volt meter question

[seb421]

is it best to wire it direct to the battery or off the sidelight

[VTRDark]

If you are fitting a volmeter to your bike I would run it off the accessary on the ignition. If you run direct from the battery it wil be on a perment feed so it will always be on. Somthing else to drain the battery when the bikes not running!

You probably could run it from the sidelight as (If I re-call) the sidelight comes on automatically when the ignition is switched, so that would make it an accessary feed. My lights are permantly switched on and I can not remeber if if it's on the switch or not.

Saying that though, you are still probably better off running directly of the ignition feed as I think being so close, the sidelight using power might give the meter a slightly false reading. Also if the sidelight bulb blows it might break the circuit to your volmeter. But don't quote me on that. I'm sure one of the expert sparks on the forum will tell you the best place to take a feed from.

Wherever you take your feed from it's probably a good idea to put an inline fuse on it. Not sure what ampage though!

Hope that helps.

Have you got yourself an Accumen gear display with the volmeter built in or some other type?

(:-})

[seb421]

hi mate, its not permanent on mine, i have to switch it on


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIGITAL-LED-V ... 634wt_1392

that's the one I got, nice and simple will mount it up in the clocks, don't need fancy weatherproof ones as it don't get wet there anyway, will just cake it in Vaseline to stop moisture in the garage at work

i all ready have the wires spliced off the sidelight so will stick it there with an in-line switch too I think

[VTRDark]

Oooo I like that, very good value for money, I might have to get one those myself. Don't forget an inline fuse!

(:-})

[seb421]

Oooo I like that, very good value for money, I might have to get one those myself. Don't forget an inline fuse!

(:-})

Will it really need an in-line fuse if its run from the sidelight and not the batt? i always use them if direct from the batt but figured it would be fine from the sidelight

[VTRDark]

Wiring from the sidelight it will use the fuse that the lights use. I'm not really sure you need it. But i'm thinking for example, if you get water or a electical falure in the voltmeter that causes a short, it will feed back up through to your lights. Hopefully the fuse for the lights would blow, but if it don't it's gonna blow your bulb or possibly even worse burn some wiring out.

I personally would use a fuse as a safety precaution. For the sake of a 50p fuse holder, in fact you don't even need that, just crimp/solder two spade connectors and insert a blade fuse into them. A bit of insulating tape or cable tie around them to hold the connectors in place side by side and your sorted.

Not sure what amperage fuse I would use. I would start with a low one and if that blows (and you know there's no fault with wiring etc) up the amparage of the fuse. I would start with a 7.5, then 10, then 15. I suspect a 10 amp would be quite sufficiant.

I don't claim to be an electrical expert, but I'm fairly knowledgeable, I used to fit car audio and alarm systems back in the 80's, when I was a lad

Maybe somone like Webbnuts who's a true electrical genius from what I have read http://www.haymouth.co.uk/phpBB3/viewto ... gital+dash can confirm whether I'm just being a little bit overboard. I like to play thing's on the safe side!

(:-})

[Image]

I'm no electrical wizard but wouldn't it be a poor idea to wire a voltometer to lights as they could interfere with each other? i.e. the lights could alter the reading of the voltometer and the voltometer could steal some of the ampage from the light.

[VTRDark]

Saying that though, you are still probably better off running directly of the ignition feed as I think being so close, the sidelight using power might give the meter a slightly false reading.

That's what I was thinking in my first post! Couln't think of the right way to word it though

(:-})

[seb421]

I've not idea at all me mate where to wire it for an accurate reading? is it best to do to it the batt with an in-line fuse and in-line switch then?

[Image]

The ones fitted as standard are direct to battery or ignition but have a push button switch which you press to see volts and revert to off as soon as you take finger off button. They're available from any good motor shop for a couple of quid.

[seb421]

The ones fitted as standard are direct to battery or ignition but have a push button switch which you press to see volts and revert to off as soon as you take finger off button. They're available from any good motor shop for a couple of quid.

cheers mate ill do it off the batt and use an in-line switch and fuse then.

might even be mega cheesy and use a pilot jet fighter toggle switch haha

[VTRDark]

might even be mega cheesy and use a pilot jet fighter toggle switch haha

5,4,3,2,1 BLAST OFF

(:-})

[seb421]

just another quick one guy's

what amp size fuze do i need?

cheers

[Image]

5 amp is what's on those that are fitted on a bike as standard!

[VTRDark]

5amp sounds good to me,

If it all works and the fuse don't blow, you're rockin n rollin.

(:-})