Sat Nav Relay
 

I recently installed a Garmin Zumo on my XT660Z. It is currently (pardon the pun) wired directly to the battery terminals. I want to install a relay to supply power to the unit only when the ignition is on. Can someone please suggest a suitable relay for the job.

Thanks, Rich.

You can use any normally open relay.
SPST - single pole single throw

This is the sort of readily available and cheap relay you want:

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/product.php/1216/12v-40a-relay

Just cut your current +12V supply to the nav and connect either end to the 30 and 87 terminal (the load). Use the spare connector behind the dash panel...

http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...psrcjda452.jpg

...to provide a +12V ignition switched supply to terminal 86 and use its earth to connect to the 85 terminal to complete the relays trigger/switching circuit. Stash the relay inside one of the two panels behind the front indicators.

Make sure the load has a suitably rated inline fuse fitted.

Thanks Pleiades. I'd rather mount the relay under the seat , drawing switching power from the tail light wire, if that's suitable, (the Zumo's wiring harness is not easy to get into that close to the unit). Can I ground the relay to the frame or does it have to be grounded to the same circuit the switching power is coming from? Should the fuse be between the relay and the battery, or upstream of the relay?

Thanks again.

That would work equally well.

The switching/trigger circuit doesn't need to use the same ground/earth. After all, an earth is an earth wherever it is. You can ground the 85 terminal to the frame, but as you're so close to the battery anyway, you may as well use the battery earth, the path of least resistance.

Ideally the load fuse should be as close to the battery as possible, so yes, between the relay 30 terminal and the battery.