Author Topic: Voltmeter  (Read 7302 times)

Offline beilts

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Voltmeter
« on: October 30, 2012, 07:16:11 PM »
Picked up this voltmeter for about $35 and installed it this weekend. Put it just under temperature gauge. Drilled one hole through the panel and stuck it on (stickum included). Added some wire and ran it back to the switched panel I added last year. Works fine I guess. I seemed to have been having battery problems and wanted to make sure I was putting out the correct voltage. Turns out I think I had a bad cell in the battery. I do not run much for electrical so I did not put on an ammeter.

Will update you on this.

One side note.........it reflects up on to my windshield.............heads up display!

Offline T Cro ®

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2012, 07:45:44 PM »
Amp meters are too much trouble for what they offer, you have to run big wire and pass all load through the meter or you have to wire in a shunt. Much better off with a voltage meter....
Tony P. Crochet
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Offline tweeter55

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2012, 05:45:50 AM »
Did the same thing 3 years ago with my C10. Put it on the LH side where there's open area. Been working great with no problems whatsoever. Little peace of mind goes a long ways.
Over the years:       1972 Harley Rapido
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Offline kathybrj

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2012, 07:54:50 AM »
That looks like the Kuryakyn Blaise put on his bike. If it is don't get it wet. His died.
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Offline SteveJ.

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2012, 07:20:14 PM »
That looks like the Kuryakyn Blaise put on his bike. If it is don't get it wet. His died.
I'm thinkin he must of had a defective on, mine has been out in the elements for many years, no issues.

One thing I did to cut down the brightness was to install a sheet of window tint over it, I think 90%. I like it.
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Offline fred-houston

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2012, 04:55:00 AM »
I'm thinkin he must of had a defective on, mine has been out in the elements for many years, no issues.

One thing I did to cut down the brightness was to install a sheet of window tint over it, I think 90%. I like it.

I agree, I had one on my BMW for at least 7 or 8 years before it died.  It went through many of rain storms and was completely exposed.
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Offline Leo

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2012, 05:55:39 PM »
Voltmeters are fine.  With Alternator systems, you will never get the Amperage without the voltage being there.  If the volts are good, you know that amps are fine.  Good Luck
Yep, still riding the old one

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Offline GeeBeav

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2012, 08:45:32 PM »
I like numbers - better for seeing trends. This one is tiny, totally waterproof, easy to hook up.
http://www.bikemeters.com/cgi-bin/webshop.cgi?config=ent-datel
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Offline George R. Young

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2012, 09:24:37 PM »
65 CB160 (67-69), 69 350GTR (69-72), 72 R5, 73 RD350 (73-84), 82 XZ550 Vision (84-03), 01 Concours C10 (03-19), 89 EX250 (11-14), 00 SV650S (14-16), 03 SV650S (19-)

Offline T Cro ®

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #9 on: November 05, 2012, 07:09:04 AM »
I like numbers - better for seeing trends. This one is tiny, totally waterproof, easy to hook up.
http://www.bikemeters.com/cgi-bin/webshop.cgi?config=ent-datel

Digital meters are really nice as long as the sample rate does not cause constant change; I tried a digital meter a while back and it drove me to distraction  with it continually changing the last digits. Another issue I have with digital meters and well as bar graph is they can be hard to read when your eyesight is not what it used to be. This is why I installed a standard automotive sized 2.5" dial face with a sweep needle as I can read it even though the numbers are slightly blurred.
Tony P. Crochet
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Offline bbroj

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #10 on: November 05, 2012, 04:38:50 PM »
That looks like the Kuryakyn Blaise put on his bike. If it is don't get it wet. His died.

Yup, same one. Worked great until it didn't. It started misbehaving in a heavy rain, it had been wet before with no issues. Called for manufacturer support, no deal, out of warranty. So, it sits dead on my dash, though it occasionally goes through its start up routine. I'm looking for a replacement, would like a backlit, rectangular analog gauge. No luck finding one that fits those requirements.
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Offline George R. Young

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Offline bbroj

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Re: Analog (analogue)
« Reply #12 on: November 05, 2012, 07:24:23 PM »
Backlit
http://www.lascarelectronics.com/temperaturedatalogger.php?datalogger=159

Others
http://www.lascarelectronics.com/usb-data-logger.php?panelchooser=1&cat[]=109

I like it, a lot! My only reservation is that it lists itself as "splash proof". I have no problem with scaling the correct resistors for full scale operation and a series resistor for backlit operation, but I wash my bike as well as riding it in foul weather. I had troubles with a unit described as "water proof", so "splash proof" concerns me. I do like the look, it's very much what I have in mind.
'12 C-14, Vance and Hines CS One muffler, lowered pegs, tank bra, bar risers, Phil's Farkles rack with Givi V46 top box, fender extender, Bucks tail brights, Canyon Cages and much more to come!
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Offline George R. Young

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #13 on: November 06, 2012, 06:55:13 AM »
I've had the 'splashproof' digital voltmeter and thermometer on for years in some pretty good rain. No problems so far.
65 CB160 (67-69), 69 350GTR (69-72), 72 R5, 73 RD350 (73-84), 82 XZ550 Vision (84-03), 01 Concours C10 (03-19), 89 EX250 (11-14), 00 SV650S (14-16), 03 SV650S (19-)

Offline John_Atkinson

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #14 on: November 17, 2012, 08:03:01 PM »


the unit I have had on Zeke for the past 17 - 18 years (originally from Aerostich) is from here:

http://www.visualinstruments.com
John Atkinson
'91 Connie "Zeke"
217,000 km and counting...

Offline Strawboss

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #15 on: November 18, 2012, 04:00:35 PM »
I installed what is called a "Battery Bug", thats the product name. Sounds great, plug and play, digital, constant readout, tells you the voltage and the percent left in battery and percent used last start, mount it anywhere. My system may be bad, but when I took my battery in to be replaced cause the thing said it was low, battery was fine. That was 3 years ago, bought an old fashioned lead acid and no problems since. The bug has been showing 24% battery life left just after the second time I started it up with the new battery. Yes, I inserviced the new battery exactly as stated in the manual. Thinking of going with this type of meter.
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Offline julianop

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #16 on: November 18, 2012, 06:08:39 PM »
The problem with battery monitor devices like that is that they can only do as good a job as the "visibility" they have of the battery and of the electrical system into which they are connected.

For example, if there is a bad connection between the battery and the point in the system at which the device is connected, then that bad connection will look like a high internal resistance, and the battery will be pronounced bad. Also, if the device doesn't have an inline current shunt (a low value resistor that connects in series with the battery) - and from what I can glean from online descriptions - then the device cannot properly measure charge/discharge current and transient voltage drop during periods of high discharge, which are essential to determining battery life. I see no way of programming the device as a function of the specific battery characteristics - rated Ah  being the most obvious.

I'm not suggesting that you don't have it connected up properly, but there's only so much you can do by measuring voltage.
Julian.
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Offline JDM

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Re: Voltmeter
« Reply #17 on: November 19, 2012, 07:04:33 AM »
I am a lazy SOB, I use one of these and have for years. http://www.ebay.com/itm/170776852028?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649  PS this device will not measure the amount of gas you have, you will need a plug for this to work.. ;) 
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Offline George R. Young

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