Powerlet Socket Extras Page

Page Index:

 Panel Top Mount Socket Closeups

 Regular Socket/T-Connector Closeups

 Low Profile Socket

The most reliable way to make a Low Profile socket install is to use short leads soldered to the socket. If you want to do it this way, you must be very careful with the soldering in order to avoid a short on the wires or terminals. Or you can buy a pre-soldered and assembled Low Profile Socket as shown below.

REASONS FOR LOW PROFILE: There are times when there is little room behind the panel where the socket is to be mounted. Using a thick rubber spacer above the panel helps move the socket out, and instead of a T-Connector and regular rubber boot, a right angle rubber boot and short soldered-on leads are used. See below.

Below is a custom Low Profile Socket with short leads, sheathing, right angle rubber boot, and bullet connectors.

Here is an inside close-up of the leads, soldered on, and covered with shrink tube.

Powerlet's PMI-008 provides a thick rubber spacer to move the socket out from the panel a maximum amount and still get the locking nut on.

Order this spacer on the Powerlet/Other page.

As shown to the left here, the standard Powerlet Socket comes with a .0135" rubber spacer. Putting this spacer on the top under the socket will give you a bit more rear clearance. You can also order an extra of the regular spacer PMI-015 and use two on the front or one on the back/one on the front, for extra clearance. Using the maximum spacer PMI-008 above, you won't be able to fit the stock socket spacer. The stock rubber washer is designed as a cushion for the rear of the socket, to provide a bit of flexibility to the socket.

Before deciding whether you need an extra thick spacer, consider the thickness of the panel you will mount the socket on. If your panel is quite thick, chances are the extra thick rubber washer won't fit, and therefore won't be needed.

 Typical Powerlet Socket Installations

On my old K100RS (below), I installed a Cigar Socket and Two Powerlet Sockets on my left kneepad. The bottom socket powered my heated vest, the middle socket powered my GPS, and the cigar socket was for any other uses such as a air pump or cellphone charger.

Powerlet's New Socket Bracket

I use a Powerbar Plus on my Africa Twin so I mounted up the new bracket right beside it for comparisons. The new bracket needs 1.5" (3.9 cm) of bar real estate. That's a little more than a Powerbar or Powerbar Plus as you can see here below. The same bracket holds either a Powerlet Socket or Powerlet's Automotive Socket. For fitting a regular socket there's two metal discs included, for the Automotive socket it fits directly in the bracket's hole.

Above, a regular Powerlet (BMW style) Socket fitted with the metal rings. (Powerbar Plus on the left)

Below, Powerlet's Automotive style Socket.

Above, a regular Powerlet (BMW style) Socket fitted with the metal rings.

Below, Powerlet's Automotive style Socket.

Cockpit rider's view.