Escort 8500 reads 1 volt lower than actual?

[sagedrifter]

I was messing around with my 8500 X50 and it scared me for a bit. I thought my 28 amper was tanking. The volt meter feature reads exactly 1 volt low while running, the bike puts out 14.66 volts per my volt meter and the 8500 reads 13.66 volts running and 10.6 volts with the engine off. My hand held meter never showed any thing under 12.48?? My AP-2 reads the same as the battery.

Anybody notice the crappy voltage feature on the 8500?

[Rob Hephner]

Are you reading the voltage off of the battery or off of the little wires connected to the detector?

[sagedrifter]

At the terminals. I haven't tried testing the phone jack.

[wjbertrand]

Where is your 8500 wired in? On my 1300 I have the 8500 connected to the accessory harness and it will read anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5 volts lower (depending on accessory use) than my Datel meter which is connected directly to the battery.

You won't get true battery voltage unless you wire the 8500 directly to the battery. You'll just get the voltage in whatever circuit you have it connected to instead.

[Rob Hephner]

Plus you'll probably see a drop just because of the wire size.

If you want an accurate voltage reading, get a dedicated voltage meter....and don't expect it to tell you when there are police around. ;)

[nm6r]

It's probably the voltage drop in the small wiring.

I found the Datel voltmeter to be a nice addition to my ST1300.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~nm6r/voltmeter.jpg

Ray

[electrajoe]

I know you guys are talking about the 1300. but...

On my 1100 using the fuse box accessory tap, the Escort will loose about 1.0 volt. Using 14 gauge wire and a relay for all my accessories, the Escort show 14.5-14.6 above 2,500 RPM. With HotGrips on high and two 55W mirror mounted lights it cycles to 14.1-14.3 volts.

[jdpfms]

I was messing around with my 8500 X50 and it scared me for a bit. I thought my 28 amper was tanking. The volt meter feature reads exactly 1 volt low while running, the bike puts out 14.66 volts per my volt meter and the 8500 reads 13.66 volts running and 10.6 volts with the engine off. My hand held meter never showed any thing under 12.48?? My AP-2 reads the same as the battery.

Anybody notice the crappy voltage feature on the 8500?

Yep, mine does that too. I've got a voltmeter to the battery, and I programed the 8500 to see voltage and was wishing I hadn't, LOL.

JDP

[sagedrifter]

I connected the 8500 directly to the battery and its still 1 volt low. I guess its the tiny wires.

[wjbertrand]

I connected the 8500 directly to the battery and its still 1 volt low. I guess its the tiny wires.

That's weird. If I use my cigar lighter adapter (connected directly to the battery) instead of my hard-wired connection to the accessory harness, the 8500's volt reading equals the Datel.

[Snoweyowl]

Just started to use the voltage meter function this Winter. Since I haven't ridden the bike since January all of the work has been in my car. Voltage is dead on! Checked it with a meter because I thought 14.6-15.2 was too high a charge rate. Dealer tells me all is fine on that front.

[sagedrifter]

Its probably my unit, its showing 13.6 in my truck too. Volt Meter says 14.6.

[jdpfms]

I was messing around with my 8500 X50 and it scared me for a bit. I thought my 28 amper was tanking. The volt meter feature reads exactly 1 volt low while running, the bike puts out 14.66 volts per my volt meter and the 8500 reads 13.66 volts running and 10.6 volts with the engine off. My hand held meter never showed any thing under 12.48?? My AP-2 reads the same as the battery.

Anybody notice the crappy voltage feature on the 8500?

Yeah, I set up my 8500 to show voltage too in addition to the little 5 feature voltmeter I already have. It consistently was like yours about 1 volt less so I just stopped using it.

JDP

[sagedrifter]

Yep, I installed a Datel meter and it reads pretty close to my multi meter. The 8500 reads one volt low still. I keep it on the setting where it shows the frequency, I've noticed most of the time the men giving out tickets use ka at 36K. 24K is used at those your speed is trailers and some grocery stores....