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Advice please

7.4K views 16 replies 14 participants last post by  Vernier650  
#1 ·
Need a USB outlet for gen 3 dash. How sells such and does it require wiring change or is it plug and play?
 
#2 ·
If you want the original Kawa parts:


and also this


Or have a look online for a USB kit. I know SW Motech makes a nice USB kit that connects to the battery, Or have a look at Aliexpress offerings.
 
#6 ·
Original USB outlet are to expensive, you can have USB outlet for 1/5 price of original, and even more cheaper

For example,
I have this USB outlet from aliexpress:


You need to buy relay which @Kevinj add in link in second post. Without relay your accessories like heated grips, fog light, USB outlet will not work. You need only 1 relay for all of that.
Also avoid to connect accessories directly to battery, it will drain your battery.

Also here is video to see how to do that job:

 
#7 ·
The easiest and cheapest is probably just to pigtail a connector onto the battery. I have a short 1ft cable that screws onto the battery terminal and an SAE connector on the other end. I can then plug any number of accessories into the SAE connector, such as a battery tender or a USB power plug.

While riding I plug in the USB power plug and then run the cable into my tank bag to power my phone or other devices.

No cutting, no drilling. The pigtails come with a built in fuse. As dddd said, the USB device will suck power all the time, so it has to be on a switched circuit, or if you use a pigtail like I do, make sure to disconnect the USB adapter when the engine is off.

If you want power on the dashboard for sure, you can get longer pigtails, but at that point it would be easier just to use the factory wiring. The relay is super easy to plug into the existing socket behind the instrument cluster. Pull out the plug in the hole in the dashboard, and install the USB outlet. Sometimes there is a problem with whatever is plugged into the outlet interfering with the handlebars.
 
#11 ·
FYI , the optional wiring in the MK-3 actually has a keyed power source in the front of the bike, if you are that cheap, you can use the coil circuit which is fused at 5 amp. The wiring for the relay only enables the additional wiring for the fog lights or heated grips. Why you would not spend a minimum of $6 for a relay is beyond me. Also if it is strictly for a USB outlet, you could use the city light circuit.
 
#12 ·
If you have the aux relay (maybe you have the stock aux lights?) then you can get a 12v socket usb on amazon and connect it to the original wiring (either you make an harness with barrel-style connectors or you simply cut the original connectors and make your own). AUX circuit is limited to 5A total (just FYI).

I would buy the usb from Blue Sea Systems (quality stuff), you can find it on Amazon.

If you don't have the original AUX relay, I would suggest getting it, it's $25 and solves a lot of issues, otherwise you need to buy your own and wire it (not difficult but why bother?)
 
#17 · (Edited)
I agree it makes most sense to buy the relay, doesn't need to be the original one. What I will add is that if you are using hand guard like barkbusters (or intend to in the future) The hand guards interfere with whatever you have plugged into the socket. I have damaged numerous chargers and cables and now intend to mount the charger inside the cover (somewhere near the relay) and only have the usb cable coming out to my phone.
I am still trying to figure out a way to keep the usb c-type connector protected when not in use