Norge - in hand-guard volt meter

[canuguzzi]

Would work for Stelvio too I imagine.

The instrument LCD has a voltage readout but it is tiny and you need to toggle the mode to get to it. Not sure how accurate it is either. I made up a foam rubber housing for the volt meter (they come in red or green) and then used clear acrylic VHB tape from 3M to fasten the whole affair inside the right hand-guard. Even if you cover the front brake lever the readout is still visible.

To get power I connected it via SAE connector to a power socket adapter that provides power for the Gizmo dash. The power for that comes from the battery (fused). Since it uses a SAE connector I can also connect it any other accessory I have to check voltages there for troubleshooting.

The volt meter is easily read in daylight and being shaded is nice and bright.

The Gizmo dash power is switched so the volt meter doesn't display unless I turn that on.

Even if you open your hand to gran a big gulp of the brake lever your finger tips don't touch the volt meter.

I sanded to foam rubber to suit. TIP: Use a high adhesive tape to clean foam rubber, it makes it look like new. I put Tyvek tape on the parts of the foam rubber that would get the 3M tape treatment since the acrylic VHB doesn't stick to it very well. The Tyvek tape sticks really well.

[JeffOlson]

Nice!

[Kiwi_Roy]

That's a good spot, in the shade so it's easier to see.

[Huzo]

Would work for Stelvio too I imagine.

The instrument LCD has a voltage readout but it is tiny and you need to toggle the mode to get to it. Not sure how accurate it is either. I made up a foam rubber housing for the volt meter (they come in red or green) and then used clear acrylic VHB tape from 3M to fasten the whole affair inside the right hand-guard. Even if you cover the front brake lever the readout is still visible.

To get power I connected it via SAE connector to a power socket adapter that provides power for the Gizmo dash. The power for that comes from the battery (fused). Since it uses a SAE connector I can also connect it any other accessory I have to check voltages there for troubleshooting.

The volt meter is easily read in daylight and being shaded is nice and bright.

The Gizmo dash power is switched so the volt meter doesn't display unless I turn that on.

Even if you open your hand to gran a big gulp of the brake lever your finger tips don't touch the volt meter.

I sanded to foam rubber to suit. TIP: Use a high adhesive tape to clean foam rubber, it makes it look like new. I put Tyvek tape on the parts of the foam rubber that would get the 3M tape treatment since the acrylic VHB doesn't stick to it very well. The Tyvek tape sticks really well.

[Huzo]

What's the go with the hand guards on the Norge, they look ok. Any dramas ?

[canuguzzi]

The hand guards go on easily without mods, bolt on. They work well and look good.

Credit goes to others, I just put them in after good reports. They are actually hand guards from the Stelvio.

Seemed like a good place for an unobtrusive yet easily read volt meter.

[kingoffleece]

Have you checked it against the OEM supplied meter?

[lucky phil]

Why?
Ciao

[JeffOlson]

^ Because one can! 

[canuguzzi]

Have you checked it against the OEM supplied meter?

Not yet although it does read accurate compared to my Klein multimeter. I'll check it later today and report a comparison to the OEM readout in the LCD.

I expect some difference because the LCD only shows when the ignition is on and there is a pretty good draw from the lights, fuel pump and other systems.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Have you checked it against the OEM supplied meter?

It will probably read different depending how much Spaghetti there is in between but who cares it's the trend that's important.

[kingoffleece]

Why?   If a meter is warranted then it makes sense to know if it's measuring the correct value.  I have two testers, one of which plugs into my SAE plug, and they both mimic the OEM value.  That's why I asked-is the owner finding a different reading along with the desire to have an alternate location for a meter?

It was just a question.

[canuguzzi]

Why?   If a meter is warranted then it makes sense to know if it's measuring the correct value.  I have two testers, one of which plugs into my SAE plug, and they both mimic the OEM value.  That's why I asked-is the owner finding a different reading along with the desire to have an alternate location for a meter?

It was just a question.

The digital display is tiny, the contrast of the display not really as good as it should be. The new location is very easy to check, sort if like the TPS. I could get out a pressure gauge to check the tires but why go through all that hassle? 

It comes down to where the voltage is being tested too. An accurate volt meter that tests voltage when the ignition is turned on will reveal a lower voltage than if the reading were taken at the battery with no draws.

If for example, voltage at the battery is 12.8 and from the LCD it is 12.2 there is quite a bit of draw on the battery.

There must be a difference in voltage between ignition on and ignition off. There is no way to check the voltage using the OEM supplied meter without turning on the ignition.

A meter reading without the ignition on let's you determine if you have parasitic draws that are high.

Another reason is that sometimes I will run the accessory power sockets on the Gizmo dash to power the tablet, charge my phone etc when I'm stopped and engine is off. The new location let's me easily see if the battery is being drained too much.

I have an accessory battery on an isolator ( it is another thread) that I can switch to provide power for accessories. I can use that to power whatever I want so when switched this meter shows the state of charge for that battery, something the OEM can't do since it is isolated from the accessory battery.

Mostly though, its a little custom thing I did. There might be questionable functionality but it was very simple to install, the meter was not expensive.

[kingoffleece]

I understand all that. I was curious if, when running, there was a difference in measured value.  If in agreement, it's all good.  If not then it seems reasonable to get a third meter on the circuit to see if it will match one of the other two.  If it's .1 volt difference then who the heck cares!  Simply curious.

I had two meters going on my Tiger 1050 in winter as I had all the powered gear going along with aux lights and that was right on the limit of what I had in excess power.

[canuguzzi]

Just checked it.

Ignition on, no engine is 12.0
New meter is 12.7 ( takes from switched wires to battery)

Then I had to get some coffee down the street so I'll check with engine running after that.

Note: I do run some accessories that come on with the ignition so there is some draw there. Lights are on, top box lights come on, TPS comes on and had grip heater on setting 1. Oh well.

That does show though, that perhaps the LCD panel meter is getting voltage readings through a longer run on thin wires?

[canuguzzi]

Updated voltage readings. No claims, just what the readings say.

With ignition on-engine off:

LCD  (a PITA to get to for more than a single look), Running lamps on, tail light on, top box rack lights on, TPS on.:

12.0

New meter (Driving lamps, camera on as currently wired):

12.2

Battery From Klein Multi meter:

12.21


Ignition off:

LCD:

N/A

New meter:

12.5

At Battery (Klein):

12.7


Engine running at idle:

LCD
13.8

New Meter:
14.0

Battery:
14.24

Notes:
I did use some juice the day before fiddling with installation, checking things and so on. Total on time during the installation and so on was about 45 minutes.

After running to get readings the battery would have got a surface charge so readings would be higher than those taken before engine start.


Opinion:

The battery should be fully charged and the readings taken again. Next week I'll take the Norge out again after the rains pass by. I've put the battery on a charger and will let it top off, then rest for a day and then take another set of readings. I do know that the battery shows 12.4-12.7 even after a week of not riding if I don't use the main battery for anything.

[kingoffleece]

Thank you.

[Zoom Zoom]

It's handy to be able to look at things at a glance. Based on your readings, it is also evident that the built in gauges are pretty accurate, which is also good to know. I had installed volt meters on my older bikes that did not have them already. Some I picked up off the pilot light and some I used a relay and read right at the battery.

The bikes with a larger watt alternator, such as yours, gaie me less of a concern regarding power draw. The weaker systems OTOH, give me more reason to "manage" power draw. Using heated gear and aux lights in town will take out more than the system puts in.

John Henry