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 Hi all,

Following on from Allen's post of fitting an inverter under the seat of his Scarabeo 500ie to charge/power his laptop, I thought of doing something similar for a GPS unit.  My initial plan was to install a 12v socket under the seat and to plug in my Navman.  This could then transmit to a bluetooth headphone unit to give the voice directions, as an alternative to mounting the unit on the handlebars using a clamp fitting.

Has anyone successfully tried a GPS on a scooter or does the bounce pretty well prevent one from being able to read the screen?  Is the day glare too bright for the screen? My "solution" adds the cost of a bluetooth transmitter/receiver, around $200+, to that of the GPS, but you can still use the GPS system in the car when you need to.  Was a little worried too of what rain/dust would do to an exposed  GPS.  Oh yes and then there's theft.

Am still toying with the idea of taking big red Audrey up the East Coast to northern NSW, Sth QL'd, but it's hard consulting maps and street directories with two hands on the handlebars

I got the local Auto Electric place to put together a 30cm cable, with battery eyelets at one end, and a rubber capped 12v socket at the other.  Fitted easily, and tucks away neatly when not in use.  Before I started  looking at the range of bluetooth transmitter/receivers, thought I'd ask for feedback.

Taaaah, Mike

 i am looking at mounting a tomtom rider on the satelis. the importer is looking into the mounting arm from overseas as it is an accessory. the scooter already has a 12v socket in the glovebox.

an inverted on a scooter to power/charge a laptop? I don't think so. Scooter electrical systems are totally not designed for this kind of thing. Cars can hardly cope and they have much more serious electrical systems. Take into consideration the power draw of whatever you plug in. I guess you'll know fairly quickly whether the scooter can cope or not. The tomtom's are excellent, I have one in the car and I think it's great! They've mentioned they will be releasing their software/maps for the iPhone. I hope that happens. Then I'll have to rig up and iPhone mount on my scooter :)

JimmyLee77:

an inverted on a scooter to power/charge a laptop? I don't think so. Scooter electrical systems are totally not designed for this kind of thing.

 

Hey JimmyLee77,  Look at this posting:

http://www.scootercommunity.com.au/blogs/scarabeo_500/archive/2008/09/17/37232.aspx#38353

As Allen is using a very small amp device he successfully recorded 1.75 hrs with the scooter motor off.  Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction.

 

Mike

silverflyer:

 i am looking at mounting a tomtom rider on the satelis. the importer is looking into the mounting arm from overseas as it is an accessory. the scooter already has a 12v socket in the glovebox.

Thanks Silverflyer.  The Scarabeo also has a 12v socket in the glove box, but I wasn't sure how the electronics would stand up to the bounce and jarring coming through the handle bars.  I presume this is greater than what one would expect on the dash or windscreen of a car.  Will be good to hear how your tomtom mounting arm works out, both for viewing and robustness.  I think it would be cheaper to get a specific mounting arm than a bluetooth transmitter/receiver.

Taaaah,  Mike

 I believe there is a specific scooter GPS being launched in Australia soon by Garmin. Now I dont know too much about it at this stage but yours truely is getting one to live with for a while. I think this will retail for around $495 and is scooter specific. Now from what I hear its supposed to have some universal mounts.

So i will soon have this and cover it. By everything ive heard the garmin Zumo(i think thats the name) system is the dearest yet by far the best. I will be able to give you feedback shortly from just using my everyday navman that is used in the car for my trip to the GP. Its going to run off the charger in the front of the scarabeo and then go in the clear plastic to cover of my tunnel bag. Its see through so I can see everything in it including the Navman so I will let you know how this goes

 the inverter ive plugged into the scarabeo is really an emergency and back for me to use on the scooter. Nothing adverse has happened as yet and the inverter I got was rated at 300.

So it comes with a guide to the current drawer of appliances you can run and a camera or a laptop tend to be on the lower side of pulling power. Would never consider running a TV etc off it but it seems to be fine to charge my camera or phone etc if needed. 

allen:

I will be able to give you feedback shortly from just using my everyday navman that is used in the car for my trip to the GP. Its going to run off the charger in the front of the scarabeo and then go in the clear plastic to cover of my tunnel bag. Its see through so I can see everything in it including the Navman so I will let you know how this goes

 

Hey, that's a good solution, Allen.  The glove box 12v socket will be close, you'll be able to see the screen through the clear plastic cover and you have the ability to cushion the Navman from jarring, with clothing or whatever.  Will look forward to hearing about the Garmin setup.

Taaah,  Mike

 Here is my setup, awaiting a helmet mounted bluetooth transceiver for an underseat gps.

      
This is the socket connection as it sits under the seat.       Here is a close up, with cap off, showing inline fuse.   
Note the small harness for smart battery charger as well.


    
Showing inside the socket with protective cap removed.     Finally, here is the connection to the battery.

ciao,  Mike

here is the review that i did of the Scala bluetooth connection i use for my GPS... http://www.scootercommunity.com.au/forums/p/6378/31978.aspx#31978

I have the tomtom Rider unit and it comes with a bracket and u bolt that fixes to your handle bar tubing. There is just enough space beside the side mirror mount (about 1cm) to mount the bracket. The rider comes with its own mounting arm with 2 ball joints that is easily removed and put under the seat etc if you are away from the scooter. The kit also comes with wiring that you connect directly to the scooter battery and it plugs into the bottom of the rider unit, (I have fed this through into the glovebox of my scooter where it gets stored while not in use.

As for vibration issues, its not a problem. You do get a bit of screen glare but I dont find it to be too bad. It works perfectly with my blueant handsfree too.

51NAH:

I have the tomtom Rider unit and it comes with a bracket and u bolt that fixes to your handle bar tubing. As for vibration issues, its not a problem. It works perfectly with my blueant handsfree too.

 

Thanks 51NAH.  I take it that you look at the screen as well as listen to the instructions via blueant?  Am hoping that just the instructions will be ok.

miketl:

51NAH:

I have the tomtom Rider unit and it comes with a bracket and u bolt that fixes to your handle bar tubing. As for vibration issues, its not a problem. It works perfectly with my blueant handsfree too.

 

Thanks 51NAH.  I take it that you look at the screen as well as listen to the instructions via blueant?  Am hoping that just the instructions will be ok.

Yes I do look at the screen too, to see how many streets ahead before my turn (it "tells" you a couple of times how far before your turn) and also if traveling at speed sometimes the tomtom doesnt quite keep up with telling you to turn (ie: highway exits, but if you listen well and get in the lanes it tells you to its generally fine)

It also beeps at you to warn you of redlight cameras. When in Brissie with sets of light svery close together it helps to look at the screen as it shows the exact distance you are from the camera.

Its a good little system, I took me a while to learn how to program a few things but now all  good!!

Hi All

         Mike I hope I'm wrong but you may have to run an external antenna for the gps as I fear the covers and such when it is under the seat will affect the signal adversly.   I know they dont work under tree's and in cars under the roof . 

                                    Regards Mark

 I did some trips around Canberra with my N95 8 Gig strapped in under the seat, I had no issues, but If I am going too fast for it, you sometimes get funny instructions like turn left in 20 m, just after you make the left turn, no different than being in the car some times..

 

I have no issue with the accuracy.

 

Wade