Wojo72 Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I have gotten into the habit of using my phone and ear buds while riding in my short 300 miles of seat time. I haven't wandered too far from home yet but I expect that I'll want to use Google maps while out and about. What do you folks use to charge your phones while riding? 1) There is a wire under the tank cover that I can use to hook up a charger. I keep my phone in my pocket instead of a mount so this probably won't work well. I also don't know how much it will cost to rig this up. I'm guessing about $45 from what I have seen on a few forums. 2) Portable Charger - I've used this in the past for other circumstances. I can pick one up that will charge my phone several times before needing to be plugged in. I have a small one that is AWOL in the house. Are there any other options that haven't occurred to me? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smccrory Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I charge my phone on the bike, but I also take a portable charger with me on weekend camping trips. I have an "Ion 10" from Octopod (a buddy and fellow motorcyclist owns the Hilliard-based company) and it'll charge my iPhone 6 a couple times over, which is all I need between access to AC. It'll fit easily into a pocket and keep your phone charged through a long day of riding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Hellmutt bought me a power bank, you charge it then it charges the phone (up to 2xs). I love it, its a little bigger than my phone (razor). It works great and I no longer need power when I need to charge. I recharge the box as needed and I still charge my phone nightly. I can still use my phone while the bank charges it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo72 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I think that this is the route that I am going to go. Maybe get one of the 10K units and call it good. Hellmutt bought me a power bank, you charge it then it charges the phone (up to 2xs). I love it, its a little bigger than my phone (razor). It works great and I no longer need power when I need to charge. I recharge the box as needed and I still charge my phone nightly. I can still use my phone while the bank charges it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 (edited) It works great, my phone doesn't hold a charge for very long (or I use it to much). This has beeh a huge help and I absolutely love it. I was on my phone all day yesterday, I used the bank twice but never had to plug in. I charged only the phone last night and I am using the bank for a 3rd time now. Edited January 4, 2015 by snot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vf1000ride Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 When on the Triumph I have a powerlet adapter and just charge the phone right off the bike. When on the Ducati I have a 4000ma battery pack charger. It will keep the phone fully charged for about 2.5-3hrs with the GPS and screen running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smccrory Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 It works great, my phone doesn't hold a charge for very long (or I use it to much). This has beeh a huge help and I absolutely love it. I was on my phone all day yesterday, I used the bank twice but never had to plug in. I charged only the phone last night and I am using the bank for a 3rd time now. Note that if you have an Android phone, you might be able to replace the battery for really cheap. It's a little tougher with an Apple phone, but is also doable if you're handy with small screwdrivers or take it to a "phone doctor" place in town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I have a new phone on order. But, I might change the battery in this one later. If don't like the new one, I will switch back. I also, keep my last phone just in case... I washed 2 of hellmutts phones in the same week once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoop Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Any GPS systems seem to eat power like crazy. I like to use CoPilot since the maps are preloaded which will save data use. This might be more involved than you were looking for, but I installed a cig lighter/USB socket in a tank bag then connected it to the battery using a 12-volt connector that came with my battery tender. The tank bag is a SW-Motech that mounts to a ring on the tank cap so that it never touches the paint on the tank. This version of the tank bag has a clear window - touch screen film so you can mount the phone in the bag, connected to the power and still see it, and use the screen. I found the cig/USB adapter at WalMart in the RV section. It looks sort of like the one in the link below but only has one cigarette socket, does not have the male socket end (the unit I found was direct wire) and it cost less. Also, It is made to be mounted to a dash, or in this case to the baseboard of the tank bag. http://www.amazon.com/adapter-cigarette-lighter-splitter-MRS152UV/dp/B003RQBKLC Then I needed to extend the wires to get to the tender connector to the battery so I got an extension like the following, but at Autozone - also in the RV section. http://www.amazon.com/CES-Gauge-Quick-Disconnect-Harness/dp/B0057ZQJ12/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1420409266&sr=8-3&keywords=12+Volt+Connectors I use a Sena SMH10R headset in my helmet which uses Bluetooth so I don't need any wires to the helmet. I got that mainly to have intercom with the wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinNck1 Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Well if you have a battery tender pigtail, they just released a usb adapter. I got mine at iron pony for 10 bucks. Here: http://www.batterytender.com/Accessories/USB-Charger-QDC.html 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadyone Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 Sweet!!! Nice find. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) Well if you have a battery tender pigtail, they just released a usb adapter. I got mine at iron pony for 10 bucks.Here: http://www.batterytender.com/Accessories/USB-Charger-QDC.htmlThis is what I use, as a bonus its a 2.1 amp charger. I ran the wire under my tank to my xgrip phone holder on my handlebar. Keeps charged all day long, and that's with using GPS and streaming music with occasional phone call through my senaThey aren't just released I've had mine for over a year and a half. Edited January 5, 2015 by 2talltim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoop Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Yes, nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2talltim Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) Here is the best deal you will find on them with free shipping. http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=221630843591&alt=web Edited January 5, 2015 by 2talltim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoblick Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) I have a 6.5" touch screen nav built into my bike, so i have no problems ???? Edited January 5, 2015 by Hoblick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smccrory Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 I have a 6.5" touch screen nav built into my bike, so i have no problems [emoji39]Hmm, I have a much bigger TV in front of MY couch... ;-P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cdubyah Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Well if you have a battery tender pigtail, they just released a usb adapter. I got mine at iron pony for 10 bucks. Here: http://www.batterytender.com/Accessories/USB-Charger-QDC.html Also what I use. Don't have a mount for anything, just store my cell in my stoarge area.Charges my cell pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 I found a USB power port on Amazon for $20 that I wired to my battery. Mounted the USB port to my handlebars, and when the phone needs juice, I plug it in and drop it in the windshield bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 I use a power station in my tankbag. 3 power ports and 2 USB ports. I can simultaneously run the GPS, charge both our phones, and still have spare power sources. Wired straight from the Battery Tender tether, just plug and play. Cheap enough, around $20 last year iirc.Here's a link, but dont buy direct - they can be found much cheaper elsewhere onlinehttp://www.eklipes.com/EK1-214 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUBIE Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 I just bought a cellphone and gps adapter w a female end 12v adapter from iron pony... $20...it plugs right into the harness of your battery tender pigtail...super easy and very user friendly...I can charge my phone or Ghost HD in the tank bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUBIE Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 It's by "Eklipes" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUBIE Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Part # is - EK1-108 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo72 Posted January 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Earlier this week I picked up a KMASHI 10000mAh MP816 from Amazon for less than $14. That should be enough to charge my phone 3 times while out on the road. Hopefully it works as advertised. I'll just stick it in a pocket of whatever jacket I am wearing. My son and I can also use it to charge tablets when travelling. If I end up hard wiring a charger to my bike it won't go to waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smccrory Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Wojo72 that's a great price for a 10Ah charger! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo72 Posted January 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 (edited) I haven't tried it yet so I can't comment on how well it works. Here is the link just in case anybody wants to take a gamble on a cheap portable charger. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JM59JPG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Edited January 17, 2015 by Wojo72 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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