• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Battery / Charging system monitor

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chrkut
  • Start date Start date
C

Chrkut

Guest
While poking around on radioshack thinking about tearing apart a set of earphones for a helmet speaker system (earbuds are illegal in PA :mad:) I was thinking of making something like this:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/70/8115/ITEM/Kuryakyn-LED-Battery-Gauge.aspx

It seems a bit overpriced for some (probably) simple circutry, except for the fact I am not an electronics expert. I make my dad do those things, since hes been working on them since the 1950's.

So here's the question: Do ya'll have any sort of ideas how one of these doodads can be made for under 40 bucks, perferably with good old radioshack parts and various doodlehangers we probably have in the garage? Or should i just drop the ~$50 for this fancy contraption?
 
Chrkut said:
While poking around on radioshack thinking about tearing apart a set of earphones for a helmet speaker system (earbuds are illegal in PA :mad:) I was thinking of making something like this:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/70/8115/ITEM/Kuryakyn-LED-Battery-Gauge.aspx

It seems a bit overpriced for some (probably) simple circutry, except for the fact I am not an electronics expert. I make my dad do those things, since hes been working on them since the 1950's.

So here's the question: Do ya'll have any sort of ideas how one of these doodads can be made for under 40 bucks, perferably with good old radioshack parts and various doodlehangers we probably have in the garage? Or should i just drop the ~$50 for this fancy contraption?
Click to expand...




There are various types of electrical monitors they generally would fall into three categories:
  1. Analog dial (like a VDO guage)
  2. Discrete LED (such as the one being pointed out)
  3. LCD alphanumeric display (there are a few around)
Having had all three types, as well as being as being an engineer, for me the the best is #3 because of the resolution to what is typically 0.1 volts. As far as accuracy #1 and #2 are probably going to be about the same.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-24V-Mot...3094&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

If you are worried about the difference in spending $30 v.s. $40 I can't give you much advice, but there is a device on ebay which is similar to this but is a single multi colored LED and it is cheaper.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/6v-12v-24v-LED-Battery-level-voltage-monitor-meter-J-/200627678428

As an alternative the Show Chrome is also about $35 but has several other features (volts, temp, clock, ice detect).

https://signin.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?SignIn&UsingSSL=1&pUserId=&co_partnerId=2&siteid=0&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi1.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FMakeTrack%26_trksid%3Dp4340.l1359%26rt%3Dnc%26item%3D290701048661%26pt%3DMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories%26ssPageName%3DVIP%253Awatchlink%253Atop%253Aen%26sourcePage%3D4340%26wt%3D063b78a1c8f479a8c6bc04b6fee4f5ec%26guest%3D1&pageType=573

For the number of alternatives and types of packaging available for under $25 I can't see building anything unless it is something you really want to do.

The biggest trick is finding something you will like in it's final appearance on your bike.
 
Last edited:
Seems like each LED would connected to a thingy so as the voltage changes so would the lights? Sorry if my technical jargon is to hard to understand :)
 
cableguy said:
Seems like each LED would connected to a thingy so as the voltage changes so would the lights? Sorry if my technical jargon is to hard to understand :)
Click to expand...

There have been at least two attempts at doing DIY versions that have been posted here at GSR. From what I recall one of the last contributers finally gave up because of the complexity of waterproof packaging for doing a simple one off design.
 
Last edited:
I have two of the meters that Posplayr mentioned in his third link. I like them.
icon_thumbsup.gif


The accuracy of the voltmeter is rather close. One of them was less than .1 volt off, the other was .3 volt.

Also nice to see time and temperature while riding.

The display is also dual-color, blue and orange. The orange matches the GS lighting exactly. :D

It's not waterproof, so keep that in mind when mounting it.

.
 
I would think a waterproof design would be the simple part :|
Just get a plastic box, throw a plexi or plastic window in it with some silicon to keep the water out, and do some sort of gasket/silicon around where the wires would go in. Not exactly the prettiest thing in the world, but I do like saying, "hey, you bought that online? My dad and I made mine out of things we had in our garage."
 
Chrkut said:
While poking around on radioshack thinking about tearing apart a set of earphones for a helmet speaker system (earbuds are illegal in PA :mad:) I was thinking of making something like this:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/70/8115/ITEM/Kuryakyn-LED-Battery-Gauge.aspx

It seems a bit overpriced for some (probably) simple circutry, except for the fact I am not an electronics expert. I make my dad do those things, since hes been working on them since the 1950's.

So here's the question: Do ya'll have any sort of ideas how one of these doodads can be made for under 40 bucks, perferably with good old radioshack parts and various doodlehangers we probably have in the garage? Or should i just drop the ~$50 for this fancy contraption?
Click to expand...

I did one using 2 LM 3914s and 2 10-segment LED bargraphs for a 20 LED display. It was probably about $10 ... MAYBE 20

I have plans somewhere still ... if anyone wants them, send a PM with an e-mail where you can receive attachments ...

I waterproofed it with liquid electrical tape. then put it in a cardboard housing ... and rubberbanded it on top of the guages ... just a temporary thing to see if I liked it ... It stayed like that for a couple of years ...

It uses a generic radioshack board so you don't have to etch one.

I liked it better than numerical displays, because you can read it at a glance.
 
I think there are two basic problems with any type of charging system warning. First, if it's some sort of L.E.D., it's likely to be either too dim (in sunlight) or too bright (for night riding). Problem two, of course, is waterproofing.

Someone here had mentioned using an A-D to blink an L.E.D. if the voltage dropped below some threshold. No indication for O.K., just a notification of a problem if/when it develops. This sounded pretty well thought out to me. Still, I'm nosing around for a water-resistant housing for a 2" analog gauge. Nothing like seeing the system's continuous reaction to load & r.p.m. changes.
 
robertbarr said:
Still, I'm nosing around for a water-resistant housing for a 2" analog gauge. Nothing like seeing the system's continuous reaction to load & r.p.m. changes.
Click to expand...
I have a 2" VDO gauge on my Wing. It's pretty much out in the open, but it is shelterd by that monster thing called a "windshield". :p

IMG_3457.jpg


That glare shield over the speedo and tach is far enough forward, it does nothing to shelter the voltmeter and thermomter.

.
 
I initially used Martin's circuit to make a 20 LED gauge up, but I had to go all fancy and ended up making it too unwieldy and unsuitable for mounting on a bike :o

So, in the end I went with this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-MOTOR...cycle_Parts&hash=item2eb53d149e#ht_3605wt_952

It's big and bright enough to see in the daylight and I tested it with a variable voltage source and it appears to be just about spot on accurate according to my multimeter.

It also doubles as a battery level indicator and I added a push button switch under my custom dash so I could flick it to battery level monitor mode when I want to. It's not 100% waterproof and they tell you to add some sealant if it will be exposed, but I have a 2.5mm sheet of acrylic perspex over my whole dash that protects it and my fly screen seems to keep most of the water off too.

Here's how it is installed:

IMG_4689.jpg
 
robertbarr said:
I think there are two basic problems with any type of charging system warning. First, if it's some sort of L.E.D., it's likely to be either too dim (in sunlight) or too bright (for night riding). Problem two, of course, is waterproofing.
Click to expand...


I was worried about visibility when I made mine ..
I recessed it about an inch in the cardboard housing ...

that kept the sun off it unless it was DIRECTLY over your shoulder behind your head ... 99% of the time it was easy to see, even on bright sunny days.
even the 1% that was bad, as soon as you turned even a little bit, you could see it again.

It was also good at night, not too bright, integrated well with the rest of the guages.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top