voltmeter

[X-ray]

With the recent threads of mystery dying bikes, power usage for warming items, led issues, etc., does any one have pics of an installed voltmeter on a gs5? May be something like,

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BZQ2LJG/ref=mp_s_a_1_22?qid=1386380270&sr=8-22&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

It seems like this could be a fairly simple beginner electronics project and fairly useful too.


"I have the POWER!!"  -He Man-

[Big Rich]

I bought one of those for a future project. But PeteGS has a different type installed on his GS450 - maybe he can post a picture if he reads this. Pete's is a single led that changes color depending on battery voltage.....I'll see if I can find the eBay link to the kind he installed......

[X-ray]

Thanks. After searching I did find a pic when Kerry installed one but it was much bigger and multi functional.

[Big Rich]

Here's the model I believe Pete has installed:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5mm-LED-12v-Battery-level-Charge-monitor-indicator-K-/200634417104?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2eb6be3fd0

Not quite as accurate as an actual voltage display, but it would at least give you an idea when a problem is occurring.

[adidasguy]

Installing one can be very helpful. I have an idiot light that changes color and blink rate based on the voltage.

However, it does not replace really having a meter. You use the meter to check voltage all over the bike when tracking down wiring problems. Meters also check resistance and continuity.

Best? Get both!

[Suzuki Stevo]

Copied from another thread, this is what I did with my GS500F....

Here's another Idea, a 12V accessory outlet 

Monitor Voltage


Charging/Storage: Battery Tender Cigarette Lighter Adapter


Charge phones, Zunes, Ipod's

[Joolstacho]

At the risk of a hijack... I've been thinking that a temperature gauge would be a good addition. You know, air-cooled bike, hot climate, queuing to get off the Island. (I know... who does that anyway  ).
Has anyone tried it?
I guess you'd need a sensor on the head somewhere, maybe even an EGT. Then you'd need a benchmark. Or maybe an oil temp gauge would be the way to go.
?

[Suzuki Stevo]

At the risk of a hijack... I've been thinking that a temperature gauge would be a good addition. You know, air-cooled bike, hot climate, queuing to get off the Island. (I know... who does that anyway  ).
Has anyone tried it?
I guess you'd need a sensor on the head somewhere, maybe even an EGT. Then you'd need a benchmark. Or maybe an oil temp gauge would be the way to go.
?

Air cooled motors are built to take the heat, 15W-40, 15W-50, 20W-50 in that order is really all you need in the heat.

[Joolstacho]

So you're telling me they don't overheat?
(That's why a temp gauge would be useful - to prevent it).
Going heavier in viscosity is ok, but then ya get those cold mornings too eh. An oil pressure gauge might be useful.
My ol' Gixxer was oil cooled, can't remember if it had a temp gauge.

[Suzuki Stevo]

So you're telling me they don't overheat?
(That's why a temp gauge would be useful - to prevent it).
Going heavier in viscosity is ok, but then ya get those cold mornings too eh. An oil pressure gauge might be useful.
My ol' Gixxer was oil cooled, can't remember if it had a temp gauge.

I have never had an air cooled bike overheat, even riding the dog piss out of them, but it never gets over 95F here.

[sledge]

Me neither 

An air cooled engine will get heat up when stationary but when it reaches thermal equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere the temp will stabilize. Its not going to turn into a big sliver puddle!!

I guess what's important is at what temperature it reaches thermal equilibrium and stops getting any hotter and if this amount is significant enough to cause problems.

Bikes usually start running rough when they get too hot, the heat sends the mixture to chicken and its obvious when it happens. It would certainly degrade the oil if it happens regularly and if the valves were worn or weak they might suffer too. But in normal use I wouldn't worry too much about overheating. You don't see the roads littered with broken down bikes every time the sun comes out.

[bigfatcat]

This is similar to the one I 'installed' on my gs :

http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Digital-Voltmeter-Motorcycle-Battery/dp/B009XQKCQY/ref=sr_1_11?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1386425489&sr=1-11&keywords=voltmeter

I think mine was cheaper, seller listed as in florida but I don't remember exactly.

Hard to see in direct sunlight, better than nothing though.

[X-ray]

Got a pic of it installed?

[X-ray]

I was thinking something like this if the tach mechanism doesn't interfere and the gauge is small enough.

[Kiwingenuity]

I have been following a thread on the use of Arduinos - this may be a good platform to add a whole lot of diagnostics / monitoring / logging which is the most useful sort of way of figuring out if electrical gremlins are lurking.
http://code.google.com/p/stromputer/

We have been using Arduinos a heap at work for remote data logging and the beasts are quite user friendly (and cheap) - I am looking at the following functions on a GS:

• Voltage monitor + logging
• RPM + logging
• Gear indicator (based on previous threads with gear indicator mod)
• Coil Amps
• Battery Amps

On the whole, I think the use of electrical monitoring is very valuable since the GS is pretty dependant on the limited electrical power it has available for running properly. Even something as mudane as a battery monitor will indicate why your bike may be running rough (no power for the coils).

Weather is crap outside today, so I am unable to do the rundown I have planned with a precision DC ammeter.. hopefully it will clear by the start of the week..

[weedahoe]

This one here is a nice one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161027907925

This one is one I have on my GSXR1000. I had it also on my GS500F. I dont have any pics but I carefully had cut a hole in the black dash in the front cowl and placed it there

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251343643971

[Bluesmudge]

I had a cheap chinese voltmeter with a digital display on my GS. Get a waterproof one if you don't want to replace it.

[hojlind]

Kiwingenuity what you are talking about is actually pretty much what i have planned.

This is a rather big and challenging project, for me at least,  but i have been considering creating a completely new instrument cluster from scratch. The idea is to CNC a new board and store a raspberry pi in it, which will be hooked up to a 7 inch touch screen and two 1.8 inch tft color screens. The 7 inch will be for navigation or media and the two 1.8 inch will be for speedometer, tachometer, gear, indicators, and the lot. I might throw in an arduino to run the small screens, in case the raspberry can not run everything.

If i can actually afford it i plan to try it out during the summer.

[ohgood]

Kiwingenuity what you are talking about is actually pretty much what i have planned.

This is a rather big and challenging project, for me at least,  but i have been considering creating a completely new instrument cluster from scratch. The idea is to CNC a new board and store a raspberry pi in it, which will be hooked up to a 7 inch touch screen and two 1.8 inch tft color screens. The 7 inch will be for navigation or media and the two 1.8 inch will be for speedometer, tachometer, gear, indicators, and the lot. I might throw in an arduino to run the small screens, in case the raspberry can not run everything.

If i can actually afford it i plan to try it out during the summer.

android tablet, $139 at Walmart, GPS  Wi-Fi quad core 



the application to use: osmand+

[hojlind]

android tablet, $139 at Walmart, GPS  Wi-Fi quad core 

the application to use: osmand+

Or i could use my phone for GPS, but i still dont get my digital instrument cluster, which is really what i want, the rest is just a bonus because i can