Installing a tiny voltmeter to check battery state

[wordsmith]

Today I installed the tiny $4 voltmeter into the front rhs ciggie-socket.

I read from others here who’d done the same that the mounting hole in the steel surround of the rhs socket space is a fraction under-size, and requires reaming out a little.   Not having a Dremel I attacked the hole with a half-round file, but the steel surround is pretty chunky, and I didn’t make lot of progress – also, I was pretty concerned about damaging anything in that general area if the file had slipped.

So I took a lazy way out, and very carefully filed the peaks off the plastic threads on the unit that was to be secured with a matching plastic screw-on ring, mounted from below.   I took off the bare minimum, and it worked first time, allowing a now very easy fit of the unit into the hole.

A tip if I may for first-timers (as we all are once): there are three layers of components – screen, screen mounting-plate, and plastic cover part that’s held in with four of those very smart push-fit nylon fasteners – that need removing in order to access the wiring and auxiliary plugs behind/ under the screen.   First of all, lock the screen into the highest position.   In turn that will lock in-place two pairs of tiny, easy-to-dislodge nylon wheels (see second pic) that run vertically up and down the screen adjuster mechanism (have you ever seen anything so complex for such a simple  function?).

Hopefully, the voltmeter will allow me to avoid an annoying/ embarrassing stunt of a few weeks ago, when I climbed aboard and found the engine wouldn’t start thanks to a depleted battery after about six weeks of the bike being unused!   Now I’ll be able to instantly check battery voltage before pressing the ‘start’ button!

This $4 item is undoubtedly the cheapest farkle I’ve ever fitted, but may be one of the most useful.

[WindsorPhil]

Can you see it when your on the bike. I have the same one coming in a few days.

 

[sirepair]

I installed similar VM with 2 USB charging ports on left handlebar. Easy to see and simple access for charging phone, etc.  See this page for pics: https://www.tracer900.net/topic/5619-reliable-usb-power-clearly-not-from-the-cigarette-adapter/page/3/

 

 

[wordsmith]

3 hours ago, WindsorPhil said:

Can you see it when your on the bike. I have the same one coming in a few days.

 

In a word - NO!   Which was something of a surprise when I came to fit it - but on reflection one doesn't need to keep an eye on it at all times unlike other key read-outs such as mph/ kph/ gear indicator, etc.   Sirrepair's clever set-up above does, it seems, let it be visible at all times.

[betoney]

4 hours ago, wordsmith said:

In a word - NO!   Which was something of a surprise when I came to fit it -

I thought about that when this was originally discussed a few weeks ago. I went out and sat on my bike and discovered that I couldn’t even see the 12v sockets in a normal riding position but I agree with you, you only need to verify the voltage on occasion. 

[wordsmith]

FYI, all: when the bike is running, voltage shows as 13.6V.   Sounds about right.

[jonno12345]

On 4/10/2019 at 7:13 AM, wordsmith said:

FYI, all: when the bike is running, voltage shows as 13.6V.   Sounds about right.

Really?? Mine usually shows 14.1 at idle, 14.2 when under revs, and thats with fog lights, camera, heated grips and seat...

[wordsmith]

4 hours ago, jonno12345 said:

Really?? Mine usually shows 14.1 at idle, 14.2 when under revs, and thats with fog lights, camera, heated grips and seat...

Make that 13.8 (on a long-ish run last weekend) with 2 x front LED DRLs on all the time.   Suggestions here are 12.5v to 13.5v as normal, and allows for minor variations in the voltmeter so I'm happy.

[clint]

I went with a SparkBright unit...very happy with it.