COOL new volt meter

[SemperVee]

 installed a 12V DIGITAL LED meter on my 2007 Norge without fiddling around or tapping into the wiring, using a direct connection from the battery. This also fixes the always-on problem or parasitic drain, thanks to a touch-on and touch-off feature built into the meter. It cost $5 US from Amazon. I used a hole saw to cut into the upper flat part of the Norge fairing and ran the wiring directly from the battery.     More accurate than dash which is hard to find in the menu.   Yes I checked against my $50 Home Depot Household Voltage meter.  It is correct.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Voltmeter-Digital-Waterproof-Motorcycle/dp/B0CQ881B52?gQT=1&th=1

[DoubleGuzzi]

12V analog LED meter..

Robbie says: Does not compute.

You really ought to have an inline fuse. 

[SemperVee]

Robbie says: Does not compute.

You really ought to have an inline fuse. 

I do have an inline fuse.  Infact I am using the very old wiring with fuse from an early 1990's Garmin GPS that came  OEM on my 2005 BMWK1200LT. 

[Kiwi_Roy]

Thank for adding the link, what's not to like
Instead of adding a fuse wire it with the wire paid from an old Wall Wort charger.th tiny wires will melt to take care of any accidental short.

[kingoffleece]

How do you know it's more accurate?
If they are different which one is correct?

[moto-uno]

  Borrow a Fluke multi-meter from someone and you'll then know for sure  .

[pehayes]

I like it.  You say $5 but Amazon says $12.50.  Would be oh so much better if it had auto-off (although that would probably mean its not actually off).  The specs don't show power draw.  Can't be much with LED display, but what if you inadvertently leave it on a long time?  I have something similar in my camper.  Goes dark after 5 seconds.  Might actually still be draining but it would probably take years to suck up my huge coach batteries.  And my solar replaces that anyway.

If you have one, is that on/off just a touch capacitance detector or can you feel a physical movement and detent switch feature.  The specs say it is a light touch, but then I imagine it has a parasitic draw to run the switch. 

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[PeteS]

Seems like on a modern bike in the US you could just wire any voltmeter into the headlight circuit. Should be close enough and is only powered with the key on.

Pete

[SemperVee]

I like it.  You say $5 but Amazon says $12.50.  Would be oh so much better if it had auto-off (although that would probably mean its not actually off).  The specs don't show power draw.  Can't be much with LED display, but what if you inadvertently leave it on a long time?  I have something similar in my camper.  Goes dark after 5 seconds.  Might actually still be draining but it would probably take years to suck up my huge coach batteries.  And my solar replaces that anyway.

If you have one, is that on/off just a touch capacitance detector or can you feel a physical movement and detent switch feature.  The specs say it is a light touch, but then I imagine it has a parasitic draw to run the switch. 

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Hays -  I must have found it when the color red was on-sale.  I actually only paid pre tax $4.69.. See invoice.   I like the running until I turn it off with the button. <br

[Kiwi_Roy]

Seems like on a modern bike in the US you could just wire any voltmeter into the headlight circuit. Should be close enough and is only powered with the key on.

Pete

The headlight can draw 4 - 5 Amps so there will normally be some Voltage drop. I wire mine to the running light aka City light, of my V7III Special the small bulb in the headlight that comes on with the key
The advantage the of the one Semper Eve attached with push On Push Off switch, you can wire it closer to the battery where there should be no Voltage loss due to load

[SemperVee]

The headlight can draw 4 - 5 Amps so there will normally be some Voltage drop. I wire mine to the running light aka City light, of my V7III Special the small bulb in the headlight that comes on with the key
The advantage the of the one Semper Eve attached with push On Push Off switch, you can wire it closer to the battery where there should be no Voltage loss due to load

AND, that beautiful fairing is a PITA to get behind to find wiring to tap into.. What I dislike about VroomHilda - her abs plastic skirts hide so much of the pleasing look of the motor and controls. 

[SemperVee]

 NEW and better volt meter made of metal and has charging capability. From Amazon for $10  *Wired direct from battery and has good off and on button!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LKRDG2T?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

[aklawok]

 Lol! I even see the review you left on amazon Nate!
Nice low profile sleek finish.
I needed one similar, but with USB A and C ports. This one, also with on-off:
https://www.amazon.com/Outlet-Charger-Socket-Charge-Voltmeter/dp/B0BM3TP9JV
It is wired to power but to an outlet I replaced PO installed. I suspect it's wired to the aux. Lights, as when those turn on the voltmeter blanks out, wiring to your headlight may cause an inaccurate voltage reading as well.
I prefer to have non keyed power on my machines. This one has been forgotten and left on for a week and still was able to start bike, very little power draw.

[Perazzimx14]

I prefer to wire to a keyed power source and really don't care so much about the finite accuracy of the volt meter. I use a volt meter to monitor the electrical system while the bike is running. I'm looking for it to see when the system is consuming more power than the is being supplied or when I have a surplus of power. When using heavy power consumers like heated gear on a bike with a marginal charging system. Usually these systems once they reach normal running RPMs will produce enough electric to satisfy demand of both the bike and accessory but when sitting idle at red lights and or slow speeds like stop and go in town traffic will not keep up with demand. By watching the volt meter i can see when I need to start shedding electrical load by toggling off accessories and give the bike a chance to recharge its system.