 Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
So we have one vote in my bad battery thread for tapping into the headlight wiring for a key-on power source. Anyone have another suggestion? Just want to weigh the options.
I'll probably be mounting it to the back of my front brake master cylinder, even though I've been warned that the LEDs are too bright for that location. I guess I'll take location suggestions as well, but keep in mind that at some point my dash is going away.
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
The voltmeter does work well and is a quick reference to see if your system is charging. I'm thinking of moving mine from just under the master cylinder to the speedometer bracket mount (It can be a little bright at night). I little bit hard to see unless you are in the saddle. I would rather have a small analog voltmeter about the same size as my clock on the handlebar but haven't seen any I like yet.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
You have an aftermarket headlight? If so, the unused parking light wire may be hot all the time ignition is on. Then you could also check voltage without all the rest of the system lit up by turning key past run. Not 100% sure if parking light is on all the time, I think it is. You'll have to check it with one of your new volt meters.
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
You know, John, that's a meter I'd only ever check once in long while and probably not while in motion so I'm thinking mine would go on the battery box.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
take it apart and flush the leds in the headlight bucket.
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
You're high. 
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
I'll probably be mounting it to the back of my front brake master cylinder, even though I've been warned that the LEDs are too bright for that location...
Well you can always stick a piece of duct tape over it just to tone things down a little. That's how we Canucks take care of things. Just ask Red Green! 
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
May I use black electrical tape? It'll blend in better with the black gauge and hand controls...
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
The front position indicator is hot when the key is on. That would be great power source.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 59
Member
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Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 59 |
I put mine on the console.  Over two years with no issues. 
04 SM Black, Freak, SS Cannons, 18T, 155/45 3turns
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Yeah, except this part, "but keep in mind that at some point my dash is going away."
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
I might mount it on the top yoke after all. I was poking around last night and that might be the best place. That would also make it easier to run the wiring up to the headlight.
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Okay, so I wired it into the driving light harness, specifically, the same wires that go to the switch in my dash. It works, but it doesn't read full voltage. I verified this by slapping my multimeter on the battery itself and comparing the two. Is the voltmeter running low because I tapped into the switch wires that go through the relay? Does that reduce voltage?
BTW, Moe, I looked in the headlight. No matter what that "forward position indicator" never comes on, so it wouldn't do me any good to use those wires. I suppose I could tap into the headlight bulb wires themselves.
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
Quote:
You're high.
your lazy  nener nener nener
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Tell me sumthin I don'know
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420 |
Quote:
Tell me sumthin I don'know
The names of Popeye's four nephews are Pipeye, Peepeye, Pupeye, and Poopeye???
Sorry FJ, couldn't help myself. 
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,362 |
Quote:
Okay, so I wired it into the driving light harness, specifically, the same wires that go to the switch in my dash. It works, but it doesn't read full voltage. I verified this by slapping my multimeter on the battery itself and comparing the two. Is the voltmeter running low because I tapped into the switch wires that go through the relay? Does that reduce voltage?
Technically anything between the voltage source and the test point is a resistance and will lower the voltage... that includes wire (no such thing as a perfect conductor) however you're also comparing one meter to another. First thing you need to do is hook the LED volt meter up to the battery directly so compare a reading from there to a reading from the driving light point.
As to where it should be wired to, the correct place is to the fuse box, on the fused side, with its own (light gauge) wire.. You could tap into the parking light wiring, but your reading will be subject to any losses caused by tail light, parking light, and instrument lights and it means that if you ever use the park position on your ignition switch the volt meter will come to life too. The accessory socket connector would be great as there's nothing else on that circuit, except it's not switched. Personally I'd put it on the upper yoke with some double sided tape and run a light gauge wire directly to the back of the fuse box and hook it up to fuse #9 which feeds the starter relay, but at a point before any significant voltage drops. The meter'll pull next to no current so it'll have no real effect on the load on the fuse.
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
I tied mine into the kill switch on the rt handlebar. Soldered to the power side of the switch. Simple ground to the handlebar. Works fine.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Installing Kuryakyn Voltmeter
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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OP
"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
I'm already planning on putting it on the top yoke above and between the risers. I could run the wires down to the fuse box but I'm not even so much as taking the seat off now until after the Kootenay Raid (leaving next week). Not unless something else breaks. Because of my custom battery box it's going to be a little involved getting to the back of the fuse box. Another reason to ditch my box and hack the stock battery bracket.
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