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Voltmeter

Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 2:35 pm
by silverback
Having heated grips, heated jacket and a heated seat, I think I would like a voltmeter on my bike. Anyone have any neat installs on a Gen3? Please share.

I bought one of these things and am not sure where I should put it, or where to pick up a switched source of voltage.Image

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 4:50 pm
by raYzerman
I have found a lot of those aren't bright enough for daytime, and I bought this one
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-24V-DC-Mot ... f-C3gFNTWw

I'd post some pics of my install (underneath the curved dash hood on the '14, over the speedo) but I'm having Smugmug issues at the moment. I can email you pics if you like. Essentially, I didn't use their mount, make it flat on the bottom and attached it to a homemade bracket with 3M tape. It has a USB charger for the occasional time you need one. It is bright but it is nice to have the hood over it. Has a switch on the back to shut it off, I wired it directly and unswitched so I could conveniently check battery condition any time.

On my last bike I used a Datel style, mounted in a small panel box attached to my dash shelf.

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 8:53 pm
by 1911
i got one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041 ... UTF8&psc=1 and like it, about as simple as an install can get. look next to the tach for size reference.


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Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2017 10:25 pm
by ts3doug
If you can do without numbers, these have a great reputation, if you're the minimalist type


http://www.sparkbright.co.uk/sparkright ... onitor.php

Re: RE: Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 10:36 am
by silverback
ts3doug wrote:If you can do without numbers, these have a great reputation, if you're the minimalist type


http://www.sparkbright.co.uk/sparkright ... onitor.php
That changes from mustardy, to mustard, to less mustardy color.

People who aren't colorblind don't know what they aren't missing...just saying!


I do like the minimalist design though. Part of the reason I got the one in the picture.

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:49 am
by rbentnail
For those like me that use a battery tender to usb, I picked up a Tecmate O-100 sae to usb adapter that also has a quick-n-east 3 light battery voltage level indication. For exact voltage numbers I use something else but for daily riding this works pretty well.

https://tecmate.com/products/o-100/

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:11 am
by raYzerman
Here's a digital readout voltmeter from Deltran.....
http://products.batterytender.com/Acces ... splay.html

They also have a battery monitor device that sends info to your phone if you're into that kinda thang.
http://products.batterytender.com/Acces ... NITOR.html

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:23 pm
by silverback
Wondering why they don't have a readout on the dash. We have coolant temp on the Gen3, why not volts?

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:50 pm
by ionbeam
silverback wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:23 pm Wondering why they don't have a readout on the dash. We have coolant temp on the Gen3, why not volts?
When Yamaha went from a temperature bar readout to actual coolant temps without much filtering a lot of people flipped out. People would go epileptic with real time voltage readout fluctuations. ;)

Re: RE: Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 2:40 pm
by silverback
ionbeam wrote:
silverback wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:23 pm Wondering why they don't have a readout on the dash. We have coolant temp on the Gen3, why not volts?
When Yamaha went from a temperature bar readout to actual coolant temps without much filtering a lot of people flipped out. People would go epileptic with real time voltage readout fluctuations. ;)
I suppose so.

About like the early 90s Cadillac models that could display all the onboard data on the dash. Many customers come in saying "My coolant temp is up to 186°!!! Oh my god!!! The factory thermostat is a 185° thermostat!!! Fix it!!!"

Hated those...

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 4:01 pm
by ionbeam
The FJR monitors system voltage and uses the voltage reading as part of the fuel injection calculations and fuel injection trim. The ECU has already processed the analog voltage through an A/D converter so adding a digital volt display wouldn't have been hard. Apparently Yamaha feels that 590W is sufficient and there is no need to display the voltage (or,not bother the driver with additional information?). A sport tour bike will often have powered accessories added and some of the accessories draw high power; it's probably a mistake not to have a built-in volt meter.

[Soap Box]
It was a mistake for Yamaha to not digitally filter the coolant temperature reading, or at least smooth and slow the reading a small amount. It wouldn't have required much filtering/slowing to stabilize the reading without hurting practical use.
[/Soap Box]

Re: RE: Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 4:06 pm
by silverback
ionbeam wrote:The FJR monitors system voltage and uses the voltage reading as part of the fuel injection calculations and fuel injection trim. The ECU has already processed the analog voltage through an A/D converter so adding a digital volt display wouldn't have been hard. Apparently Yamaha feels that 590W is sufficient and there is no need to display the voltage (or,not bother the driver with additional information?). A sport tour bike will often have powered accessories added and some of the accessories draw high power; it's probably a mistake not to have a built-in volt meter.

[Soap Box]
It was a mistake for Yamaha to not digitally filter the coolant temperature reading, or at least smooth and slow the reading a small amount. It wouldn't have required much filtering/slowing to stabilize the reading without hurting practical use.
[/Soap Box]
Yes. Any FI system (Other than the old archaic mechanical types) must have a voltage reading supplied to the ECM.

Most any dash function on a FI equipped vehicle is just an output from the ECM.

Yes, smoothing the signal would be appropriate for those who don't know better, but I could care less. I can read 02 traces without smoothing, should be able to handle a voltage trace...

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:38 pm
by raYzerman
I fixed my coolant temp fluctuations...... don't display it.

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:51 pm
by wheatonFJR
raYzerman wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:38 pm I fixed my coolant temp fluctuations...... don't display it.
I like the fluctuations...tells me it's woikin.

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:59 am
by ionbeam
wheatonFJR wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:51 pm
raYzerman wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:38 pm I fixed my coolant temp fluctuations...... don't display it.
I like the fluctuations...tells me it's woikin.
That's 'cause you are a wise guy. When a smaht feller READS a display he knows what it means and the changing display is a source of good information. When other fellers which don't have experience or education in a technical field sees the changing display they may not know what it means, after all, when a light flickers it means that Bad Things are about to happen.
  • raYzerman, wheaton and silverback are knowledgeable in mechanics or come from a technical background.
  • Many here come from sales, administration, law/enforcement, accounting and other fields which don't have a technical/mechanical background and may have issues interpreting what is going on. They are skilled people, but just in a wrong different direction.
  • Others have no issue because they are prime members of the DILLIGAF club.
In my case, I'm a victim of my field which draws from several areas of physics and chemistry. Many of the things I deal with on a daily basis at work share similarities with the way the systems of the motorcycle work.

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:12 am
by wheatonFJR
When you say I'm a wise guy, how do mean it? Are you tryin' to be funny or sumpin? <grabs baseball bat> :D Weisenheimer maybe.

I know what yer sayin', but I'll give you a hint... AJ is ALOT smarter than he looks...really! Has me completely baffled. :D

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:11 pm
by Bust
wheatonFJR wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:12 am AJ is ALOT smarter than he looks...really! Has me completely baffled. :D

Hmm , that's saying alot about both of you. :lol:

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:13 pm
by Uncle Hud
Professor,

I am a Professional Engineer, and a product of the US Navy Nuclear Power industry. I absolutely belong in the DILLIGAF category: if it isn't spewing steam out of a hose connection, it's running fine.

Respectfully,
Uncle Hud
(although probably not your uncle -- but you never know, us Navy boys get around ....)

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:45 pm
by wheatonFJR
Uncle Hud wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:13 pm Professor,

I am a Professional Engineer, and a product of the US Navy Nuclear Power industry...
So, if it isn't in The MANUAL, does it exist?

Re: Voltmeter

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:15 pm
by fontanaman
I put a Clearwater Voltage Sentry on my FJR years ago. Now I can just watch der blinken light and if it is not green I got trouble. The simplicity of this thing great - and is compatible my IQ. :D

In 2015 and still on the original battery the rate of green flash started fluctuating. I bought a new battery and the steady green flash returned. So I figure this little gem saved my ass. Having six years on a battery was enough for me.

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