Volt meter & accessory outlet

[Fowlersrs]

Right guys,

Since I stripped out the shit alarm on my firestorm I have a spare 10 amp fused supply sat under my seat and I'd like to see it go to good use later this year when I tour Europe later this year with some buddies.

I'd like to install a volt meter displayed on the dash and ideally a accessories socket outlet under seat..

Firstly is this possible off one 10 amp supply?

secondly I've tested it and it's a permanently on supply and not an ignition one so I'd need to be able to switch it off, I'm guessing an inline switch could do that?

Thirdly, I have the positive but where do I terminate, does it have to come back to neutral or can it go to earth?

[AndyCF]

Sounds plausible.

The volt meter is going to read the voltage regardless, I would recommend if you are stringing a wire from the battery up the frame to the headstock area for the v.meter to consider putting a 1A fuse or something in it (near the battery end not the headstock end!) as there is no need to transport / risk a heavy current for just a volt meter.

You may find an ignition switched supply already here you can easily use though...

Regarding the accessory socket, could add a switch but if you are going to use something like a car cigar lighter socket for the 'outlet' might not be needed. Usually in cars these tend to be fused at 10A to 15A anyway from memory. I'm not sure how much current could be safely taken from said socket, I'd suspect 10A though but I could be wrong. Then again I guess you will not want that kind of current for 'accessories'

If fitting a switch, ensure its suitably rated.

Earthing: Any suitable point no need (slightly pointless in most cases) going all the way back to the battery. A good clean (clean being the word here) connection to the frame is all that is needed for 'earth' aka 0v. Do please (please) ensure your main battery earth lead/strap is good though where it connects to both the battery lug and the frame / other point.

[WD Forte]

1
A voltmeter takes very little current but it's best connected between a switched live and ground

2
My acc socket is permanently live (via protective fuse course)
they don't have to be switched, it's optional.

3
Most bikes I know of have no neutral, just live and ground
where the battery neg is strapped to frame

4 I have no idea what a firestorm is and cba to google it
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[Fisty]

[BTTD]

I used a relay to switch on/off my accessory socket. It saves me ever forgetting and running the battery flat.
I bought a cheap LED voltmeter off amazon, something like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/4-5-30V-Digital-Display-Voltage-Voltmeter/dp/B008KY5ULW/ref=sr_1_2?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1490772611&sr=1-2&keywords=voltmeter

I wired it off the relay too. The relay is triggered by the parking lights which I tend to run with on all the time.

[UnknownStuntm...]

[Matt B]

[BTTD]

Good spot, the one I have is indeed closed at the back and waterproof, not the exact one in the link.