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[Jeevz]

I have an '09 Ultra and naively thought I could plug a radar detector power supply into the cigarette ligter on the fairing and be merrily on my way.  Didn't work that way yesterday.  Plugged detector into outlet, no power to detector.  Plugged lighter into outlet, lighter heated up.  Plugged detector into car outlet, detector powers up.  Plugged cell phone charger into bike outlet, no charge.  Plugged cell phone into car, everything works.  Plugged lighter back into bike outlet, still warms up.  I know the book has some legalese about power supplies not working in the fairing outlet, but shouldn't a cell phone/gps/detector charger work in the fairing as long as it seats fully into the outlet?  I know I can hardwire it, but I use it so infrequently that I wanted the plug and play convenience.

[greglyon]

My gps has always worked.  Assume it was well seated and you wiggled it around some. 

[CVORick]

Has the GPS ever worked in the bike plug?  If not reverse the polarity on the GPS power plug, not the bike plug.  Have seen this several times.

[Jeevz]

Has the GPS ever worked in the bike plug?  If not reverse the polarity on the GPS power plug, not the bike plug.  Have seen this several times.

Excellent idea.  First time I've plugged anything other than the lighter into it and I bet you're right.  Why couldn't I just pull the fairing and change the polarity on the lighter versus hacking the detector plug?  I'll pull the fairing tonight and see if I can swap the leads to the lighter just for fun.

[wblythe]

I went through this as well. Then I  opened up the manual and read that the outlet is not for powering accessories. It is only compatible with the cig lighter.

[Rooster]

Was there a change? Mine has worked for charging Zumo or cell phone or or. Oh mine is an 07 Seuc

[wblythe]

Really don't know if there was a change or not. But when I did plug my GPS in it stopped working. Though I ruined it. Then cheched the manual and it said don't do that! Going to check into reversing the polarity as well. Won't ever use the cig lighter so might as well. 2010 SESG.

[Fired00d]

I went through this as well. Then I  opened up the manual and read that the outlet is not for powering accessories. It is only compatible with the cig lighter.

Interesting.... Many of us have been using this as a power source for GPS and other accessories.

Was there a change? Mine has worked for charging Zumo or cell phone or or. Oh mine is an 07 Seuc

Same thing I was wondering... what could've changed?? Like you I've been using it as a power source for my Zumo as has many others.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Tbone]

I have an '09 Ultra and naively thought I could plug a radar detector power supply into the cigarette ligter on the fairing and be merrily on my way.  Didn't work that way yesterday.  Plugged detector into outlet, no power to detector.  Plugged lighter into outlet, lighter heated up.  Plugged detector into car outlet, detector powers up.  Plugged cell phone charger into bike outlet, no charge.  Plugged cell phone into car, everything works.  Plugged lighter back into bike outlet, still warms up.  I know the book has some legalese about power supplies not working in the fairing outlet, but shouldn't a cell phone/gps/detector charger work in the fairing as long as it seats fully into the outlet?  I know I can hardwire it, but I use it so infrequently that I wanted the plug and play convenience.

I had a problem with the same symptoms on my 05.  I took it to the dealer and if I remember right, the ground wire on the lighter socket was not tight and caused the problem.  Whatever it was they got it fixed and I haven't had a problem since.

Bob

[Gone Fishin']

I went through this as well. Then I  opened up the manual and read that the outlet is not for powering accessories. It is only compatible with the cig lighter.

Used it with a Garmin GPS device on many different HOG Fly & Ride rental E-Glides. Never a problem ...

[mrmagloo]

Weird - Just check it with a meter. The positive should be the center terminal and the ground the outer socket.

[CVORick]

I use it for everything.  I would just check the bike polarity for loose wires, but I would just fix the device plug that does not work.  JMO.  If the lighter works, why remove the fairing?   It's after 5PM and I am drinking and would leave the fairing alone...

[CVORick]

I went through this as well. Then I  opened up the manual and read that the outlet is not for powering accessories. It is only compatible with the cig lighter.

The manual can help and it can only tell you what the Mother Ship wants you to know.  Go for it!!

[steve-o]

I had the same problem on my 08 ultra. Took a small screwdriver to the neg. contact prongs inside the plug in the fairing. Tighten the contacts a bit & SHAZAMMMM no more problems with charger plugs.

[Jeevz]

I use it for everything.  I would just check the bike polarity for loose wires, but I would just fix the device plug that does not work.  JMO.  If the lighter works, why remove the fairing?   It's after 5PM and I am drinking and would leave the fairing alone...

Drinking or not, you're a genius.    Polarity was reversed on the lighter socket and evidently the lighter itself doesn't care.  The phone charges from the socket and the detector works now that I've swapped the polarity.  I didn't want to mess with the power supplies themselves as they worked in the cars.  Less than 15 minutes to pull the fairing out enough to reverse the wires and put it all back together.  Might have been less than 10 if I didn't keep dropping the bottom screws.  Now, where is that beer... 

Thanks to everyone for their help.