoon |
Been shopping and reading about the Zumo since it's release, finally broke down and got one! Nice machine, very slick and easy to use. Trip planning on the PC is a breeze. One fly in the ointment is the "security screw" I imagine this will be a bit fiddley and will eventually get lost. I think I will solder / splice into the 12v line to the cig. lighter and seal with heatshrink. This is where I need help, I don't think it is a good idea to splice into the ground however and am wondering if anybody has found a good grounding spot behind the flyscreen yet. | ||
| Bake |
My security screw lasted about a week, it fell off somewhere between here and California. | ||
| Pos90 |
I lost mine to,so I called Garmin and they sent me a replacement screw and screwdriver. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Supertoon, If you can find a black wire back there I wouldn't be afraid to use it with one of those ScotchLock T-Taps. Otherwise, I'd look for a metallic grounding point under a screw or bolt. That is rated a max of 15W at 13.8VDC, adding a 1 Amp draw to an exiting ground is not going to create any problems. On the security screw, if it does not have to be completely removed to get the zumo off the mount, try putting some non-hardening Permatex on the security screw to keep it from back out when unloaded. Teflon tape might work too. Jack (Message edited by jackbequick on August 27, 2007) (Message edited by jackbequick on August 27, 2007) | ||
| Stevem123 |
So just what is Yahoo doing with your Zumo????  LOL! Couldn't resist..... BC Steve | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Supertoon, where did you purchase yours from? | ||
| Sanchez |
I spliced into both the power and ground from my cigarette lighter, and I haven't had any problems. I'm not sure there really is anywhere to ground a connection in there without tapping another wire. Admittedly I didn't spent much time looking, but from what I could see, everything under the flyscreen was either aluminum or plastic. | ||
| Firstbatch |
Is there something wrong with using screws or bolts inside the aluminum fly screen housing as a ground? | ||
| Supertoon |
Thanks for the hints, will be getting into it this weekend. I know with car audio the ground is more important than the power and tapping into existing grounds is a big no-no. But I tend to agree with Jackbequick, think I will patch into the cig lighter ground. Joel,as I am in Canada I had the the choice to purchase in the states for about +/- $660.00 US , pay exchange and our 14.5 % tax at the border or buy from a specialized dealer near Montreal for $875.00. I opted for the Montreal guy as I didn't what any warranty hassels. Turned out to be a good choice I think, we spent about two hours playing with the thing and I learned alot! I am hoping in the long run this will be better than the "big-box" route! I am really getting forward to "getting lost" with this thing! | ||
| Teeps |
Just say no to scotch lock connectors. True, they work fine today; but sooner or later they will cause a problem. Best to use a butt splice, with heat shrink and dielectric sealant. I would not solder wires either unless strain relief is provided. Vibration can/will cause the wires to break at the end of the solder flow. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Teeps, Not arguing, but I could be enlightened a little. What are the problems? I've looked at those real hard. If you use the one that is the right size for your wiring, they displace the insulation but don't cut any strands. I popped one on to a piece of scrp about 10-15 times before I decided they were okay to use. And I should have said that I would not leave one hanging unsupported, I use cable ties or electrical tape to take the wirght off the wiring. I use dielectic compound on them too if they are in the weather. Haven't had a problem yet. Jack | ||
| Sanjuro |
I just got mine today from Amazon as well. ZUMO 450, a little over 600 with car adapter and lighter power adapter shipped. So far, it seems like an an easy interface. I too would be curious to hear any advice about the best way to hook this puppy up. | ||
| Bikesmark |
I saw the 550 Zumo on Costco for $680.00 shipped. I wouldn't hesitate to power it off the accessory socket on the bike provided that the power cord or the unit itself has its own fuse protection. Most of the cigarette lighter cords have a separate fuse so I assume garmin has thought of that with their "motorcycle power cord". As far as grounds go, I'd rather connect to the same ground that runs to whatever you're tapping to avoid overloading it with return current and would not use the frame or any other metal on this bike since the aluminum frame could become part of the circuit and cause huge trouble with electrolysis. | ||
| Teeps |
Jackbequick Posted on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 10:31 pm: Teeps, Not arguing, but I could be enlightened a little. What are the problems? You pretty much covered all the problems I have seen occur using Scotch-Locks. Wire cutting, corrosion, lack of strain relief. Your use, as stated, is the exception and not the rule. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Thanks Teep. I guess being a sweater about the details can pay off in the long run. But I'm always willing to see or hear of a better way. The zumo 550 and 450 both come with two power cables. One with bared pigtails for being wired in permanently (it is called the motorcycle cable) and the other has a cigarette lighter plug on it and is called the automobile cable. If you have one of the optional at extra cost ($160-$240) GTM-12 or GTM-20 traffic information receivers, it will look like a power cable in that is has a cigarette lighter plug on one end and power plug on the other. But the cigarette lighter plug is larger because it houses all the electronics for the receiver and the cable acts as the antenna for the receiver. If you cut the end off of a GTM-12 or GTM-20 in order to wire it in directly, you will have trashed the receiver. The regular, supplied with the unit, power only cables do not change the input voltage. Those feed whatever your car/bike voltage is (nominally 13.8VDC, actually more like 14.8 with the engine running) to the zumo and the zumo regulates the input voltage internally. Jack | ||
| Bake |
I ran the feed back to the fuse block and came off a fuse, the ground went to the frame. (Message edited by bake on August 29, 2007) |
