GPS Tracker inside a battery?

[steveindenmark]

I have a mini GPS tracker which I use on my motorbike.

Mini Global GPS Tracker

It sits in a matchbox, inside a bag, inside my hard panniers. It is powered by a small battery which is charged up from the mains or the computer. The charge lasts about 12 hours which is a pain but it does come with 2 batteries and I only really need the tracker when I park up at night.

The tracker has all sorts of functions and I can ring the tracker up anywhere in the world and find out where it.

My question is, as we have a ready power supply on our bikes why can`t something like a GPS tracker be built into the battery? Obviously it would add to the cost but having read posts where people are happy to pay £50+ for a chains etc, I think this could possibly be a seller.

Steve

 

[trex]

Hi Steve,
I thought the device comes with a car charger which should accept 12V or 24V input.

 

[NRG]

With many batteries theres simply no room even for a matchbox to be fitted. Also battery and bike are not always likely to be together so it would be better to fit it to the controller or inside the frame.

 

[celedep]

Interesting, I would be very keen to get the details of your matchbox tracker. i want one myself for my bike so please post or message me some further details. Thanks.

 

[trex]

Best place for it would be inside the front light, use the same 5V supply for the light and the GPS.

 

[steveindenmark]

Rear light tracker

Interesting, I would be very keen to get the details of your matchbox tracker. i want one myself for my bike so please post or message me some further details. Thanks.

The link for my tracker is in the first post.

I also found this link. A tracker within a rear light. I have not looked at this yet but my initial thought is how to stop the light from being stolen in the first place.

GPS Bicycle Tracker

Steve

 

[morphix]

I have a mini GPS tracker which I use on my motorbike.

Mini Global GPS Tracker

It sits in a matchbox, inside a bag, inside my hard panniers. It is powered by a small battery which is charged up from the mains or the computer. The charge lasts about 12 hours which is a pain but it does come with 2 batteries and I only really need the tracker when I park up at night.

The tracker has all sorts of functions and I can ring the tracker up anywhere in the world and find out where it.

My question is, as we have a ready power supply on our bikes why can`t something like a GPS tracker be built into the battery? Obviously it would add to the cost but having read posts where people are happy to pay £50+ for a chains etc, I think this could possibly be a seller.

Steve

That's an excellent idea Steve. I bet insurance companies might give more favourite premiums if you had a device like that.. I wonder if a "GPS Satellite Tracking Protection" label would put any would-be thieves off.

 

[trex]

I found this:
easy to secure to the frame?

 

[steveindenmark]

Morphix. I think putting labels on a bike would only alert thieves to the fact that they had to find the device and get rid of it. If it was built into the battery then they would have to get rid of that. A bit of a pointless exercise stealing an electric bike if you have to dump the power scource.

Trex. I am not sure what that is but it is easy to see and easy to destroy.

Steve

 

[trex]

Hi Steve, the picture is of a GPS tracker for children/old people. It's supposed to be easy to clip onto clothing or kept in your pocket or padlocked to something. The GPS tracker of the OP measures 64mm x 46 mm x 17mm. This one is smaller and lasts longer on one charge (100 hours on standby)
The one below lasts about 48 hours on standby.

 

[KirstinS]

I might have a solution to two main problems with GPS trackers. The key problems as I see it are

1) Tracker requries charging daily (assuming a 12 hour or battery lifetime)
2) Trackers integrated into a battery solve the battery issue BUT create a new issue i.e. the battery is often not attched to the bike unless in use. I'd argue the bike is less likey to be stolen while in use !

So to my mind the best way top deal with both issues (and add a little stealth into the bargain) would be to pit a GPS unit witha small battery inside the frame. Could be in seat tube or handle bars - wherever. That would go flat in 12 hours but what if the small GPS battery could be charged from the main battery pack. That whilst your main battery is away from the bike the small battery runs the GPS. Next day when you head off for your communte it will charge up from the main battery. Then you take battery into the office leaving the small one running the GPS. Ok this would need some extra wiring but if you can run some lights from a main battery this should be pretty easy I'd have thought ?....

Main advantages are you wouldnt have to worry about charging two devices -it would almost a "fit and forget" gizmo

thought ?