Wiring to map light

[txsub]

Ok guys, please help an electrical challenged rider. I'm wiring my 2610 GPS to my map light. I know the red wire from the garmin gps kit is the hot wire and I know where to wire it, and black is the ground but where would I wire the ground to in the map light enclosure?Or do I? Thanks in advance

[taylorjn]

Brown is the ground in BMW-world. Mine had a brown wire from the map light. Since I ditched the map light, I just connected directly to the wires it used. Have pics somewhere . . . .

[slugbug]

Ok guys, please help an electrical challenged rider. I'm wiring my 2610 GPS to my map light. I know the red wire from the garmin gps kit is the hot wire and I know where to wire it, and black is the ground but where would I wire the ground to in the map light enclosure?Or do I? Thanks in advance


I just wired up a Garmin 2720 to my map light yesterday. I used a Y connector and connected the black (ground) wire to the brown (ground) wire of the map light. Works great!

[bmwusmc]

used a Y connector
Hey, Brian, what type of Y connector and where did you buy it? I'm in the works of doing the same with my 2720..Waiting for my wire connector to come in from Quantum..Thx, Roy

[slugbug]

Hey Roy,

Actually I used some Y connectors that were left over when I installed my saddlebag reflector light kit, but I've seen them in a local store (Northern Tool & Equipment) Other people on this site has stated that Radio Shack carries them too.

Just disconnect your map light and carry it with you when purchasing the Y connectors to make sure you get the right size.

Brian

[RaffyK]

piggy back connectors. female on one end and two males on the other. Forming:



Y

[bmwusmc]

Gotcha, thanks guys..

[bmwusmc]

ok, couldn't find Y connectors so I spliced red wire(Garmin) to brown/green wire(map light) and black wire(Garmin) to brown wire(map light) with no results(no pwer to 2720).
What did I do wrong?
I still have power to the map light itself as before but no power to the 2720.
Used power connector wire from the 12V Hardwire kit I bought from CycoActive Inc. Would that have caused a glitch?

[RaffyK]

Call me at 916-715-2735

[larryschumer]

If you're still looking for some of the piggyback connectors, let me know. I can send you some.

[jzeiler]

ok, couldn't find Y connectors so I spliced red wire(Garmin) to brown/green wire(map light) and black wire(Garmin) to brown wire(map light) with no results(no pwer to 2720).
What did I do wrong?


The wire colors for the 05 are brown = ground, violet/black = keyed power, and violet/green = ground effect lighting (on only right after turning key off) . Just swap your red wire over to the violet/black and you will be fine.

[bmwusmc]

Larry, thanks for Y connector offer but I went ahead and spliced into the map light wires

John, Yeah, finally figured that out with RaffyK's help..

Thanks for the assistance, guys.. Everything is up and running..Just got back from a long ride with it doing an A-1 job..

[cws]

Ok guys, please help an electrical challenged rider. I'm wiring my 2610 GPS to my map light. I know the red wire from the garmin gps kit is the hot wire and I know where to wire it, and black is the ground but where would I wire the ground to in the map light enclosure?Or do I? Thanks in advance

I just received my BMR shelf and hope to mount my new 2610 this weekend.
Is the map light wire the best place to connect to, or just the simplest?
I assume that if I have the key unlocked (R position) then I have power to the GPS, but it will restart after starting the bike?
Anywhere else that would would be more convenient to wire it to, perhaps somewhere with permanent power, or would this not be wise???

cheers

[mirage]

Roy,

If you still need help on the connectors, I just made a set last week and wired my BMW co-pilot shelf mounted Garmin to the map light.

The map light has three male .250" connectors.
Only two of the male connectors on the map light are used.
The map light switch is a three postion off-off-on switch
The map light is only powered when the key is in the accessory or on postion.

Go to your local auto parts store and buy along with a crimp tool if you need it:

A few .250" insulated crimp-on male connectors for say -16 gauge wire. usually the red crimp on connectors are for smaller gauge wire.

A few Female .250 insulated crimp-on connectors for say -16 guage wire.

Some 16 gauge automotive hook-up wire in red
Some 16 guage automotive wire in some other color (black-conventional ground or brown -bmw's color for ground)

Mark the map light with which terminal you remove the purple striped wire (12v+) and which terminal you remove the brown solid wire (12v- or ground).

Strip 2 pieces of -16 red gauge wire approx 4" long on both ends.

Insert one both pieces of wire in to one Male crimp-on connector and crimp, check that the crimp holds.

On the other two ends crimp on each wire a Female crimp on connector.

You now have your 12V+ Y connector.

Do the same for your ground wire Y connector.

Take the Existing BMW wire that supplied the maplight. Insert the Male connector of your new red Y connector into the exisiting Positive 12v+.

Do the same with your new ground Y connector.

Take the exsiting garmin red wire and crimp-on a male connector.

Do the same with the Garmin Black (ground) connector.

Now you can connect your garmin 12V+ to one of the red females on your Y connector

Connect the garmin black 12V- to one of the ground (black or brown as the case may be) to the female of your new y connector.

You now take the last remaining female y 12v+ connector and attach it the male you marked as the purple striped on your exsiting map light.

Do the same for the ground 12v-on your maplight.

Your done. It actually take less time to make the Y connectors and attach them than it does to read this instruction.

Hope this helps.

Confirm that your maplight works ad you have power with key in accessory or on position. You can also use a voltmeter to check your wiring, and that you have not blown a fuse.

A lot easier than wiring avionics.

Mirage

[cws]

Hey thanks Mirage.
I followed your notes and it worked out fine for my install.
Thanks for the info.
regards

[mirage]

Chris,

Glad to help, G'day mate.

Mirage