Volt Meter Installation

[zevk]

I purchased this tiny little voltmeter 0-99V LED display for $12.00 at an electronics market today.

exactly like this one

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-DC-0-99V-3-Wire-Voltmeter-Blue-LED-Display-Volt-Meter-Digital-Panel-Meter-/281091909348?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item41726226e4

It came w/o the box, new, no manuf description, but I liked the fact that it really is small and compact.

Initially, I was tempted to cut into the Left side fairing just blelow the lockable glove box (just like the OEM heated grip controller) but decided, if the unit fails at any point, I would need to source the exact size replacement and may end up with a rectangular hole in my fairing....
 
I installed this nifty unit, INSIDE the dash, with 3M double sided mounting tape, directly on top of the ST1300 logo. (if I can't remember what model bike I am riding, I probably shouldn't be riding...)
 
To do this farkle;

remove windscreen
remove 2 bolts located above the glove boxes on ea side
remove mirror covers
remove 1 bolt above ea mirror, holding the dash corners
remove all poppers of top dash cover
remove 2 screws ea side of dash R and L
unplug main dash plug by pressing tabs in and carefully jiggling the plug out (2 seperate white plugs)
lift the dash unit off the bike and place on clean terry towel face down
remove 4 large screws that hold dash unit to panel / facia
carefully remove headlight adjusting knob, with 2 flat bladed screwdrivers, easy-does-it, it can be seized.
Do NOT remove the rubber switch cover for on-board computer, its a pain in the  to fit it back, if you must, then unscrew the 2 Philips screws and carefully note position of prongs and rubber gasket placement. 
remove all screws on outer perimiter dash (not small internal screws!)
remove 2 screws that hold the headlight adjuster switch (failure to do this, may result in tears and big $$$)
now, carefully pry the dash front cover off the base.
important! do NOT attempt to clean, adjust or otherwise play with the face of the speedo, especially the needle it is VERY delicate!
now you can stick the voltmeter over the ST1300 logo, drill a 2.5 mm pilot hole on the outer rim of the housing, for the positive and negative wires and close it all up!
I wired it direct to my custom made, switched auxillary fuse block located in the tail.

hope you like it, took about 3 hours and looks stock!   
 
...see pics below:

[StinkyPete]

That's a nice looking job.  Well done, and thanks for the clear "how to" instructions 

[zevk]

no worries stinky, glad you like it!

[Biggles]

Well done, looks great.
But hoo boy, you've got to be keen to do all that so you can know the voltage!

[ST2UP]

Well done very neat job.....ahh why the watch on the dash ?? must have been a big job to be finishing at 2:40 AM on the ST clock......

Again neat job and great instructions

Cheers

[tj189]

That is a great install there zevk  with the amount of accessories I run on my bike, I think it is a necessity to have an indicator of what is happening with the charging system.  I run one of these http://clearwaterlights.com/infopg_cvs.html

[zevk]

tj, thats a great unit you have and looks high quality!
I did this more as a guide, even if its not as accurate as the better units, it should still give me an indicator to my charge and battery condition.

thanks for the compliment.

[Gavo]

Great work 

[Biggles]

That is a great install there zevk  with the amount of accessories I run on my bike, I think it is a necessity to have an indicator of what is happening with the charging system.  I run one of these http://clearwaterlights.com/infopg_cvs.html

It's US$59 plus P&H.

Save us going looking for it, Terry- where did you mount it?

[tj189]

Now Biggles, that could be a good game, like where's wally? 

I have the led on the right hand side, stuck in the air inlet. The box is at the back of the dash hidden away.

[Biggles]

Now Biggles, that could be a good game, like where's wally? 

I have the led on the right hand side, stuck in the air inlet. The box is at the back of the dash hidden away.

How long is the cable from the box to the LED?  It's not mentioned on the site.  Just wondering if the box can go back under the tank.

[Esstee 13]

Hey Zevk.
Top job on the install. Looks sensational. Did you happen to jot down the dimensions of that unit at all?
 

[zevk]

Esstee13, I did not note the dimensions, but it really is small just the length of the ST1300 Logo on the dash, about 25mm x 10mm x 10mm.
I wrapped the perimiter and backi with black electric tape and stuck 3m mounting tape on the base.
it is a perfect fit for the dash as the clear plastic presses down lightly on it.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-DC-0-99V-3-Wire-Voltmeter-Blue-LED-Display-Volt-Meter-Digital-Panel-Meter-/281091909348?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item41726226e4

[zevk]

Estee13 and all Hi Again,

I just found the unit I purchased for $15 at the electronics market, and discovered I was ripped off!! hahah take a look at the flea bay price...
this is exactly what i have installed!


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-DC-0-99V-3-Wire-Voltmeter-Blue-LED-Display-Volt-Meter-Digital-Panel-Meter-/281091909348?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item41726226e4

•Dimension: 23x15x11mm
•Range: DC 3.5-9.99V
•Display: Three 0.36 "LED digital tube
•Display color: RED
•Refresh rate: about 500mS / times
•Maximum input: <1.2 times the range
•Accuracy: 1 %(+/- 1 digit)
•Power Supply: DC 3.5-9.99V
•Operating temperature: -10°c~ 65°c
•Wiring: Red: Positive +, Black: Negative -
•Power cannot be reversed, otherwise it will burned the module

Package Includes:
 •1x DC 3.5-9.99V Digital Voltmeter

[Esstee 13]

Thanks Zev.
I will trawl through Ebay and see what i can find as i love this mod.
 

[Esstee 13]

Don't you just hate that Zev. Think you have got a bargain and then find you could have bought half a dozen for that price. I am just about to buy one now. Thanks again for all your assistance.
 

[zevk]

at $15 beggers can be choosers...mind you thats a "Bid" price.

just worth asking if the one listed, (listed as 3.5 - 10 V) measures up to 24 volts like mine does, the charging rate is normally 14.5 with rpm at 4000 roughly.

hope you enjoy it

[Esstee 13]

I was just about to message you and let you know that. It appears it only goes to 10 volts which is no good to us. However, there is a mountain of others on there to choose from. I have just found one with a white readout for about $4 so that might be the gp. Thanks again Zev.
 

[zevk]

you got it for $4.00!?  Why you little...

 haha just kidding!

White LED is so "new generation" will look "truly sic" as my kids are fond of saying, but mostly they say my bike "looks gay", alas, an 'ol farts bike!


 

[zevk]

estee i just discovered the one I listed on ebay has a typo, it should read 3.5v -  99.9v


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mini-DC-0-99V-3-Wire-Voltmeter-Blue-LED-Display-Volt-Meter-Digital-Panel-Meter-/281091909348?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item41726226e4
they miscopied the decimal point!


it is axactly like this one.

hope this helps

[Esstee 13]

$3.29 actually. This one has a mounting point on each side but i will be able to remove those prior to install. You are right Zev. White is the new generation. Your kids are also right. I think it will look fully sic as well. As for the old farts bike, your children need to appreciate the finer things in life. . Thanks again Zev. I will post a pic when it arrives and i have installed it.
 

[zevk]

so true estee13 you try an tell your kids to apreciate the finer things in life as we had it tough, as the 4 yorkshiremen would say:

FOURTH YORKSHIREMAN: Right. I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad and our mother would kill us and dance about on our graves singing Hallelujah. FIRST YORKSHIREMAN: And you try and tell the young people of today that ..... they won't believe you.   

[Esstee 13]

Hahaha. Very funny but a certain amount of truth to it as well. I suppose they will be telling their kids the same stories we are telling them though. Or at least we hope so.