Motogadget Chronoclassic battery charge indicator light

[caridimondo]

Hi all,

I've been doing some digging on the interweb and have yet to get confirmation on whether the battery voltage indicator light on the Motogadget Chronoclassic tach will work with the old Bosch charging system on my Le Mans II. From what I've learned this light needs to be functioning properly for the system to charge, but I'm not sure the LED indicator in this gauge will do the job.

Can anyone with this instrument provide some info/advice?

Thanks!
Tom

[caridimondo]

Just in case anyone stumbles upon my post: I found out that the Motogadget LED will not excite the alternator. You either need to wire in a resistor to make up for the missing stock charge light or install a modern regulator/rectifier that eliminates the need for the charge light altogether.

[tris]

Morning Tom!!

Is this any help?  http://www.aoservices.co.uk/data/lvs.htm

Looks like they might be able to modify it to do "other stuff" which might fix your problem??

Check this too http://www.aoservices.co.uk/bosch.htm

I've had their "battery status monitor" on a couple of bikes and it works very well

[caridimondo]

Thanks Tris! Sorry for the late reply, just seeing your message now. The Motogadget gauge does have a battery voltage monitor, so I'm not worried keeping track of battery health. I was curious about the charging system functioning without the stock charge indicator light that I will be removing. I discovered that if the indicator bulb is removed it must be replaced by a resistor, or the stock reg/rectifier need to be replaced by a modern combo reg/rectifier that would do away with the need for the charge indicator light to excite the alternator.

Morning Tom!!

Is this any help?  http://www.aoservices.co.uk/data/lvs.htm

Looks like they might be able to modify it to do "other stuff" which might fix your problem??

Check this too http://www.aoservices.co.uk/bosch.htm

I've had their "battery status monitor" on a couple of bikes and it works very well

[double.d]

I fitted the full Motogadget kit to my LeMans 1000 and i have no idea about comparisons of the two charging systems but the LED instrument light will not act as a resistor so just fitted a little 12v globe under the seat as a tickler for the alternator.

[caridimondo]

I fitted the full Motogadget kit to my LeMans 1000 and i have no idea about comparisons of the two charging systems but the LED instrument light will not act as a resistor so just fitted a little 12v globe under the seat as a tickler for the alternator.

That's pretty clever! I'm also looking at this -  http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/PartsDetails.aspx?source=catalog&diagram=EL_GENLTAUX which should work for all Guzzi/BMW bikes with the Bosch charging system that depends on the charge lamp.

[caridimondo]

I fitted the full Motogadget kit to my LeMans 1000

I know that the wiring would be much cleaner/simpler with the m-unit, but it's not in my budget at the moment and I already have the gauge so are there any things I should watch out for using the stock wiring harness?

[double.d]

Can't really recommend what you should look out for because as you said i rewired the whole bike so started with a blank canvas. I am a dill when it comes to electrickery but i have a feeling you may have some wires left over in the switch between your instrument panel and the Motogadget. What you would do in this case, i have no idea.
What i can recommend in the long run is getting the MUnit and do complete rewire. After 5 years the only problem i have had was a loose earth wire in the Chronometer mode button. I cannot speak more highly of this system.

[caridimondo]

Yeah a complete rewire with the m-unit is definitely in my future plans. In the meantime I'm going to do my best to tuck away/remove any stock wiring I don't need for the Chronoclassic. Should be fun!!