Member Contributer BonusVFR Posted January 19, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted January 19, 2008 My battery has been hanging on for a couple of years. You tend to be lazy about batteries in San Diego. Actually, it was almost 7 years old. And I have been adding electrical crap to the VFR for recent tours so I needed to check that I can carry the electrical load! Plus it pains me so to see my buddies so tired when they have to push my 99 (the 7th gen will be lighter I hear)! Fortunately, Mr. Claus purchased some goodies for the other bike and picked up a LED Battery Monitor for the VFR as well. Smart guy! Following HS lead, I wanted something plain. The Electrical Connection monitor is just a simple 3 color LED that barely sticks out of the fairing/mounting. Basically 99% of what you see here is under the fairing. It follows the Idiot light maxim or KISS. RED - less than 11.5 volts AMBER - 11.9 to 11.5 volts GREEN - 12 volts and up The install was pretty simple. First a check of my battery after a night on the Tender and just a few key turns. The light sits on the right side in exactly the same relative position as my heated grip rocker switch which is on the left side. That would be a Red Light! Then a check with the volt meter beside the Blue Sea, which now has GPS, grips, socket and now Voltage monitor hooked up. So the LED light and voltmeter agree – less than 11.5 volts. Not OK! Minutes latter ……………Up and going with a new battery (local MC shop/Walmart?) and 12 volts plus. The light is a little weak in direct sun but you have an option to do away with the plain cover and just go with the bulb. I will give it a try this way for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Lobster Posted January 19, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted January 19, 2008 I've been contemplating buying this one:http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/ProductDe...ab=overview#tab I have been looking into Volt Gauge options, and it seems Datel is the common choice. I see nothing about this being a waterproof meter however. I am guessing because it is solid state, and generally flush mounted that water isn't a problem?Second question, and more pertinent....is there a reason people use the rectangle ones instead of round ones? Radar and I were talking, and round ones would be easier to install I would think. What are your thoughts? Pictures of installs? Where did you get them? Better hurry, Ron...they only have 234 left in stock!!! :offtopic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlecreek Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 EDIT: 06/03/08 i recently went through a huge rain storm...150 miles of soggyness.....my lascar started acting up. i pulled it off today and something is loose inside. the reading goes crazy when i wiggle the wire not sure if just coincidence with rainstorm. i should have put some silicone on it to hold the tiny wires better thats pretty cool. i just installed the LASCAR EMV1200 and it is water proof, but it didn't fit as well on the fairing you mounted yours on. no big though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Rivcyko Posted January 19, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted January 19, 2008 Really like mine. (Custom dynamics). volt.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspanglish Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 I think I read about some guy in the UK who can program the led display and set it up so that instead of shwing the time, it gives a voltage reading from the battery. Of course you've got to send him and live without your instrument panel for a while... and it was pretty exy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer BonusVFR Posted January 19, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted January 19, 2008 For Skutter Eyes Only...................... <_< I picked up a Volt guage for that other bigger bike as well! Actually the instrument may work fine on the VFR too. Old fashioned analog interface but it does not dance around with constant flickering changes either. It is only 1.5 diameter so it should fit anywhere and it is white LED illuminated and waterproof. Have not installed yet. Electrical Connection Meter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Silver#788 Posted January 19, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted January 19, 2008 I use a blue Datel and it is waterproof. After installing the R1 R/R I my volts run 13.6 to 14.2 depending on if I just started the bike or if its been running few a while. The datel is perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tightwad Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 I was thinking of making my own, in a pod that would fit between the dash and the windscreen....but I don't have enough gauges to put in there. I wonder if a TPS gauge would work (no, not the report, the Throttle Sensor) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Rivcyko Posted January 28, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted January 28, 2008 I was thinking of making my own, in a pod that would fit between the dash and the windscreen....but I don't have enough gauges to put in there.I wonder if a TPS gauge would work (no, not the report, the Throttle Sensor) There's an idea. One bar of led's for the TPS, on the left,under the speedo. (left to right, red, amber, green). And another led bar for gearing, on the right, under the gas guage. (green, amber, red). I'd buy that farkle. P.S. The answer for not being able to see my single LED voltmeter, in bright sunlight. 100_4330.JPG 100_4331.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tightwad Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 I was thinking of making my own, in a pod that would fit between the dash and the windscreen....but I don't have enough gauges to put in there.I wonder if a TPS gauge would work (no, not the report, the Throttle Sensor) There's an idea. One bar of led's for the TPS, on the left,under the speedo. (left to right, red, amber, green). And another led bar for gearing, on the right, under the gas guage. (green, amber, red). I'd buy that farkle. P.S. The answer for not being able to see my single LED voltmeter, in bright sunlight. You would put it under the dash? Seems it might be hard to see if you have GPS or funny looking Triple tree bags... :rolleyes: I thought above the dash would fit well....but then I know nothing of making molds. Nice thought on the shift count, that would be a useful one as well at times.....Hmmm, tie that to the Tach and a warning light when RPMs get too low without the clutch in......I think that is beyond my meager abilities however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrelman Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Harbor Freight sells a useful "alternator testor" for about $5 that has 7 led's that indicate charging status. Mounting on the bike will test your ingenuity, but it's an inexpensive, weatherproof device. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer kaldek Posted January 29, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted January 29, 2008 Really like mine. (Custom dynamics). volt.JPG Highfive, brother! I love my Signal Dynamics Voltmeter. I could never make it fit where you put it though. I guess I didn't have the finger dexterity to shove it in there under the tacho? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Rivcyko Posted January 30, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted January 30, 2008 You would put it under the dash? Seems it might be hard to see if you have GPS or funny looking Triple tree bags... :rolleyes: Could really put them anywhere. Thanks Kaldek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tightwad Posted February 16, 2008 Author Share Posted February 16, 2008 OK, so I finally made my choice. It require a bit of custom work, but isn't that the fun? If anyone wants, I can do a writeup of the install...the only hard part was getting it straight and level with the other gauges. Here are some pictures: Volt Gauge powered off Volt Gauge powered on Volt Gauge with voltage regulator for 5v power supply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Motor_Ref Posted June 15, 2008 Member Contributer Share Posted June 15, 2008 I am not sure this is the best place for this but BaileyRock can move it if he wants. Fairly often I see posts about where to put a volt meter. If you have a GPS, look around in the settings. A couple weeks ago, I found the volt meter in my Garmin 276c. I would bet that other makes/models have one too. I even remember reading that some radar detectors have them built in. I looked in the one I have but couldn't find anything. That doesn't mean it isn't there, just that I couldn't find it. Happy hunting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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