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MG MGA - GPS mount

I'm trying to determine where/how to best mount a gps (sat-nav) unit in my roadster. If you're using one of these units in your car, I'd love to hear/see how you've got it mounted.
Andy Bounsall

Andy, I used my GPS in the midget on a recent trip. Used the suction cup bracket right on the windscreen next to the rear view mirror and ran the power down to the accessory plug on the console. For a MGA the power would have to be wired a bit differently I suppose. It was in clear view but never in the way. You can see the display head in the photo directly below the rear view mirror. On my MGA I think it would fit just to the side of the mirror or just above and not intrude on the sight line too much.


Bill Young

Andy,

I've used my Garmin on one of the bean bag type holders just in front of the shifter. Works fine for me. I use the GPS in battery mode when in the MGA. It has a long enough life I've never need the power cord.

Cheers,
Christopher
Christopher Wilson

I use a "vent mount" and clip it to a strip of heavy fabric attached to the two lift the dot studs under the mirror on the dash. I get power from a lighter socket I installed under the dash out of sight.


Ed Bell

I use the same beanbag mount as Christopher but behind the shifter (toward the engine). Easy to see in sunlight, out of the way and reception has always been good. I use a power cord to an auxiliary outlet behind the passenger seat.

Jim
Jim Ferguson

I use a bean bag mount also , but if you want something more secure I use a RAM mount for the Garmin units on my motorcycle and my snowmobile.
Chris Velardi

Those of you who have installed an auxiliary outlet, have you converted from Pos. to Neg. earth or did you find a way around that problem?
Would like to install an auxiliary out in my '65 MGB without converting polarity if that is even possible, to use my Garmin.

TIA - Dennis
D L Rainey

Hi gang,

For power to the GPS, I use one of the Jump Start units that have a 12 V DC outlet. Works well, also serves if the car is hard starting, and I can move the GPS between several old cars.

Also, if you have a GPS that mounts to the windshield, one of the most valuable tips I've stumbled across was to put a drop Armour All on the suction cup. (hasn't fallen off anytime in the past two years)...Dennis
Dennis Suski

Dennis,
It can be done, but still has the potential for a short, so read the caution note before you do it.

You can get a plastic cigarette lighter type socket with two wires at most boat stores and many auto parts stores. You just connect the black wire to the negative thru a fuse and connect the red wire to chassis ground. Make sure you don't get a metal cased socket because it would short to ground.

Caution!!! Most GPS and cell phones have plastic cases with no exposed ground connection, but the exposed metal on the charging cable is usually connected to negative ground so if it touches any exposed metal on a positive ground car it will cause a short. That is why you need a fuse in the negative wire. If the socket comes with a fuse, it will be in the positive wire and you definately need one in the negative wire. It should be a fast acting fuse of 1 or 2 amps. You should also be careful if there is any exposed metal such as external antenna jacks or headphone jacks as these are also usually connected to negative.

Jeff





Jeff Schultz

Dennis,
You can get power outlets made for boats that are totally insulated. Then you can wire them any way you want. I don't know why anyone would not chalnge their car to a neg. ground. It's easy, and no one can tell the difference without looking at the battery. Then you have no worries about using modern electrical assesories.
Ed Bell

I know there has been a lot of discussion on this subject in the past and the best argument for making the switch has been the ability to use modern electronic devices, such as a GPS. But what are the issues involved with existing devices such as tach, radio (BMC), fuel pump and anything else that I may have left out? The car that I would like to use the GPS in is a '65 MGB (unmolested). BTW, I didn't really mean to hi-jack this thread. It seemed to have just happened.

Thanks - Dennis
D L Rainey

I'm in the middle of converting my "A" to Neg ground. I have purchased a new neg ground fuel pump and bought an early MGB tac that needs to be converted and I'll put a modern stater and alternator on it .
Chris Velardi

Dennis - The MGA uses a mechanical tach, so there is no problem there. The fuel pump, if it is an older unit, is not polarity sensitive, but if it is one that yo purchased in the last 10 years, may have a diode in it that will have to be reversed, or if you recently bought an all electronic SU fuel pump it will have to have the polarity reversed. The radio is the biggie unless it is a dual polarity radio that ha a switch to change polarity. If you have a radio, the best thing to do is to get one of the isolated, all plastic auxiliary power sockets and install it as described above and be sure that you have a 5 amp fuse in the circuit. For use with a GPS, Ipod or laptop, there is little chance for a short circuit, but the possibility is always lurking in the background. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I don't want to sound rude, but there's a ton of info in the archives about converting to neg ground. Maybe a new thread could be started if more discussion is needed. Could we get this thread back onto the original topic?

Andy Bounsall

By all means Andy, but it is related to the original subject...

Cheers - Dennis
D L Rainey

Mine is a suction mount. The worry is if it loses its suction the unit can easily yopple out of the car because of the curved scuttle and I do not have the grab handle/windscreen support with the sports screen. I have to rely on the power cable as a last ditch anchor.

Steve


Steve Gyles

It is against the law in some states to attach anything to the windshield. You might want to check local regulations before using a suction mount.
Ed Bell

Steve

I can recommend a piece of fishing line attached to a spare lift the dot fitting - tie the line around the neck of the mount at one end, and though a slot on the LTD, and then fix the LTD to a tonneau stud.

Saves the wild lunge for the GPS as it breaks free on a sharp and fast corner, and overall helps the stress levels a bit...


dominic clancy

Thanks Dominic. Good idea.
Steve Gyles

I use the suction cup mounted on the dash where a lot of 'A's have their windshield washer pump located.
D Sjostrom

DS

That's okay if you have the standard painted dash. I covered mine so no suction.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Question to Ed Bell - Is this an anti-radar-detector law? I've never heard of such a thing. (Although I'll admit that if something is illegal in Oregon it's probably legal in Washington, and vice versa - you get Everclear and we get fireworks.)
David Breneman

David,
On the west coast, it's Californin that doesn't allow anything on the windshield. You can even get a ticket for a cracked windshield. As far as I know, Oregon and Washington have no restrictions, except they don't allow anything that interferes with the drivers field of view. That can be very subjective, and I have not heard of anyone being stopped for that particular thing. Of course, if someone gets smart mouthed with a policeman, all sorts of thing may suddenly be wrong with their vehicle.
Ed Bell

Ed

Bit in the local paper a few weeks ago. It is now legal to use a suction mount on the windshield for your GPS in California.

Larry
San Diego
Lawrence Hallanger

Illinois has a similar law about thinkgs on the windshield. It is intended to eliminate obstruction of view. However, many local cities and towns issue annual tax stickers about 3" in diameter that are to be stuck to the inside of the windshield, presumably in the passenger-side corner of the windshield. In addition, the Illinois Tollway offers the I-pass. An electronic box that allows tolls to be automaticlly deducted from your account as you pass by their receivers. It is also attached to the windshield, presumably in the spot behind the rear-view mirror. This area doesn't work in my MGA.

It seems that the laws are to prevent the driver from putting anything there to obstruct their view. That is, of course, unless it one issued by one of the governing bodies. Maybe they think their stuff is invisible.
Chuck Schaefer

All sorts of things get stuck on our windscreens in the UK. A typical list includes the internal mirror; the annual licence disc (3 inch diameter); and a business parking pass (very common). In addition you may get the GPS Suction moint; BMC rosette; air freshener hanging from mirror and/or a pair of fluffy dice. I just had a look at my Merc and noticed that the supplier had also stuck an inch diameter disc advertising the extra body paint protector that had been applied.

I sometimes wonder how anyone sees out. However, it does not seem to be something that the police would stop you for. They might just add it to a list of other illegalities if they are out to get you.

Steve
Steve Gyles

So it IS an anti-radar-detector law it seems.
David Breneman

Steve, you missed the radar detector, which is also (still?) legal in the UK.

Are the Kevin and Sharon stickers still legal? haven't seen those for a long time!
Neil McGurk

This thread was discussed between 01/07/2009 and 07/07/2009

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