Wire tap for Voltmeter and USB

[ironman]

Yes that will work.
Just a suggestion to be sure before you cut anything....
If you have a voltmeter or a test light,
stick a straight pin through the middle of the white wire where you intend to splice.
Attach the meter or light's lead to the pin and the other lead to ground.
You should see no voltage with the key off and 12 volts with it on.

[Maverick1]

Originally Posted by ironman

Yes that will work.
Just a suggestion to be sure before you cut anything....
If you have a voltmeter or a test light,
stick a straight pin through the middle of the white wire where you intend to splice.
Attach the meter or light's lead to the pin and the other lead to ground.
You should see no voltage with the key off and 12 volts with it on.

That's a neat idea with the pin. I did a similar test on my car just last week for an accessory I added using a fuse tap. i probed each side of the fuse slot for the volts with the car off, then on, checking for 12v and which side was hot/in vs load/out. The mower will be the same except there is no fuse to tap. I have some neat little folding clips that will tap it clean and easy.

Thanks so much again, is there a place to vote on your helpfulness?

[darkminion_17]

No there is not, what shape volt meter are you using? Is there room on the dash?

[darkminion_17]

Originally Posted by ironman

Yes that will work.
Just a suggestion to be sure before you cut anything....
If you have a voltmeter or a test light,
stick a straight pin through the middle of the white wire where you intend to splice.
Attach the meter or light's lead to the pin and the other lead to ground.
You should see no voltage with the key off and 12 volts with it on.

Any chance that leaving the item you are charging plugged into the USB port with the key off, will power back feed to the stator and short it out???

[ironman]

Originally Posted by darkminion_17

Any chance that leaving the item you are charging plugged into the USB port with the key off, will power back feed to the stator and short it out???

I doubt that 5 volts from a USB device would cause any problems, and besides, with the key in the "off" position, A1 and M are connected to ground so there would be no danger to any tractor circuitry.
However, it may be possible that it could discharge the USB device, IDK.
It would probably be wise to put a diode in the wire between the splice and the USB socket.

[ol'George]

PRICKS:
Just to help for those that might not know.
Probing the back side of a wire connector that is not weather protected is acceptable, but if one is working on newer stuff like a vehicle (pick em up truck,
Suv, vehicle)
It is not a good idea as the pin prick/meter probe point will compromise the insulation.
Especially true if the vehicle/tractor etc. is exposed to road salt or corrosive atmosphere .
It might take a year or three, but it will start the creeping green crud and one day the probe entry point will fail the circuit.
And of course it will always happen at an inopportune time.
Living in the rust belt, I see it regularly, especially on trailer hitch/tail light plugs.
But not so much, say up under the dashboard of a vehicle, but still not a good thing to make habit of doing.

[Maverick1]

Originally Posted by ironman

I doubt that 5 volts from a USB device would cause any problems, and besides, with the key in the "off" position, A1 and M are connected to ground so there would be no danger to any tractor circuitry.
However, it may be possible that it could discharge the USB device, IDK.
It would probably be wise to put a diode in the wire between the splice and the USB socket.

mine already has a 10A fuse inline exactly there.

[Billy-O]

Originally Posted by ol'George

PRICKS:
Just to help for those that might not know.
Probing the back side of a wire connector that is not weather protected is acceptable, but if one is working on newer stuff like a vehicle (pick em up truck,
Suv, vehicle)
It is not a good idea as the pin prick/meter probe point will compromise the insulation.
Especially true if the vehicle/tractor etc. is exposed to road salt or corrosive atmosphere .
It might take a year or three, but it will start the creeping green crud and one day the probe entry point will fail the circuit.
And of course it will always happen at an inopportune time.
Living in the rust belt, I see it regularly, especially on trailer hitch/tail light plugs.
But not so much, say up under the dashboard of a vehicle, but still not a good thing to make habit of doing.

Dab the pin prick with liquid black tape.

[ironman]

Originally Posted by Maverick1

mine already has a 10A fuse inline exactly there.

A fuse is a current limiting device for safety of the circuitry supplying power.
It doesn't care which way current is flowing as long as it is not in excess of circuit limits. A fuse will not prevent device discharge if that is a situation here

If it were me, i would install a cigarette/power port socket and use a plug in usb adapter.

Then the power port is also available for devices such as air pumps, spot lights, etc.
Just my

[darkminion_17]

The man of iron is correct about the diode. That power port is a nice item, even has a volt meter as it looks to me.
Diode info is here.

https://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/...ghlight=diode+.....