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Charging Troubles (5v not 12v)
Blog Date 10 April 2022
No, no, wait, don't go. This isn't about the charging and often troublesome non-charging of the 12v lead acid battery fitted to your motorcycle - for a change. This is about keeping all the other electrical gubbins modern life has blessed/cursed us with these last, what, probably 20 years but more so in the last 10 years.
I got my first mobile phone back in '97. The battery would last weeks but that's because it was too damn expensive to actually use. Today I can talk and text perpetually within my monthly bill and with so many hot spots and wifi networks I can surf almost endlessly too without punishing my data allowance. The phone not only provides a connection to family and friends, it's a portable TV, it's a sat-nav, it's a camera, and it's a games console too (solitaire only on mine).
So for myself the phone in particular needs to be kept charged. The other thing for me is my vape stick. I'm no longer a smoker but I am a vaper.
Other folks will be running an actual sat-nav. Heated jackets and gloves and pants and socks used to be plugged directly into the bike's 12v system, today they're often powered by a USB power pack or a bespoke USB charged battery. A lot of the moto-vloggers use drones to capture quite excellent footage of themselves riding somewhere beautiful, those will need charging. I bet there's a few folks out there with tablets or laptops even when they're on holiday.
Ooooh kit! It all needs charging.
Anyhoo. This last 4 or 5 years I've had a "thing" on my bike to keep the phone charged, as well as a couple of USB power packs. It was cheap, has a cigarette lighter port and 1 standard USB type A port, and an on/off switch. It's been located behind the right side fairing panel and to be honest it's worked a treat.
We've really struggled with Sharon's set up, none of the USB ports seemed to put out sufficient current to keep anything charged. We purchased "quality" items, same problem. This cheapie of mine just kept on feeding the angry pixies at a satisfactory rate just fine.
Alas all good things come to pass. Living on a scruffy motorcycle that's used in the wind and the rain and the cold and the winter salt it has become somewhat "crusty". It's getting to the point where the USB socket's connecting abilities have become "intermittent". As such it's time to shell out the staggering amount of £6.99 (robbing swines) and get myself a new USB come cigarette lighter port thingy and get it fitted.
The old thingy is a bit rough around the edges now.
The new one is a little fresher.
I'm trying a different tack. Rather than mounting said USB thingy behind the fairing I'm going to mount it under the seat. The thinking is it'll be drier (not totally dry mind) and less prone to unwelcome attention under there. It does mean I'll need to remove the seat to access it, but that's easily done. It does mean I'd have to run a wire to the 'bars if my phone needs charging while also acting as sat-nav, but that's easily done.
I won't see the nice little blue light under the seat though.
The plan is to charge the USB power packs when riding during the day and use these to charge the phone and/or vape stick. I have learned the hard way it is perfectly possible to flatten a motorcycle battery by charging USB power packs, it is unwise to charge these while the bike is not running for any length of time (see Of Batteries and Glendaruel).
Nothing is perfect and there is one small area of concern. Charging from USB power banks never seems to *quite* get as much charge in as it does when charging directly from the charger. I am most definitely not an electrical engineer but this feels like charging from a thing that's been charged from a thing is like a photocopy of a photocopy, it's fine but never quite as good as the original. The phone will show 100% fully charged but won't last quite as long as it would if charged straight from a mains socket adapter. Hmmmm.
It'll be fine, I'll work it out. As you can see I've surgically removed the handlebar clamp from the thingy, neatly packed the wire (but not shortened it yet in case I change my mind) and I've ordered a sticky pad to stick it in place so it won't wander around.
This is the present set up.
I've also fudged a USB power bank retaining system (patent pending). There's random screw posts moulded into the mudguard for purposes unknown and I've made use of these, an old bicycle inner tube strap and a used old washing up sponge for padding. My genius knows no bounds.
USB power bank retaining system (patent pending).
Advertise your USB products here! Contact ren@bikesandtravels.com
Reader's Comments
nab301 said :-
Ren ,
Would you be better off with one of those miniature power pack /jump starter thingys , a little larger than your current set up but much more capacity and with a usb powerbank port, alternatively , fit a little wind generator on the handlebars and maybe a kickstart conversion as a back up..
Nigel
10/04/2024 10:31:53 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Firstly, do your friends and family wish you to be in constant contact?
Secondly, stop being a drug addict. Whisky does not require electrons.
Thirdly, you need a power pack thingy as per Nigel.
Fourthly, you'll do as you please anyway.
Fifthly, I agree completely with your solution because you are our leader.
Upt.
10/04/2024 11:41:54 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I have a powerpack jump-starter thingy nab301. Let me play out a little scenario for you...
You've charged your power bank jump starter (PBJS) dutifully while riding the bike. You park up and pitch up and that evening you charge your phone from the PBJS, as well as keep the phone topped up while watching a few YouTube videos. You also charge the e-cig and all is good.
You wake the next morning and for reasons unknown the battery on the bike is unwell. Fear not! I have my PBJS, lucky me. Oh wait. Oh no. The PBJS is also flat after charging the phone and e-cig etc. Now you can't start the bike to charge the PBJS to start the bike to charge the PBJS...
While the PBJSs are incredibly forceful when it comes to throwing amperes at a starter motor it's been my experience they are less wilful when charging items over a long slow charge. This thing of mine can (allegedly) output 1,000 amps but as a phone charger it's no better than the small regular power banks. It's size is probably due to big wires and circuitry to handle those big amps, I doubt it contains a lot of actual battery.
This PBJS comes with me on my travels. It lives at the bottom of the bags and I hope to never use it in anger.
Right Upt'...
Firstly no, mercifully.
Secondly yes I have a problem.
Thirdly see above.
Fourthly yes.
Fifthly I admire your sarcasm.
10/04/2024 13:13:00 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Didn't know that about the PBJS' Ed.
Good information. Not that I've got one, but.....thinkin.....
10/04/2024 13:57:42 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ren , I guess the answer is, carry two PBJS' ..... and the question might be, is it really necessary to watch youtube videos while reconnecting with nature...?
Nigel
10/04/2024 16:14:38 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Quite correct Nigel. What on earth is this modern generation all about eh? When I were a lad.......
10/04/2024 17:21:42 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ay you pair, leave our leader alone.
If he wants to watch TV, go on the interweb thingymabob and sat nav his way around the UK whilst "roughing it" in hotels, that's OK. OK!
Although I would draw the line at spare pants.
You're welcome Ed.
Don't they have electrical sockets in hotels?
Upt.
10/04/2024 17:43:08 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Use a campsite at the top of a hill. In the morning you can bump start the bike down the hill if the battery is flat.
Of course if you had covered proper milage in the day, you would just want to sleep and not use all of these electronics.
10/04/2024 17:53:44 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Blimey! I'm under attack - help help I'm being oppressed!
Erm. Errrr. Yes yes yes I'm sorry I'm not "the real deal" sleeping under a tarp at the end of another 500 mile day. I'm sorry I'm not the sit there cross legged type, enjoying a transcendental moment while being at one with nature and the stars. I think you're all secretly wishing you were me and could watch YouTube in a tent and be happy about it.
ROD - tried bump starting a modern bike lately? You can still get the pistons moving like the good old days but without the battery pumping the high pressure fuel to the injectors and running the computer and sensors, you're just peeing in the wind. You need a long steep hill to get the alternator moving as well as the pistons.
11/04/2024 13:21:14 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
It's probably my age, but are modern motorcycles really progress?
I would still like to bump start my bikes if needed, or preferably kick start them.
Fuel injection has improved the bikes, but we're carbs that bad. A well set up carb bike was still nice to ride, and now we have to worry about fuel pump failure.
11/04/2024 16:18:55 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I haven't kick started a bike since 2008........haven't missed it.
11/04/2024 20:32:17 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I must admit that both my recent purchases have had electric starts. The problem is not kickstarts as such, more that as age progresses I find it more difficult to start from an astride position when the engine has died when I'm at the front of a queue and the lights turn green. It's for this reason that I have done few miles in the last year on the Norton.
12/04/2024 11:23:12 UTC
Lesrev said :-
Coo, gosh, but I’m enjoying reading through all the stuff on this site.
I hadn’t kick started a bike since 1973… but when I got the little Innova it had a kicker - and a very flat and damaged battery.
No problem! says I, but I had to learn the technique all over again and I remembered my learner-agony with a C15 in the ‘60s. It’s fine when you know how (provided the bike is in reasonable fettle - and has a carb?) but having put a new and extortionately expensive battery on t’Innova, I’m enjoying e-starts all over again! My Serow has no kickstart, and I’m kind of glad?
I’ve been out on the wee beast today, (first proper ride) and it’s OK, but that auto clutch doesn’t really float my boat.
Les
29/05/2024 19:03:32 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
There's well over a thousand pages on this here website Lesrev. If you can read them all and remain sane then you're a better man than I.
30/05/2024 07:28:12 UTC
Borsuk said :-
If your topbox is a permanent feature why not fit a charge bar in there Ren, where it will be safer from mother natures extremes. I had one in my 125 topbox and it worked a treat keeping power banks topped up and powering a 12v kettle when riding.
16/03/2025 10:20:52 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
It has been considered Borsuk - but there's always a but...
The top box in everyday use is having things thrown and oft times squeezed in there. When camping there's plenty rattling around in there too. I reckon I'd soon break any electrical plugs, connections, and electrical good from the regular abuse the box receives.
Did you... did you have the 12v kettle on WHILE ACTUALLY RIDING? I mean yes you'd want to keep the battery topped up as a kettle will soon suck all the angry pixies out of a small motorcycle battery. I'm just curious how you don't end up with scalding water sloshing around in the top box.
17/03/2025 08:10:40 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Ren, I also use a 12v kettle, but attach it to the outside of the top box. In this position you can check to see when it is boiling in your mirror.
I tried the kettle when I had the 125, but this was a failure. The electrical system just couldn't power the kettle, and the battery was totally flat before the kettle would boil.
17/03/2025 08:54:55 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
OK OK... I need help picturing this.
When I'm thinking 12v kettle I'm still thinking of a jug type receptacle with a heating element in the bottom and a wire coming out of it. It'll likely have a hinged lid but not a watertight lid. Now I'm picturing said receptacle ratcheted to a top box - presumable upright and a wire disappearing under a seat or into the top box. This receptacle is partially filled with water as you ride along the road, the water is being heated.
You hit a bump - hot water comes sloshing out the spout. As it gets ever hotter you stop at the lights as steam spews forth from the kettle. You duly note the water is now boiling so you pull into a side road, get off the bike, dig out a cup, a teabag, and the milk -then brew up?
Is this right or am I missing some important details here?
17/03/2025 12:10:56 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
It'd be no use for you Ed, you'd forget your teabags.
You're welcome.
Upt.
17/03/2025 13:29:51 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
OK Ren, The kettle is pretty much as you describe it. Although it is not water tight the water does not slosh out of the spout as it has a spout cover which is probably more to do with heat retention than to stop water sloshing out. The kettle slides into a clip which fits onto the side of the top box.
It takes about 20 to 25 minutes to boil so I tend to unplug as I am riding when I see the steam and then plug back in when I find a suitable pull in for a brew.
It is a bit of a faff, but I always seem to return to the kettle as a flask tends to cool down and you finish up with warm, not hot tea.
17/03/2025 16:55:57 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Well ROD you can colour me impressed. That is total and complete dedication to "having a brew" and not spending money in a cafe. 20-25 minutes seems like a long time but of course the wattage of the element will be low due to 12v and not wanting to kill the battery and/or melt wires. The wait is unimportant as you'll be riding not just sat there waiting.
This makes me think. Is there a market out there for the English tea drinking adventurer? ROD you've adapted a regular kettle - what is really required is... let me think.
I'm envisaging a cylindrical receptacle with a screw lid, 0.5 to 1 litre, a bracket to attach to the bike securely. The screw lid prevents any slosh-out or spillage but has a small hole to allow steam to escape. 200-300 watt element as boiling speed is not the primary concern. Some kind of LED indicator to inform boiling point has been reached - the executive model has a remote LED fob that can be fitted to the dash rather than having to look in the mirror or screw your head around. Hmmmmmm.....
18/03/2025 07:59:05 UTC
nab301 said :-
Seems like a lot of hassle to boil water , and as avid tea drinkers, surely you know that fresh water boiled once is the only way to make a decent cuppa!
As an aside an acquaintance of mine a while back gave me a super duper gas powered stove with an insulating sleeve on the "kettle " which apparently will boil a litre of water in 3 mins , surely this is the way to go for Tea/ cooking etc.
I have yet to try this device but this thread has encouraged me to report back with the results of a trial run...
Nigel
https://rocknriver.ie/products/nitro-boil-x2...
21/03/2025 14:31:56 UTC
Borsuk said :-
I have one of these type. Different make but identical to the picture. It has a screw on water tight lid. Has a thermostat setting which will maintain a set temperature so set it at 90 degrees, put it in and switch it on, ride and when you stop it doesn't take long to bring to boil so not killing the battery. As it is water tight it means that it is slightly pressurised so the water boils at 100 degrees anywhere including the top of the pyrenees. 120 or 80 watt setting and I tape the bottom to the main kettle body so it doesn't come loose when moving.
23/03/2025 01:30:32 UTC
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