Hookup a digital voltmeter

[Karen]

I have a red led voltmeter which I had hooked up to what I thought was a switched positive wire; it was, kinda. It was the right turn signal; every time I put the right signal on, it stopped working, and when it was working, it was reading lower than actual voltage; one of my buddies used a voltmeter that goes in the cigarette lighter & it was reading 14+, while mine was 12+. Since I'm oiling the K&N filter, the gas tank is off, and I'd like to rewire this, but I can't find a switched hot wire anywhere, everything I've tried is 12v+ key on or off. (Interstate) Any thoughts on where to look would be welcome,  still have the antifreeze to change & swapping out the speakers with Polks. Thanks for your thoughts!

[sugerbear]

i believe there's a switched supply under the right side cover. i need to find it myself bought a digital voltmeter also but haven't hooked it up yet.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Mine is hooked to a running light wire in the plug for the right front blinker.

[Karen]

Thanks, Sugarbear & Mr.Bubbles, I found an unused connector that had a switched wire under the right side cover, and it's working fine now. Looks like I just used the wrong wire on the right turn signal. Easier to run a new line back tio the side cover than play with the rat's nest in the fairing. Thanks again!

[MarkT]

If you hook up the meter to a line that is powering something, it is likely the readout will be reduced by the powered item.  If you set up a buss with fusebox with a large power wire, preferably powered on by a relay, you should get a valid reading.  This is how I set up my voltmeter.  Or just make a dedicated circuit from the battery - but still power it with a relay, triggered by say the aux. wire, or the running light circuit. My meter normally reads 14.3v, not affected much by what I've turned on - but then I have a Compufire 1.3kW alternator.

[Chrisj CMA]

If you do like suggested already....run a dedicated line from the battery to the meter and then a ground you will have a true reading.  I did this and then I put a switch in the ground lead so I can turn the volt meter on while the bike is off to see static battery voltage, then once she starts I get alternator output