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Hook#3287
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« on: January 12, 2021, 04:49:33 PM » |
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If you have an on board volt meter gauge so you can monitor voltage while riding (if you don’t you need one). The above quote from Jeff(Chrisj CMA)'s post on Tip to Reduce Aggravation got me thinking I should do that. What's the different gauges available and the difficulty of install? Any suggestions and pics you got would be appreciated. |
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vanagon40
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« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2021, 06:07:29 PM » |
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 I bought a used marine gauge and bent some aluminum around it. I ran a fused wire directly from the battery (same as the power source for my after-market horn) through a single relay triggered by the auxiliary power source. The only voltage drop is the wire and relay. |
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2021, 06:37:42 PM » |
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I too ordered a marine meter from Overtons and bent some wood around it and mounted it to the center bolt of the windshield hardware. I ran a fused hot lead to the battery and the ground has a switch mounted on the plastic neck panel on the left side so I can turn on the meter when the engine is off to check the battery. Running  Not running  The switch  |
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« Last Edit: January 12, 2021, 08:15:45 PM by Chrisj CMA »
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Jims99
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« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2021, 06:46:05 AM » |
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I have a usb charger that has a digital volt meter built in. I can keep an eye on voltage as I’m charging the phone. Can’t find the picture I had but I believe it came from eBay.
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The light at the end of the tunnel, is a train.
99 tourer
00 interstate
97 standard
91 wing
78 trail 70
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Gryphon Rider
Member
Posts: 5227
2000 Tourer
Calgary, Alberta
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« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2021, 07:31:53 AM » |
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Since JustPics isn't working, I can't show you my Kuryakyn voltmeter which I mounted to the triple tree, but I can show you how Daniel Meyer mounted his:  Fastened with double-sided tape. For wiring, all any voltmeter needs is two wires to positive and negative. I put mine on an ignition-switched circuit so it doesn't draw down the battery when the bike isn't running. Some gauges might have a separate wire for backlighting. |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2021, 08:46:36 AM » |
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I have those on both bikes too. They really aren't volt meters, just fancier idiot lights.
One of mine started acting up last year, always starting in the green, but dropping down into red later on (actually alternating from green to red), which was worrisome. When I punch it, it goes back into the green, for awhile. And I cannot detect any charging or battery problem at all.
I wish I had real meters.
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2021, 08:52:11 AM » |
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I have those on both bikes too. They really aren't volt meters, just fancier idiot lights.
One of mine started acting up last year, always starting in the green, but dropping down into red later on (actually alternating from green to red), which was worrisome. When I punch it, it goes back into the green, for awhile. And I cannot detect any charging or battery problem at all.
I wish I had real meters.
A friend of mine has one of those. His is not very consistent. And it seems even if it’s in the green he can’t tell me with any confidence what the volts reading is. I suppose it’s better than nothing but a unit that reads out the volts or an analog gauge seems what we need |
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« Last Edit: January 13, 2021, 02:31:07 PM by Chrisj CMA »
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mmgoatman
Member
Posts: 9
2000 Valkyrie Interstate
Ganado, Texas
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« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2021, 02:44:19 PM » |
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Mooskee
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« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2021, 04:14:55 PM » |
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The voltmeter is a Chinese thing off Amazon. The brackets and cans are Autometer, bought on Amazon. I modified the mounts by putting a piece of polished aluminum tubing as a spacer in the bracket and adding Stainless hardware. The handlebar clamps are 1 inch handlebar cable clamps from eBay. The wiring for a voltmeter is just + and - from battery (fused). I have a power distribution box setup to energize the accessories when switch is on. The clock of course is wired always on, but the light comes on with the switch. I included the schematics if you are interested in doing something like that.    There is a typo in my note. It should say "85 and 86 are interchangeable, but flyback diode cathode must be connected to + coil connection." |
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« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 04:53:31 PM by Mooskee »
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MarkT
Member
Posts: 5196
VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"
Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km
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« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2021, 04:47:36 PM » |
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I run an Escort Passport radar detector and select it to display volts when not reporting radar. It works very well and is quite accurate. It has saved me several times, indicating I have a charging problem. I would have been stuck on the side of the remote Hwy 86 in Colorado, when returning from Roanoke Inzane had the Passport not told me the volts had gradually decreased from 14.3v to 11.4: meaning NO CHARGE BUDDY DO SOMETHING. I had wired all my lights and stereo so I could shut them off. I did and made it those last hundred miles home on the battery. If I hadn't - no doubt I'd have been dead on the road. No it's not as pretty as an analog gauge. But it works better - the volts displayed digitally and no calibration needed. For me - form follows function.
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Steel cowboy
Member
Posts: 1284
Moving ahead so life won’t pass me by.
Spring Hill, Fl.
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« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2021, 03:40:17 AM » |
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Amazon has some led numbered voltage gauges, they are simple to connect (red to positive and black to negative) and have double sided tape on the back side. Cost around $12
If you want an amp gauge, that’s more complex.
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2001 black interstate
2003 Jupiter Orange wing
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