Zumo XT to Eastern Beaver PC-8 wiring question

[RCinNC]

I'm in the process of installing my Zumo XT. I'll be connecting it to my PC-8 on a switched circuit.

According to Garmin, the Zumo XT power cable has a built in, non-replaceable "fuse" (probably more like an electronic circuit breaker) built into the voltage converter. Garmin doesn't provide an amp rating for this circuit protection.

The wires in the power cable that will ultimately be attached to the PC-8 appear to be 18 gauge.

Even if the Zumo has it's own circuit protection, the connection in the PC-8 is still going to need a fuse. For the distance that the cable has to run from the mount to the PC-8, 18 gauge cable can handle up to 15 amps. I don't see the need for a 15 amp fuse in that circuit, since it's a dedicated line to a device that I suspect draws around 3 amps or less, but I'm curious what others have done in this situation.

What size fuse did you use in your fusebox connection for the Zumo XT?

 

[Fennellg]

3 to 5 should be fine. I ran mine on the power always on side. Do not like to have to get synched to my route again. Can be problematic, particularly on a trip with my crew. It does not draw much, and I use the gps as a helmet holder and gps hider.

If you run it my way, run a 5 amp and use the stock infuse line. Eliminates guess work, I also believe it is easier on the unit with less power cycles. zumo s are expensive. Should the fuse get tripped you can always remove the fuse (cut it out) and step down to 3 amp fuse keeping your options open Even on the switched side.

I have been running Zumos since 2005. On my second unit. Never had one trip a fuse. God know I have seen some rain.

 

[patrickg450]

mine is currently a 3 amp, but I dont think I have spare 3 on my bike. so it is goes I will drop a 5 in there and move on. Or use my GAIA on my cell, I am currently pissed of at Garmin.

 

[Cycledude]

The Garmin in line fuse is all you need and I have never heard of anyone blowing that fuse. Besides the manual on off switch on the back of the XT it also has built in self shut off after a few minutes not moving so there is no chance of accidentally leaving it turned on and killing the vehicle battery

 

[RCinNC]

The Garmin in line fuse is all you need and I have never heard of anyone blowing that fuse. Besides the manual on off switch on the back of the XT it also has built in self shut off after a few minutes not moving so there is no chance of accidentally leaving it turned on and killing the vehicle battery

You need a fuse if you're going to connect the Zumo power cable to a fuse panel. Otherwise you can't complete the circuit.

 

[RCinNC]

Thanks guys.

I've had good luck with Garmins, though I've never had a high zoot one like a Zumo. The last 100,000 or so miles have been with a Garmin Nuvi 2455. My cheap self would never have sprung for a Zumo; it was a gift.

So far I really like the unit. For one thing, I can see the damn screen in broad daylight. I find on screen route planning to be even easier than using Rever. It'll read a .gpx track without any sort of conversion, something Rever couldn't do (OSMand could, but I never liked OSMand). You can turn off auto-recalculate, which I love. It's waterproof. I don't have to worry about vibrations destroying an optical image stabilizer. It works with gloves on. So far, so good.

 

[Fennellg]

Well you are in for a treat. They last and are weather tight. I have had good luck making my routes in Google MY Maps, then importing. You try to limit the waypoints, I use a start and finish waypoint, and one route a day. It is easy to share and collaborate. It is a hell of a lot easier and intuitive than BaseCamp. They track the route like a banshee. No changes. Have to turn off the auto recalculation function on your zumo. It tracks because you are converting a track to a route. Tracks have a bunch of breadcrumbs the keep the route pinned down.

 

[RCinNC]

Yeah, I've been playing around with getting MyRoute to integrate with the Zumo, and it's worked out pretty well. I can upload routes I create on MyRoute to Google Drive, and then wirelessly download them into the Zumo using Garmin Drive. I usually upload all my rides as tracks, unless I'm going to be in a built up area where audible turn by turn directions would come in handy. That was a big selling point for me when I began to use Rever; you could select route or track when you uploaded a ride. Like I said, I love the fact that you can turn off auto-recalculate; that's something the Nuvi couldn't do, and I often don't want the original route to be recalculated if I decide to wander off it.

The Zumo integrates really well with my ancient Sena SMH-10 and Z3 phone; it's nice to be able to see who's calling me right there on the Zumo screen, so I know whether or not it's a call I need to take.

I've worked with Basecamp. I forced myself to learn it. I still hate it.

 

[Fennellg]

The onboard music is nice. Particularly on long trips. If you like you can run pandora, or spotify via your phone to the gps. Making it easier to skip, or pause. The more connections the more to go wrong but once sorted out it usually behaves. I have a bunch of mp3s loaded as my go to. Simple no fuss full proof.

 

[Fennellg]

The Zumo is a game changer. I liken it to my nice first nice and current Helmet, A Shoei. Wow you just don’t know till you have one. Gore Tex and heated gear are also examples.

 

[Fennellg]

The older I get the less I want to deal with discomfort. If there is a way to mitigate the Benjamin’s come out. I will deal with it If I have to. But if there is a solution I am In.

 

[fac191]

I run my XT through the cigarette lighter wiring 3amp.

 

[SkunkWorks]

My older Zumo 550 had a 3-amp fuse.
I wired my Zumo XT with a 3-amp fuse also. They do not draw very much power .

 

[Fpalbrecht]

I have a PC - 8 and zumo xt. I run a 5 amp fuse.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[Fennellg]

My guess is it does not matter. The battery acts like a buffer. You might fry the battery but they are weak link anyway.

 

[WJBertrand]

I set the adjustable circuit protection for the XT in my Neutrino distribution module to 2A. When I watch the amperage draw on the phone app, while the unit is operating, even when playing music over Bluetooth, it shows less than 1A draw.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Fennellg]

Check the power up draw.

 

[WJBertrand]

Check the power up draw.

I didn’t check that. At any rate it must not have exceeded 2A or the circuit protection would have tripped.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Fennellg]

Yeah we have been over thinking and working this one. If it ant broke than don’t fix it. Leave the in line fuse in then run it off a 3 or 5 fuse. If space is tight? Cut the fuse out and run a 2 o3 fuse.

 

[Muybig]

I'm in the process of installing my Zumo XT. I'll be connecting it to my PC-8 on a switched circuit.

According to Garmin, the Zumo XT power cable has a built in, non-replaceable "fuse" (probably more like an electronic circuit breaker) built into the voltage converter. Garmin doesn't provide an amp rating for this circuit protection.

The wires in the power cable that will ultimately be attached to the PC-8 appear to be 18 gauge.

Even if the Zumo has it's own circuit protection, the connection in the PC-8 is still going to need a fuse. For the distance that the cable has to run from the mount to the PC-8, 18 gauge cable can handle up to 15 amps. I don't see the need for a 15 amp fuse in that circuit, since it's a dedicated line to a device that I suspect draws around 3 amps or less, but I'm curious what others have done in this situation.

What size fuse did you use in your fusebox connection for the Zumo XT?

Nice came close to pulling the trigger on one - have the older Garmin 396 that I've been using for the last 4 years 1) FYI mine is connected to a PDM 60 all my electrical add-ons are: 2 set of Denali lights/GPS/Light more rear brake light (I believe I still have 2 circuits available) 2) regarding routing applications, last summer I stumbled onto an app called My Route after dicking around with my maps and another application which I cant remember its name the My Route is by far the easiest and most precise routing app I've used since i have had my GPS and they just came out with a version that is to be used on your cell phone: that's the reason I did not buy the Zumo XT. FYI I do not ride off the beaten path so this new cell phone version might be all I will ever need. I will keep the GPS and you never know might end up upgrading to the XT just as a back up especially in areas where cell phone signal might not be an option.

I will report back this summer on the Cell phone version of My Route !