Ok guys, i got A GPS, and i wanted to know if anyone Can help me install it "permanently". I want to hardwire it. It came with an assessory socket power plug, is there any way i can cut that end off and install it to power and ground? Would i need to install an inline fuse & holder? How can i hook it into the underdash fuse block in my 92 honda prelude? Let me know what u guys think!

 

cell phone ? or a real gps tracking unit. Most real units require a dealer to do it.

 

No not a cellphone. And not a dealer GPS system. Its just a Garmin GPS 200w. Its one of those stand alone ones you suction cup to the windshield. I want to hardwire it because i dont like the wire of the power cord that goes to the accessory socket hanging all over the place.

 

Is the power cord straight 12 volts? Or does it step it down from 12 volts? If it's straight 12, cut the cig lighter plug off, and strip the outer jacket back.

Then, you'll see the two wires. Usually black and another color (white, red). Black goes to a good chassis ground, and the red gets connected to a fuse holder, and then the fuse holder gets connected to the accessory freepin in the fuse box. You will then insert an appropriately sized fuse into the fuse holder. The value of the fuse needs to be the same (not higher, not lower) than the fuse contained inside the cig lighter plug that you've previously cut off.

 

how can i find out if it steps down from 12v?

 

Touch the plug end to your tongue. If it tingles more than a 9v battery, it's 12v. If it tingles less than a 9v battery, it steps it down.

Or, you could measure the end that plugs into the GPS with a multimeter.

 

lol..thats funny. my bad for askin that dumb question. haha

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C_EJ8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is the power cord straight 12 volts? Or does it step it down from 12 volts? If it's straight 12, cut the cig lighter plug off, and strip the outer jacket back.

Then, you'll see the two wires. Usually black and another color (white, red). Black goes to a good chassis ground, and the red gets connected to a fuse holder, and then the fuse holder gets connected to the accessory freepin in the fuse box. You will then insert an appropriately sized fuse into the fuse holder. The value of the fuse needs to be the same (not higher, not lower) than the fuse contained inside the cig lighter plug that you've previously cut off.</TD></TR></TABLE>

A better option is to buy a female cigarette lighter plug with a power and ground and then wire that in to acc power and ground. You can find them for about 5 bucks and stash them behind the dash. The nice thing about doing this is

a) The power adapter with the gps usually has a fuse inline, so you may as well use that instead of guessing by chopping it off.
b) If you ever want to take the gps to another car you're pretty much s.o.l. since you can't just unplug it from a socket anymore.
c) Should you ever want to sell the unit, not everyone wants a hacked up power cord, I know I wouldn't.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 8520 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A better option is to buy a female cigarette lighter plug with a power and ground and then wire that in to acc power and ground. You can find them for about 5 bucks and stash them behind the dash.</TD></TR></TABLE>

cheapest and most effective way!

but if for some reason you don't have room...

look at the unit....

if the plug is one of those dc plugs for small electronics.. you can find replacement jacks at radio shack...

then see what it says, there should be a symbol of a C with a dot in.... and a line from the opposite side of the "c" going to either a + or a - symbol.

this means that the outer is either + or - and the inside dot is the other.

there also should be the voltage rating written near there or on the unit itself.

if its +12v, you can go to radio shack and buy a replacement cord, and fuse holder.... the fuse you would use, should be the same rating as on the cig lighter unit.

if it isn't 12v... its more complicated... and your better off finding a 12v female socket, and hardwiring it behind the dash.. in some space that you will have to find...

 

ill take both options into consideration. If i cant find room then ill just hardwire it. thanks!

 

Are you still going to leave it on your windshield? Excellent target for thieves...

 

any good systems out there?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Turbo EG4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">any good systems out there?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope. Not a one!

 

Actually know im not gonna leave it on the windshield. Imma put it right of the radio/center console, slightly under the glove box. Just gotta make sure it gets a full signal there. Ohh by the way, i love that thing. It really helps out when your looking for places

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb4socal &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Actually know im not gonna leave it on the windshield. Imma put it right of the radio/center console, slightly under the glove box. Just gotta make sure it gets a full signal there. Ohh by the way, i love that thing. It really helps out when your looking for places</TD></TR></TABLE>

It won't, without an external antenna.

 

Imma test it in that area, you might be right though. But if not, its ok, ive already made it a habit to disconnect the GPS and put it away.

 

haha thats a good way to figure it out

 

very simple.. twist loose the cap of adapter plug, you'll see that theres already a fuse, fuse has a cap that goes over it, solder a 12v wire to it from cig lighter or radio (you gotta be careful, it won'be easy to do..). make sure to loosen up the plastic ring onto 12v wire first so everything assembles back together in order. then solder ground wire to side of adapter plug. make sure to insulate everything well with electrical tape to avoid short cirtuit. this way you preserve the adapter and no wires are cut, might need to sand surface of where it was soldered a bit

 

if you dont know how to solder, then reuse a cap from inline fuse (wire should already be attached), then secure ground to one the sides.. i wouldn't recommend it this way

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 8520 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

A better option is to buy a female cigarette lighter plug with a power and ground and then wire that in to acc power and ground. You can find them for about 5 bucks and stash them behind the dash. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Ding Ding Ding The BEST advice of all these posts. This is how I hardwire any portable GPS unit a customer brings into me. Since the units are portable you may want to look into purchasing a 2nd power outlet if you want to use the device in another car (though the 200 has and average battery life of 4 hrs when fully charged)

 

thanks!