• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Voltage idiot light.

  • Thread starter Thread starter bluewool
  • Start date Start date
B

bluewool

Guest
I have avoided putting a voltmeter on any of my bikes because they are intrusive and hideous for the most part. However I came across this review on Webbikeworld and thought some of you may be interested. I did a search and didn't find any references to it.

Clearwater Voltage Sentry review webbikeworld
 
Last edited:
Although what I really need this time of year is a "Village Idiot Light" not a Voltage one.. 'tis the season.
 
That Clearwater unit seems to be OK, until you realize that any time the voltage is over 13.2, the light will be flashing. :!:

In my pea-pickin' little mind, a flashing light is a WARNING light.

I am under the impression that most of our bikes are operating at 13.2 volts or more, ... virtually all the time, except maybe idling at a stop light.

.
 
These devices are perfect for people like me who are colorblind. I know the light means something, but I'll never know what, for sure (unless I ask someone with normal color vision...).
 
Dang, I read that title as "Village Idiot Light" for some reason. Had a confusing few seconds there.

Anyhoo, I've played around with one of those lights (fortunately, koolaid_kid spent his hard-earned cash on it and not me) and although it seems like a good idea, I don't think either one of us felt happy with it.

As mentioned, the setpoints are the main problem. Most healthy motorcycle charging systems normally run somewhere around 14.2 - 14.4 volts. I also don't think the thing should ever start blinking -- too distracting and annoying. I wouldn't mind it going yellow when you're at a stop light, but it shouldn't go red when things are working normally. The mounting options are also limited. It's a decent idea, but it needs the ability to change the setpoints and alter its behavior, along with cleaner mounting options that don't involve drilling holes in your motorcycle.


I have one of these wee waterproof digital volt meters from ADVmonster on my V-Strom (modern Suzukis suffer from exactly the same electrical failings), and so far I'm very pleased. I get to see actual numbers when I want, with no distracting flashing. Mine is mounted down inside the fairing -- very much out of the way unless I specifically decide to glance down there:
http://stores.homestead.com/hstrial-QualiRegResou/-strse-23/Waterproof-Digital-Voltmeter/Detail.bok
 
Had the flashing LED, hated it. It kept switching modes far too quickly, and the flashing was very distracting. Never again.
 
bwringer said:
Dang, I read that title as "Village Idiot Light" for some reason. Had a confusing few seconds there.
Click to expand...

I've been reading it like that since I posted it. Thought it may have been an omen..

bwringer said:
I have one of these wee waterproof digital volt meters from ADVmonster on my V-Strom (modern Suzukis suffer from exactly the same electrical failings), and so far I'm very pleased. I get to see actual numbers when I want, with no distracting flashing. Mine is mounted down inside the fairing -- very much out of the way unless I specifically decide to glance down there:
http://stores.homestead.com/hstrial-QualiRegResou/-strse-23/Waterproof-Digital-Voltmeter/Detail.bok
Click to expand...

Modern Triumphs suffer from the same also. That's a decent size and it is waterproof which is essential. Homemade waterproofing doesn't really cut it for me.
 
Want something simple ,unobtrusive and CHEEP ? I got a green led panel light and a 11 volt zener diode wired into "on" side of ignition switch in headlight bucket. When your bike is charging nicely/normally (about 13 volts or so at battery) LED stays lit and you can be happy!
In attached pic, screwdriver tip is pointing to LED housing. This is my backup when my onboard Chinese voltmeter fails.
 

I added this cheap Chinese voltmeter to the 83 triple cover I use on the 85 750.Have a stock cover if I need/want to go back to being "in the dark".Picked up 2,one for the 750 and another for the 1000.Mounting it on the thou will be ineresting:-k
 
tom203 said:
Want something simple ,unobtrusive and CHEEP ? I got a green led panel light and a 11 volt zener diode wired into "on" side of ignition switch in headlight bucket. When your bike is charging nicely/normally (about 13 volts or so at battery) LED stays lit and you can be happy!
In attached pic, screwdriver tip is pointing to LED housing. This is my backup when my onboard Chinese voltmeter fails.
Click to expand...
now, that's a clever idea...!
Simplicity is perfect, so let me complicate it!
I wonder if you could just add simple diodes "in series" to that green led to "up" the "on" voltage ... Where the 13 indicator and 11v zener has no added series diode , a 13.6 would + 1 , a 14.2; +2, a 14.8 ; +3 and especially useful, a 15.4; +4 , that might indicate Overcharging ...all without the nasty blinking of the ones you can buy.

I also seem to recall that Different colours of leds have slightly different "forward voltages" so it might want a little tinkering and compromise to get an exact indication of a particular voltage .
 
SVSooke said:

I added this cheap Chinese voltmeter to the 83 triple cover I use on the 85 750.Have a stock cover if I need/want to go back to being "in the dark".Picked up 2,one for the 750 and another for the 1000.Mounting it on the thou will be ineresting:-k
Click to expand...

I bought about eight of these for $10 or so, have them on a few bikes now. They work fine.
 
bluewool said:
Modern Triumphs suffer from the same also. That's a decent size and it is waterproof which is essential. Homemade waterproofing doesn't really cut it for me.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that -- shortly after I installed the meter on my V-Strom, I installed one of the same meters on a friend's recent-model Tiger.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.


I'm still looking for that village idiot light. However, in any village with a gas station or burger stand, the local imbecile always seems to find me as soon as I take my helmet off. They always seem to have a story about the bike they usedta ride back when they were normal... Perhaps a village idiot light would only be a constantly flashing distraction.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top