Hardwiring a TomTom car kit

markfraser · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 5:41 pm Post subject: Hardwiring a TomTom car kit

Not being a car expert I'm a bit catious about doing the above. I have no desire to screw up band new Avensis! There's a blank switch cover - should I start there?

Darren · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 6:18 pm Post subject:

That's a good place to start as you can easily replace a blank switch plate. It's not hard but you need to remember that the cigarette lighter power lead supplied contains electronics to reduce the 12v vehicle power to 5v so you can't just cut it off and wire the power lead into the vehicle supply.

I bought a cigarette lighter extension lead, cut off the male end and tapped into the rear of the center console 12v supply to the cigarette lighter socket. I then ran the extension under the dash to a coinveninet point and connected the iPAQ cigare power lead to this. You MUST ensure it's properly insulated to prevent shorts etc. I also added a second blade type fuse in the extension as a precaution an taped all the connections with insulating tape.
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Darren Griffin

markfraser · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:07 pm Post subject:

A lead for this purpose comes in the box so it should be okay to just wire it in then maybe?

Darren · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:16 pm Post subject:

Of course, if it comes with a lead designed for hard-wiring then the electronics must be in the cradle :D
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Darren Griffin

brad_eire · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 05, 2004 Posts: 4

I was a bit wary about doing this with my volvo too - in the end I took it down to the local volvo dealers who fitted the hardwire from the battery so that it was ignition linked, meaning my battery won't go flat if I leave the car alone without driving it for a while.

I had already fitted the active mount to my console before bringing it to them so they knew that's where it was ment to be, and asked them kindly not to drill any holes in the dash - now I have a nice neat installation that won't kill my car Smile

By the way- does anyone know how to stop the iPaq from doing the whole "Connecting to host.." thing when I sit it into the cradle - there's nothing to connect to other than the car battery! Using bluetooth gps which is usually already connected, and besides is unrelated to this message..

Cheers,
Bradley

Darren · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 6:01 pm Post subject:

thedon · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 11:17 pm Post subject: TT 2210 specific car kit

I've just had a TomTom HP 2210 specific car kit cradle installed, but have been warned elsewhere that it must be wired to a 5v supply.

The TT cradle has a label on the back saying 12 - 24v (which TT support has confirmed in an email), but I'm wary of testing - just in case it blows my 2210.

Does anyone know if the latest cradle (looks like one complete moulded unit, RJ11 one side, barrel (power) connector on the other should in fact be wired to 12v?.

Secondly, whilst trying to put a multimeter on it tonight (connectors too small so I cant), I've noticed that it is permanantly powered on (even when no key n the ignition) - is this right, and will it not affect the life / charge of the car battery?.

Hope you chaps can help (again).

Cheers

Don

Darren · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:50 am Post subject:

The carkit should be wired to a 12v supply. It contains the necessary gubbins to reuce the voltage to 5v to supply to the PocketPC.

You should be fine with it wired to a permanent feed, without a PocketPC connected it will have a negligible current drain.
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Darren Griffin

thedon · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 11:28 am Post subject:

thanks Darren - thats peace of mind, I can't afford another repair (it's only two months old, and already had a screen replaced!).

I might have to think about getting the cradle rewired to come on with the vehicle ignition, as the little green light on the bottom of the cradle may attract unwelcome attention whilst the car is unattended?.

Anyone had any problems with breakins, and GPS accessories being targeted?.

bigfatjohn · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 11:59 am Post subject:

I too get the "connecting to host" message whenever I put my 2210 into my Brodit holder. I've never worked out why.

For those of you who are worried about continuously powered pdas and bluetooth receivers flattening your car battery you can stop now. Rough fag packet calculations confirm my gut feeling that this combination will flatten a hundred amp/hour car battery by about the middle of the next Ice Age.

Seriously though, if the power consumption of gps does cause a problem then it is probably time you looked to replace your battery anyway.

thax1 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 05, 2003 Posts: 28

thedon,

I'm concerned about this too.
Perhaps a small sticker over the LEDs would suffice.

I'm wondering if a small piece of black material stretched over it would affect the signal?

Alternatively, a small slit in the fabric covering the parcel shelf would allow it be pushed under, and out of sight.

I doubt most half-wit thieves would be looking out for a GPS device. They'll nick anything shiny though - I had a window smashed recently for an empty CD case.

(Thankfully they didnt get as far as the door pocket where the GPS was hidden!)

Darren · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 6:25 pm Post subject: Re: Antitheft

Dave · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 8:34 pm Post subject:

Ah, where wouldn't I be without my black masking tape! With the amount of gadgets, gismo's and charging I have to do, when the bedroom lights are off at night it used to look like the inside of a cockpit! That black insulating tape works a treat Laughing

Damian · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 29, 2004 Posts: 30

Just back to one of Darren's posts earlier on in this thread about hardwiring in the 12v supply to the cigarette lighter

Is it as simple as getting the extension, chopping the end off and then tap into the wires that feed the lighter socket.

I have yet to dismantle mine yet so haven;t looked what;s behing the socket.

Is the extension lead basically a positive and negative wire, and is the lighter socket the same or is there more too it, if I tap into the feed for the lighter socket where is the fuse, is it in the socket therefore my PDA won't be protected or is further back down the electrics

As yo ucan tell by my explanation this is ot my forte, am I over complicating it, and advice or website links would be greatly received

Cheers

Damian

Stoneghost · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 9:11 pm Post subject:

I too experienced the 'connecting to host' message, i narrowed it down to my Journal Bar.

I'm not sure if its going to help you out but all i did was tap the tick icon to stop it trying to connect to a connection that doesn't exist. Maybe if you don't have journal bar perhaps it's something similar?

Hope this helps!

James

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