Voltmeter options

[karoshi]

Looking for a voltmeter, needs to be 3-wire so I can have it only on with the ignition.. suitable for handlebar mounting onto a bike with no fairings.

I'm struggling to find anything that would be small enough (and waterproof enough) to stick on either a bar mount, or be glued to the upper yoke.

Front running option is this one at the moment but it's a month away in China.

Anyone know of anything I could get more local?
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[Copycat73]

why fit a permanent Volt meter .. an annual check is all that is required .. you are far more likely to have problems wit the battery than the generator and that wont take long to not start the bike..
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caveat emptor

[Tracer1234]

Stupid, naive question, what would be the purpose of this?

Not a dig, a genuine curiosity about what would be the purpose.


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Riding: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Occasionally Riding: 08 Suzuki SV650, Potato: 2011 Yamaha YBR Custom.
Used to ride: 2015 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer (smidsy) 09 Triumph Street Triple (P/X'd) 08 Yamaha YBR (Sold)
CBT 04/14. A: Mod 1 & 2 13/04/15

[karoshi]

[Copycat73]

frankly I would buy a multi meter.. run a live from the battery and connect said multi meter every time I used it . then back in my pocket.. .. volt meters as you describe will break in this environment as they aren't designed for it ... and yes been there done that..

PS.. the ZZR14 has one fitted as standard ... its never been used...other than to see if it works..

PPS.. I connect mine to the conditioner lead when I want to check voltage.
____________________
Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

I fitted an LED battery/charge monitor (voltmeter) from AO Services or Sparkbright (I forget which) after fixing a long-standing charging and stalling problem. I wired it into the sidelight on the left so it came on with the ignition key. It stopped the sidelight until I reversed the wires, and there was a voltage drop that far from the battery but it worked. After a short while though I realised I was obsessed with checking it, and it wasn't in direct view (in the left hand fairing top piece, see picture) so I took it off.

[Shinigami]

i use one of these cheap ones from ebay wired to a push button switch (can see it at the bottom)

https://i.imgur.com/B32NxiH.jpg
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Radiotwo]

[Pigeon]

[WD Forte]

A voltmeter is a bloody useful thing to have just like a temp gauge.
I make my own and at a glance can see if the charging circuit is functioning properly.
You only need 2 wires for supply and ground
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bikers smell of wee

[stinkwheel]

I have a cheap shit 2-wire one on my VFR because ti suffers intermittant charging issues (which I have now narrowed down to heat sinking problems and fixed).

I just attached it to a switched live. Only comes on with the ignition. The absolute voltage is unimportant. It's changes you need to watch for. Mine reads 13.8v consistantly while running with the lights on. Any lower and it means I left the heated grips on or something is wrong.

As said, an analogue ammeter is better than a voltmeter for monitoring battery charging. The enfield has one, and you know for sure if it is charging or discharging.

I just used one of these (from this seller, different LED colour). Fitted it into the removable fuse cover and potted over the back of it with epoxy resin (araldite) to keep it waterproof. I attached it with flying wires and spade terminals which alows me to unbolt it and use it to fix other peoples bikes while out on runs. It's been more useful for other peoples bikes than my own.

Bottom right:
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/drumbrake/CIMG1686_zps2e9b0a95.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[karoshi]

Thanks for the responses

To answer some of the questions I was looking for a 3 wire meter because I though I'd need to monitor ( + / - ) directly across the battery to see the charging output but didn't want it on all the time. Looking at the three wire type led me to believe that the 3rd wire (reference +ve?) would run of an ignition switched live feed and make the meter only run when ignition was on?

Reason for wanting it is after spending close on £200 to replace a battery & the stator wheel I really want to be able to see that the charging system is working when the bike is running.

[stinkwheel]

[G]

If you wanted that configuration, could easily switch it with a relay and connect the relay to another circuit.

[WD Forte]

I just connect mine to a live feed so it comes on when the bike is switched on.
I routinely test and check it with a meter and any voltage drop
from the battery to the point I patch in to is insignificant.

I made a simple weather proof gauge set for the old thing using a car temp gauge that is very accurate compared to the original one.
An expanded scale meter with 7 leds showing from about 11.5V to 17V with the sweet spot in the middle around 14.2V is all i need.
This is enough to show trends and if the voltage is going out of bounds
the bottom row has
2 yellow 3 green 2 red.leds
A glance tells me if all is well
yellow or red is cause for concern, centre green is optimal
https://imgur.com/nxFzTKy.jpg
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[stinkwheel]

There are also LED charge indicators.

Simple LED you mount of the dash. Green for good, goes yellow then red as you fail to charge. Flashes red and green if overcharging.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5mm-LED-12v-Voltmeter-Battery-level-Charge-monitor-indicator-lamp-gauge-meter-K-/192113209005?hash=item2cbad6eead:g:SxsAAOSwPhdVPWf1
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Here's mine.
https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/howlingterror_2006/DSCF0695.jpg

Word to the wise. Once fitted cover the underneath of the LED unit with a big dollop of silicone to keep the water out.
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Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[ADSrox0r]

[stinkwheel]

When silicone cures, it releases acaetic acid (vinegar) which is corrosive. I wouldn't be putting it on electrical componants.

Use epoxy.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Cheers for the info.

I put it in 6/7 years ago so I'm not rushing out to redo it in epoxy.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project