volt meter/usb charger

[glib]

How much would the display draw down on the battery over time if you left it plugged in? I have this one. Small but still hard to decide where to mount.



71Sx29im06L._SL1200_ by Gary L, on Flickr

[thebrandonbeezy]

I'd run key'd power

[thebrandonbeezy]

Here's one at work
20171228_154055 by Brandon Hobock, on Flickr

20171228_154103 by Brandon Hobock, on Flickr

[thebrandonbeezy]

How much would the display draw down on the battery over time if you left it plugged in? I have this one. Small but still hard to decide where to mount.



71Sx29im06L._SL1200_ by Gary L, on Flickr

I like that one, the only reason i didnt order that is for how I'd want to mount it the display would be upside down

[posplayr]

people should realize that you need a switch on any USB plug, as it will draw enough power to drain a battery in about 1-2 weeks.
Even if you don't plug anything it, there is a 12V==>5V regulator always on.

[glib]

people should realize that you need a switch on any USB plug, as it will draw enough power to drain a battery in about 1-2 weeks.
Even if you don't plug anything it, there is a 12V==>5V regulator always on.

Thanks. Figured you’d know. How would I wire it to run when the key is on?

[thebrandonbeezy]

people should realize that you need a switch on any USB plug, as it will draw enough power to drain a battery in about 1-2 weeks.
Even if you don't plug anything it, there is a 12V==>5V regulator always on.

exactly, thats why im gonna run it off of a key'd power source

[bwringer]

How much would the display draw down on the battery over time if you left it plugged in? I have this one. Small but still hard to decide where to mount.
71Sx29im06L._SL1200_

I use my phone as a GPS (waterproof Samsung S6 Active), and I have a couple of these SAE/USB chargers. I have an SAE plug on all my bikes on or near the handlebars, powered by a circuit with a relay so they're only on when the key is on, but they receive full power direct from the battery. They work fantastically.

I don't mount them to the bikes -- it takes a very firm push to plug them in, so I let them dangle or sort of tuck them into the wiring or under the clutch cable. That way, they're not subjected to the vibrations from the bike. I also try to orient the display so it's not distracting. As long as it's out of my usual field of vision, it's fine, and I can move my head a little to check it if I want to.

I've found that if you're smart about how you orient the charger so water can't drip in or get forced in by the airflow, everything works fine in light and medium rain as long as you're moving. If it really starts dumping down, I'll unplug it and stash it in the top box -- my phone's touch screen tends to freak out anyway when there are large multiple rain drops running down the screen.


I've installed those round panel mount voltmeter/chargers in two of our cars -- yeah, the voltmeter is sort of superfluous in a car, but it's kinda cool.