Volt gauge and weather temp gauge?

[ram11397]

Hi
Got hold of a after market volt meter and when i am riding along getting 12.9v - 13.0v which i think is healthy, but it came with weather senor where would you attach it to get ball park temp with out heat from engine effecting to much? really just for show looks kinda cool lol

[WingAdmin]

Hi
Got hold of a after market volt meter and when i am riding along getting 12.9v - 13.0v which i think is healthy, but it came with weather senor where would you attach it to get ball park temp with out heat from engine effecting to much? really just for show looks kinda cool lol

As far front as you can get it! I don't remember where I mounted mine for my GL1100, but it was up front somewhere dangling in the wind. On my GL1500, it's inside the air intake just below the headlights.

Even then, it still picks up radiator/engine heat when the bike sits for any length of time. However as soon as you start moving, it returns to showing the ambient temperature accurately.

[ram11397]

thanks for the information appreciate it

[PastoT]

12.9-13 volts seems low to me if your running at RPM. Granted I have an 1800 but the battery and charging voltages at RPM are consistent basics. If you haven't had issues with your battery or electrics try connecting the voltage meter wires straight to the battery lugs and see what you get. Probably a dirty/worn contact point for your meter or you have just enough alternator to balance out the draw of all systems on your bike. If it stays running ok and the voltages you have remain reliable than I wouldn't worry, but I'd personally want to know.

Six cell lead acid type batteries should have 2.2 volts per cell fully charged; that equates to 13.2 volts but normally we just say 12 volts is nominal. To charge that battery we need to put more than 13 volts into it. Alternator outputs are usually 13.8 and higher. For example my voltage parked with engine off is over 12 volts at key turn, then headlights drop that pretty quick to between 11.3 and 11.8 if I'm slow to actually start. Once engine is running my voltage boosts 13.9 to 14.1 volts after about 15 seconds (13.9 w/ highbeams on/13.8 with fog lights on). If I kill the Headlights (don't ask) I get 14.3 on the digital meter.

[WingAdmin]

That depends on where the voltmeter is connected. He's working with a GL1100, which means the connections, switches, etc. in between the battery and many places from where you can pull power are 30+ years old. A lot of them are not delivering full voltage. The accessory terminal on my GL1100 would show 11.5 volts when the battery was sitting at 12.6 - a full 1.1 volts lost between the battery, connectors, fuse terminals, ignition switch and old wiring.

The best way to connect a voltmeter is to run a (fused) wire directly to the battery - assuming it is a low-draw LCD voltmeter that won't kill the battery by being left connected 24/7. If it is not, you can put a relay in line with this wire, and trigger that relay with the ACC line.

[ram11397]

its fused direct to battery