Installed a voltmeter

[Agemax]

here is a vid of my voltmeter, wired up in the headlight bucket. looks solid enough to me......

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z260/agemax/?action=view&current=100_1475_zpsf364d64a.mp4

[Guest]

Like eil said I would put the capacitor in parralel with the display. It should even out the readings.

[posplayr]

Attached is a simple device that will filter a lot of the noise. The biggest part of the noise is the negative going spikes when the R/R shuts off requiring the battery rush in to supply current.

The diode only lets current flow toward the meter. The capacitor is in parallel to the volt meter so it always has the same voltage as the meter.
When the input voltage drops below the voltage on the capacitor the capacitor supplies current to the meter minimizing the negative swings.

This will drop the measured voltage measured by the meter by about 0.7 volts so that might not be the best but better than a wacky display.

So using this to filter a (fuel or temp) meter reference voltage might be a better choice,

[Steve]

I have installed this one on a couple of our bikes with good results.

It's not waterproof, but on a bike with a widndhield and other protection, it's not as big a problem.

It's also nice to have time displayed, but two temps are obviously designed for cages.

The display's backlight has two color options, the orange one matches the GS lighting quite nicely.

[posplayr]

I have installed this one on a couple of our bikes with good results.

It's not waterproof, but on a bike with a widndhield and other protection, it's not as big a problem.

It's also nice to have time displayed, but two temps are obviously designed for cages.

The display's backlight has two color options, the orange one matches the GS lighting quite nicely.

I agree, a better meter should not bounce around as much.

[Agemax]

I have installed this one on a couple of our bikes with good results.

It's not waterproof, but on a bike with a widndhield and other protection, it's not as big a problem.

It's also nice to have time displayed, but two temps are obviously designed for cages.

The display's backlight has two color options, the orange one matches the GS lighting quite nicely.

i looked at these meters but i could not decide what to do with the 2 temperature readings. i thought one could be used for normal air temperature and the other for engine temperature, or temperature of air flow into carbs but decided that it wouldnt work!
i agree, i would like to have a clock function as well

[Steve]

If you want a similar unit, but with a single temp readout, you can get the 5-in-1 unit from Big Bike Parts.



This is another one that is not waterproof, but a couple coats of clear polyurethane over the front work nicely.

My biggest complaint with that unit is the backlight. Rather than have a constant-voltage source, it gets brighter and dimmer right along with the voltage transitions. The clock and the other displays stay on when the key is off (they don't draw much at all), only the lights go on and off with the key.

.

[Guest]

The clock function on my bike...

[bakirkwold]

Here is mine!

[Agemax]

Here is mine!

sits in there quite nicely in the 450 dash looks good!

[Killer2600]

Here is mine!

Nice but do you ride at night or in the dark at all? I'm guessing no, at least not with that bright blue led display staring at you.

[Agemax]

Nice but do you ride at night or in the dark at all? I'm guessing no, at least not with that bright blue led display staring at you.

i have the same one, it is not as bright as it looks on camera

[matt1100]

Your diagram shows the positive being picked up from the coil relay. Would it matter where that positive feed comes from?

Attached is a simple device that will filter a lot of the noise. The biggest part of the noise is the negative going spikes when the R/R shuts off requiring the battery rush in to supply current.

The diode only lets current flow toward the meter. The capacitor is in parallel to the volt meter so it always has the same voltage as the meter.
When the input voltage drops below the voltage on the capacitor the capacitor supplies current to the meter minimizing the negative swings.

This will drop the measured voltage measured by the meter by about 0.7 volts so that might not be the best but better than a wacky display.

So using this to filter a (fuel or temp) meter reference voltage might be a better choice,

[posplayr]

Your diagram shows the positive being picked up from the coil relay. Would it matter where that positive feed comes from?

That would be an Exersize for the reader to figure out

[Agemax]

Yeah, some of these meters are crap out of box. But some meters don't have enough damping circuitry to show an "average" reading.Wiring to orange wire from key switch is a good spot- probably about 1/2 volt less than actual battery- good enough for me!

i am losing 0.3v from battery voltage when wired up this way. not too much to worry about i think. and the display is rock steady