GPS wiring question

[KayakGuy]

Just wondering if anyone with expertise can answer this question: My Garmin Zumo 396 is wired from the mount to the battery on my AK550. The GPS can be removed from the mount, but the mount cannot be removed from the bike without detaching the wire, which is not a quick job to do. Can the wire be cut near the mount and a quick disconnect/connect adapter be attached to the ends of the wires so the GPS AND mount can be removed from the bike quickly? If so, what type of connector would work?

The 396 doesn't last long running on just the battery, so it really needs to be wired. I just would like to be able to remove the whole thing at certain times for security reasons.

Thanks...

[rjs987]

That should be entirely possible. It is a 2 wire cable to the mount. I have done something similar on several bikes. For a 2 wire system in this case I would go with a SAE connector with a weather cap for the end that stays on the scooter. A GPS unit is not a very high power device so 18 gage is as big as would be needed for this. Here is a good option from Amazon that includes the weather caps for both ends for when not connected. The wires can be cut shorter but I wouldn't go too short. These comes as 12 inches but don't cut shorter than 6 inches for each one. You can always pull the extra length back inside the panels of the bike.

https://www.amazon.com/SAE-Quick-Connector-Disconnect-Plug/dp/B07CPXDFK9/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3AQP09ZGPPDA5&keywords=sae%2Bconnector%2B18%2Bawg&qid=1648310895&sprefix=sae%2Bconnector%2B18awg%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-5&th=1

Big thing to remember doing this is that the "hot" wire coming from the battery should get the covered pin of the SAE connector and the ground wire should be exposed. It would be the opposite for the cable coming from the GPS mount. Battery positive is always the covered pin.

Best method is to strip about a half inch of insulation on each end of each wire being careful not to nick the strands, then interlock the strands and twist together, then solder the connection and cover with heat shrink insulation. Slip the heat shrink insulation on the wire before putting the ends together.

If you don't do solder I would suggest using Posi-Lock connectors. You only need to strip about 1/4 to 3/8 inch using these and they work very well and make for an easy reliable connection. I would also cover these with heat shrink insulation since they really are not weather proof. You should be able to use a single slightly larger length of heat shrink insulation to cover both Posi-Lock connectors together. Also make sure you slip the heat shrink onto the cable before completing the connection since it is not likely to fit over the SAE connector.

https://www.amazon.com/Posi-Lock-Connectors-18-24-gauge-600/dp/B00HT9XJLW/ref=sr_1_18?crid=31ZMYQZHPQURP&keywords=posi+lock+wire+connectors+18ga&qid=1648311539&sprefix=posi+lock+wire+connectors+18+ga%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-18

[KayakGuy]

Big thing to remember doing this is that the "hot" wire coming from the battery should get the covered pin of the SAE connector and the ground wire should be exposed. It would be the opposite for the cable coming from the GPS mount. Battery positive is always the covered pin.

Thanks for the reply. On the Amazon reviews a user noted "So when you put a positive in this it goes into the black wire. When you put the negative into this it comes out the red wire." I assume this is what you are referring to here??

[rjs987]

Thanks for the reply. On the Amazon reviews a user noted "So when you put a positive in this it goes into the black wire. When you put the negative into this it comes out the red wire." I assume this is what you are referring to here??

This should help. This is the Battery Tender cable I put on to replace the one the dealer put in. I needed bigger wires and fuse. But you won't need the bigger wires or fuses. The way to wire it up is the same however.

I guess I didn't look closely enough at the one I linked to. That set of SAE connectors is designed for the device side and not the battery side. You can ignore the wire color as long as the covered pin on the battery side is wired as the positive side.

[rjs987]

This one has the right colors for both ends because it is an extension cord for SAE connections. You can cut the wires at about 6-12 inches for each connector and one will be right for the battery side connector and one will be right for the GPS mount connector as what I show in my photo above. It does cost a little more but still not bad and gives you the right color to the right pin.


https://www.amazon.com/Connector-Disconnect-Motorcycle-Automotive-Extension/dp/B07D484NP5/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2REDQDHLZS9QI&keywords=sae%2Bconnector%2B18%2Bawg&qid=1648325679&sprefix=sae%2Bconnector%2B18%2Bawg%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-9

[KayakGuy]

This one has the right colors for both ends because it is an extension cord for SAE connections. You can cut the wires at about 6-12 inches for each connector and one will be right for the battery side connector and one will be right for the GPS mount connector as what I show in my photo above. It does cost a little more but still not bad and gives you the right color to the right pin.

Thanks again. I think I will try this soon. It will be nice to be able to remove the whole mount when I need to.