Hardwiring the Tomtom bluetooth GPS

qwiki · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 02, 2005 Posts: 7

Since Tomtom no longer provide the cradle for their GPS, has anybody come up with a way to power it directly from the vehicles supply?

From what I understand of the cradle, it simply supplied 5v to the 2 connectors in the middle of the GPS covered by the plastic bung. The main advantage of this is that it would switch on/off with the vehicles ignition, so no button to press and therefore could be mounted out of reach on the back shelf or where ever.

So, anybody come up with anything and care to share?

Thanks in advance.

finster · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 21, 2004 Posts: 8

I am also interested in doing this.

Fabricating a holder (out of some wood for example) shouldn't prove too hard. There are also cigarette lighter power cords available for the TomTom bluetooth unit (albeit sold as ipaq/Loox car adaptors).

The main problem would be connecting to the two small metal contacts on the unit - perhaps some kind of springs?

Can anybody confirm that powering the unit via the power socket is different than via the contacts? i.e. Does the unit switch on and off with the car's ignition when using the contacts?

Alternatively, does anybody know where we can get these cradles, or is there anybody willing to sell their unused one?

Cheers.

hmalan · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 10:00 am Post subject:

I would be very careful when making your own cradle for the TT BT receiver.

I had the full kit, bought January 19th 2004, and hard wired it into my Espace.

Used it succesfully for a year and then last month, 18th January 2005, placed the receiver in the cradle turned on the ignition and watched smoke pour from the receiver.

I contacted TT immediately and to be fair to them they have sent me a brand new receiver, but I believe that others have had problems with these cradles and that may be why they are no longer in use.

Regards

Alan

finster · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 21, 2004 Posts: 8

Thanks.

That could be a good reason why they stopped supplying it "no customer demand" doesn't seem a very good reason when it is already being manufactured.

I will carry on using my charger instead!

netman · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:46 am Post subject:

Hi guys. New here, so please excuse me if this is a daft question. I'm looking to provide power to my TT BT GPS receiver as well. With the receiver in the box was a cable that looks to have the power connector at one end and an RJ11 connector at the other (like you get on phone handsets & modems). Just wondering what this is for and where you'd plug it in? I have a Nokia carkit, and it's control box is the only thing I can think of that could maybe take this connection.

Thanks, Steve.

finster · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 21, 2004 Posts: 8

Hi,

I think that cable is for powering the bluetooth unit if you have a TomTom car kit - there is a RJ45 socket on the car kit which will provide power to the unit.

Hope that helps.

netman · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 1:28 am Post subject:

Thanks for the quick reply. I think it's an RJ11, looks too small for a RJ45. Do you reckon this would be compatible with the sockets on my Nokia control box? I might check at the weekend if I can.

If it's only to pick up a power feed, I can't see why something can't be implemented using the Nokia box, especially as it already has power running into it.

Thanks,
Steve

Porks · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 03, 2004 Posts: 6

Hi Guy's
Ive lost the lead that connects my Bluetooth reciever to the TT cradle and really need to get a replacement.
Anyone got any ideas where I can buy one?

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