Battery LED

[Scud]

I received my battery guage and had a question. In the instructions it said to find a power lead that is powered only when the ignition is on. I attached it to a brown wire that is located behind the headlight and powers on only when the ignition is on. The new guage only reads in the yellow which indicates a failing charging system. When checked with a multimeter near the battery, and running, the multimeter reads 12.47 volts.

Do I need to move the power lead to another wire that is closer to the battery, or does it mean 'a power lead' like one of the major ones near the fuse block that is powered when the ignition is on.

Thanks in advance.

Scud

[jonr]

Scud,

If you are trying to get an accurate gauge on your battery level, I would run a wire straight to the battery or the large lead that goes from the the battery to the starter solenoid. The brown wire in your headlight passes through quite a few things and may not provide an accurate reading.

good luck-
jon

[Scud]

Thanks for the quick reply, I will indeed do that tomorrow!

Scud

[duaneage]

I connected mine to the brown wire in the headlight bucket adn it was almost identical ( within .05 volts) to what wat at the battery terminal. I would suggest checking the connections and even the ignition switch since you may have bad connectiosn. These bikes are notorious for crappy connectins

[Scud]

Thanks, I will check connections, last night I temporarily put the red wire from the guage and wedged it into the ignition fuse holder. It was to late at night to start her up (renters upstairs in my garage). I will try that today and see if that makes a difference.

I guess I should have put my multimeter on the brown wire to see exactly how many volts I was getting there. :?

Scud

[DMPLATT]

Let us know how you do. I've not been following this, however I'm very interested in this project.

Detman did this with a gage from Radio Shack. I've not investigated yet, but please let us know how you come out. Pics too. 8)

[Scud]

Will do, I am going on a 130 mile ride today, hopefully my charging system will not fail me. 8O

Scud

[Scud]

Hey all,

Well, for the first three to five miles of my 130 roundtrip the light went from yellow to green, after that time it stayed on green, one green led. I have it currently wedged alongside the ignition fuse, I am trying to figure out where to put it permanently, say, with a screw. I am having a hard tim figuring out how to permanently attach the red lead to a power source that only comes on with the igniton without compromising the intergrity of another wire by splicing or soldering or something to that nature.

Any ideas?

Scud

[duaneage]

I soldered the wires to the rear of the connectors in the green plug inside the headlight bucket. i removed each wire one at a time by inserting a toothpick through the very small rectangular hole to release the pin. After I soldered the wire to the connector I pushed it back in.

I will try and post some pics if I have time tonight.

[Scud]

duaneage,

Pics would be a great help, thanks so much.

Scud

[focus frenzy]

this is how I have mine mounted

I fabricated a mounting bracket from a scrap piece of aluminum.

with only 12.47 volts you won't get a green light.
I have mine hooked up to the orange wire coming from the ignition switch.
the orange wire is the main power wire going to the fuse box, with my modified wiring system the orange wire just triggers the power relay and powers the tail light, (led) licence lights (led's) and front park light (European spec inside headlight 7watt small bulb) so there is little load on the orange wire and the voltage drop is very minimal.

[Scud]

Thanks Focus, now where exactly is the ignition switch located, sorry for being ignorant about this, just want it to be permanent.

You said 'hooked up', how is it hooked up, did you solder it to it?

I have a1980 GS750E. I like the bracket and will fashion one like yours, as it is know I just have it attacehd in basically the same location but not with a bracket.

Scott

[Anonymous]

I mounted my gauge using a piece of plexi-glass, I used a piece of paper to make a template and figure the angle of the bend. then cut out the plexi, warmed it and bent it to the correct angle, used a hot glue gun to attach the plexi to the dash. I hooked my gauge to the AUX. fuse in the fuse panel, and used a relay to turn it on and off when the headlight gets powered up. 2years and the hot glue is still holding. Sorry for the crappy picture, its raining outside so i took the picture indoors.

[Scud]

Hey EZ,

Another great idea for attaching and powering it, the more ideas I get the better!

Unfortunately I do not have an AUX in my fuse block.... But it does lead me to this question...how did you attach it to the AUX in your fuse block so it was permanent?

Scud

[focus frenzy]

Thanks Focus, now where exactly is the ignition switch located, sorry for being ignorant about this, just want it to be permanent.

You said 'hooked up', how is it hooked up, did you solder it to it?

I have a1980 GS750E. I like the bracket and will fashion one like yours, as it is know I just have it attacehd in basically the same location but not with a bracket.

Scott

the ignition switch is the thingy between the handle bars and the gauges (speedo/ Tach) that you stick the key in.