Onboard Volt Meters - ? Do you have one ? (1983 GS850GL)

[Redman]

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Originally Posted by Redman
Other stock standard equipment that can be used as a voltage indicator would be the rate the turnsignals flash.

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Hawhaw! good idea-I've had machines like that,
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Other easy check, on our GS's (whos charging system puts out about nothing at idle) some time when at idle and can see headlight, maybe stopped at light or just pulled out of garage and can see headlight shining on something:
rev engine from idle and see if headlight brightens. THen know charging system is working.

Still no substitute for an onboard volt meter, but lets you know the charging system hasnt completely failed.

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[Grimly]

I've had one of the little cheap round red LED voltmeters on the GS for the past 3 or so years, and it's been reliable enough. The drawback of it is that anything brighter than a dull overcast day renders it almost unreadable, despite fitting a lens hood over it. The same voltmeter fitted down in the recess of the fairing on the XJ is perfectly readable in all conditions.
I'm fitting a different fairing to the GS soon, and that has a proper fascia panel for auxiliary gauges, so I'll be using a couple of analogue gauges for volts and oil temp. I snagged a brand new marine Volvo-branded voltmeter simply because it was dirt cheap and guaranteed to be waterproof. The oil gauge is a bit of an unknown, but supposedly IP67 and should be waterproof.
I was looking at KUS marine gauges for bike use, and taking a bit of a leap of faith that they aren't just crap, I might get a couple of them for the other bike.
The KUS gauges are reasonably priced, supposedly waterproof, and I'd hope fairly vibration resistant.

[Steve]

The KUS gauges are reasonably priced, supposedly waterproof, and I'd hope fairly vibration resistant.

Just looked at their line, the SeaK gauges look a lot like the VDO Cockpit series that I have on my bike.





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[Gorminrider]

I've had one of the little cheap round red LED voltmeters on the GS for the past 3 or so years, and it's been reliable enough. The drawback of it is that anything brighter than a dull overcast day renders it almost unreadable, despite fitting a lens hood over it. The same voltmeter fitted down in the recess of the fairing on the XJ is perfectly readable in all conditions.

...I use a cheapo led too and yes exactly so^^^ + they can be a little annoying to night-vision...Ive tried green,blue,red...maybe the green is best and tucked under something if a body does find it unpleasant...or even covered with tape .

Really, I like having one but only really check it the first minute or so before+ after starting...Thereafter, I might look at a stoplight or if a symptom arises...
Admittedly the analogues are nicer but need more space,need to be confined to the correct scale for any accuracy, and need damping and vibration fixing as you say.