TurboTap - Upcoming Product Design Blog

Update 22nd August 2025

TurboTap product roadmap has a plug and play USB fast charger. Currently in design assessment as there are a few decision points on where best to tap in.

The TurboTap light, horn & turn switch adopts NAMI wiring convention, with roadmap for conversion cables (if needed) to accommodate Kaabo and Teverun models. The switch is the best circuit to tap into, as nearly all makes/models have a light, horn & turn switch. So most likely, the TurboTap USB port will connect to the black 6-pin M8 switch connector.

Other circuit candidates have been dropped. 3-pin yellow M8 NFC connector abandoned as NFC is commonly becoming integrated in display and Teverun/TNE adopt different plug pinout which requires gender conversion and swapping pins to maintain polarity. The 2-pin red M8 headlight connector dropped as exclusive to NAMI.

I have switch pinouts documented for Kaabo and Teverun/Blade/TNE but have not validated if they are same pinouts or require conversion from the inaugural TurboTap NAMI standard.

So it will likely be once the TurboTap switch has been ratified for the common makes, USB will draw from the 6-pin black M8 switch connector (NAMI convention), and conversion cables will be produced for makes that adopt different pinouts (if necessary) so only one type of switch needs be fabricated. If wanting to retain the stock switch, a 6-pin M8 Y-splitter would then allow the switch conversion cable to be connected in parallel, but it would not be used for the switch - it would adopt the pinouts for the TurboTap USB to connect.

There is another TurboTap design (part of TurboThrottle) that supports conversion to external aftermarket throttle for popular models that have integrated finger trigger throttle (e.g. Kaabo/Teverun throttle with buttons). This splits out a Yellow 3-pin M8 connector for Wuxing KTRB throttles such as vertical 300X thumb. That one, like the TurboTap USB incorporates a buck converter to drop voltage to 5V.

The off-the shelf 3rd party AliExpress handlebar mounted USB ports that support native system voltage do so by an external buck convertor which on assessment aren't waterproof. I have evaluated heaps of them, they are not fit for purpose.

An external waterproof FULCREE / XWST delivering 3A (15 watts at 5V) which isn't incredibly fast but sufficiently faster than 0.5/1.0A USB of a display / v1.0 USB. These have two outputs, presented as moulded line plugs such as USB C and USB A (which aren't waterproof). This conversion is best and most efficient. Alternatively, the handlebar mounted type with panel mount USB could be adopted, but this involves double buck conversion 72 > 12-24 > 5V USB. Part of that design decision will be the fast charging support of the various options. For example, there are excellent fast charging (PD/QC3.0), nice looking, switched panel mount USB chargers, but as they are reliant on external buck conversion to meet their native 12-24V requirement, they will only provide a charge of 1.0A (5w) or 2.1A (1.5w), nothing higher than 5 volts. Despite marketed as supporting higher voltages (PD/QC3.0) they do not when used with provided buck convertor. This makes them hard to source as their listings get removed on AliExpress after the reviews. I am yet to find/test one that supports the marketed claims and validating if a higher capacity buck converter resolves the interoperability issue.

So expecting TurboTap USB to tap into the light, horn & turn switch.

Update September 2025

Light and Horn Switch product listed for pre-order launch.

Update Late 2024

Rough/draft functional schematic showing the three switches and input/output cables. Much of this superseded by newer designs.

The lithium battery voltage meter shown below is undergoing testing to best determine where it should interconnect. It will likely use the same type of connector as the headlight (M8 2-pin red). It will likely connect to switched outputs on switch #2 (or #1), alternatively a dedicated power-ON connector could be added to the design of any (or all three) switching modules. More design through required. The USB Dashboard shown on the right will likely not adopt that particular 9-90V buck convertor as they are likely unable to sustain current required for QC3.0 and PD (Power Delivery) fast charging. It will also have switch on front adjacent to USB-A and USB-C ports.