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Fountain Inn, SC United States | I've fried 3 different GPS units (some of which have worked flawlessly for the last several years) on the Vision. All of them have been powered via the power outlet in the glovebox by different power cables. The units work fine for several days then at some point during the ride go dark and cannot be reset or resurrected. Garmin has replaced one of the units which I promptly fried again after 2 days of use.
I'm wondering if my bike is giving a voltage spike that then fries the units. The power cables for the units have inline fuses that are not burnt so the amps are within spec. I'm afraid to install a replacement gps until I identify & fix the problem.
Has anyone experienced this before?
Any suggestions on how to verify a voltage spike or other electrical anomaly?
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | I have heard of this with iPods as well. Could be the Voltage regulator. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I don't know the first thing about your problems but maybe radio shack might have something to wire in to prevent spikes.
I would check your regulator see if its grounded and pull the connector apart and clean it and check stator |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| Jeff,
Any possibility of calling Garmin and see if they have a record as to what was wrong with the one you sent in? A voltage spike won't pop the fuse in most cases. The load stays the same. On my 2011 the regulator failed which raised the voltage to over 16V on the gauge but it didn't knock my 660 out. The GPS should have some built in protection as well. I'm betting that Garmin can at least head you in the right direction based on what failed on the original unit. Sounds like a very frustrating problem.
Marc |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
Tifton, GA | Sometimes what many call a voltage spike is really AC voltage leaking through the regulator. A fuse only blows from the amps exceding the fuses rating and will not protect from the AC leaking through the requlator. The AC can burn up electronics or cause other electrical problems. I have not had any problems with my Vision, so I don't know where the regulator is located. You would need to check with a volt meter set for AC voltage at the output to see if this is your problem. |
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | I should add that the bike's volt meter has stayed right around +14 volts which is normal. I've also had an old iphone plugged into the multi-pin ipod connection continuously for the last 4months and it is fine. I would guess that any voltage spike would be felt throughout the electrical system.
Marc - Garmin doesn't elaborate on what happened to the unit I initially sent back, they just put a reconditioned on in the mail for me (one they received $180 and the old unit).
My friend suspects the power outlet but I've had other things plugged into it without problems.He suggests hard wiring into the electrical system.
I've used several gps power cables on the gps units that got fried so I can't say its a bad cable.
If it is a voltage issue, it's a momentary one so unless I happen to use a volt meter on it at the instant it spikes, I won't get an abnormal reading.
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | My gut says if there were voltage spikes or AC voltage getting past the regulator you would see other symptoms in the bikes electronics as well. We all have heard about how sensitive the ECM, radio and other electronic components on the bike can be to voltage problems. My guess is it may be a problem with the GPS connections to the bike itself. I don't know what that could entail, not knowing the nature of your harness connections, but if all other electronics including the IPod are functioning normal, and the GPS used to function normal in the past, this points me to the GPS mount and the harness connecting to the bike. Just my deductive reasoning. See what you think. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 228
| Is the polarity of your lighter plug correct? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Polarity should be correct if the Iphone worked fine.
Bad cable to GPS? have you tried a different cable?
Weak or damaged connector at one end of the GPS cable?
Iphone has a line filter or a better line filter?
Jim, our senior electronics engineer, had a new unit he completely design go up in flames the other day. O.o It worked fine for a while then poof. He figured out the circuit made by that company was made with a defect. Everyday i ask him if he needs a fire extinguisher now. I will ask him if he has any ideas. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Does the GPS have its own power cord that outputs less then 12 volts? Did this power come from the Vision as a lower voltage? Like a mini USB jack that would be 5 volts? If yes, when you changed GPS's did you change this cable? Maybe this cable or regulator is bad. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| The GPS runs on 12V line voltage and also has its own internal battery for when the GPS is off the bike.
Marc |
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Cruiser
Posts: 228
| Both my Garmins have internal batteries, plug into 12 vdc sockets, and have mini USB plugs on the GPS end. If you plug it in to your computer for updates, it uses USB voltage not 12 v. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Just a thought.
Since the GPS does not use much current one could wire a 12 Volt regulator in the line that goes to the UPS. That and a 100uf (or greater) electrolytic capacitor rated for 25volts (or higher) wired after the regulator will stop any spikes going to the GPS.
Edited by radioteacher 2011-08-03 11:01 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | radioteacher - 2011-08-03 11:00 AM Just a thought. Since the GPS does not use much current one could wire a 12 Volt regulator in the line that goes to the UPS. That and a 100uf (or greater) electrolytic capacitor rated for 25volts (or higher) wired after the regulator will stop any spikes going to the GPS. Dang, I was just gonna say that.... |
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Vision voltage spike?
