Article [13] ST1300 - Add On digital voltmeter

Mellow

Joe
Admin
Joined
Dec 1, 2004
Messages
18,815
Age
59
Bike
'21 BMW R1250RT
2024 Miles
000540

I have used the Add On digital voltmeter before
and it's a nice product that provides for a
clean installation.


I purchased this at www.cyclemaxohio.com for under $30 shipped.
Here are some pics of the meter, it measures 1 1⁄4" X 7/8":



  • Step 1
    Decide location - I wanted to put my meter below the left side
    fairing pocket.​
  • Step 2
    Remove Parts - for the location I chose, you will need to:
    - Remove seats
    - Remove left side saddlebag
    - Remove left side panel
    - Loosen and prop up upper gas tank

    There isn't much under this part of the fairing but you do want
    access to it so you can work and there are some wires nearby
    that you don't want to accidentally cut.​
  • Step 3
    Preparation
    - I didn't have any masking tape but found some paper
    bandage tape which worked just as well. I masked off the area
    I intended to install the meter.

    5178.jpg

    I took the backing lock plate that is supplied with the meter as a
    template. Then used a pencil to trace the inner cutout of the
    plate. This will actually be smaller than the opening you need but
    that's a good thing as you don't want to cut a hole too big.

    5177.jpg
  • Step 4
    Cutting
    - I used a Dremel with a cutting disk and simply cut the
    4 sides of the pencil marked rectangle. Remember, it's better to
    cut a smaller hole that you can trim than a bigger one you can't.

    After you cut the hole, keep testing the fitment of the meter and
    trimming a little more with a knife. If you do it this way you won't
    need the backing plate that came with the meter, it will be snug
    enough on it's own.

    5173.jpg


    5172.jpg


    5171.jpg


    5170.jpg


  • Step 5
    Connection
    - I ran some wires from the OEM fuse box location then
    under the gas tank and under the left side frame and up through
    the hole. I bent a couple electrical connectors, crimped them and
    then connected them to the voltmeter.

    As I said above, I cut the hole very close and the meter has to be
    pushed into it with just enough force that there is no need to use
    the backing plate that comes with the meter.

    My power is coming from a tap into the switched power from the
    back of the fuse box. The ground I ran to a tap of a wire which
    was already coming from the negative side of the battery.
    5168.jpg

    5167.jpg

    5166.jpg

    5165.jpg
  • Step 6
    Put everything back together
    - Once you have everything connected
    you've probably already tried the meter by turning on the key.

    Reading during idle:

    5163.jpg

    Reading during idle w/PIAA 910s and high beams on:

    5164.jpg
You're Done!



Evaluation:
Others have commented this meter is not the most accurate meter
however, it is not far off. My main reason for getting it, other than
the cool look, is to see when typical readings change
providing me a warning that I may have electrical issues.
 

Attachments

Last edited:

smcrae

Stace McRae
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
12
Location
DFW, TX
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

That was a quick install - from talking about it this morning to installed this afternoon.

Looks nice.

Stace
 
OP
OP
Mellow

Mellow

Joe
Admin
Joined
Dec 1, 2004
Messages
18,815
Age
59
Bike
'21 BMW R1250RT
2024 Miles
000540
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

I took my time.. it only took maybe 40 mins if that..

Next time you need a tire change stop by and we'll do that and a meter.. It should cover your powerlet hole if that's where you want it.
 

Scooter

This space for rent...
Joined
Oct 12, 2005
Messages
1,779
Location
Germantown, WI
Bike
2019 BMW R1250RT
STOC #
5929
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

Nice little writeup Joe. :headbang:

For the people who are also considering putting in the Hondaline heated grips you should know that this same location in the fairing is generally used to mount the heat controller.

Joe... do you belong to the Farkle of the Month club?!? :cool:
 
OP
OP
Mellow

Mellow

Joe
Admin
Joined
Dec 1, 2004
Messages
18,815
Age
59
Bike
'21 BMW R1250RT
2024 Miles
000540
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

LOL.. this is a cheap farkle.. I like those...
 
Joined
Apr 29, 2006
Messages
1,069
Location
SC
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

Classy job Joe, the only thing different I would, and have done, is to put the meter in my direct line of sight. I try to minimize the number of reasons why I need to look down any further than I need to.
 
OP
OP
Mellow

Mellow

Joe
Admin
Joined
Dec 1, 2004
Messages
18,815
Age
59
Bike
'21 BMW R1250RT
2024 Miles
000540
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

Classy job Joe, the only thing different I would, and have done, is to put the meter in my direct line of sight. I try to minimize the number of reasons why I need to look down any further than I need to.
Yeah, I couldn't find a place where I could do that without needing some type of 'L' bracket. I thought if would be cool to add it to the existing gauge cluster but that probably would have messed with how watertight it is.

There's room to install this on the clear plastic of the gauges ... I'm just not that confident and I'd hate to have to replace a $??? part because of a $30 farkle..

Ray - nm6r - installed one just under the dash and between the handlebars which looks good.
 
Joined
Dec 26, 2007
Messages
15
Location
Montreal,Canada
Bike
ST 1300 a 2007
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

Hi There...Nice ... Could you tell me how to find the proper wires to tap for the + & - connections? Are they color coded ? Is there a fuse connected to the pos. wire ?
Many Thanks....Gerry
 
OP
OP
Mellow

Mellow

Joe
Admin
Joined
Dec 1, 2004
Messages
18,815
Age
59
Bike
'21 BMW R1250RT
2024 Miles
000540
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

Hi There...Nice ... Could you tell me how to find the proper wires to tap for the + & - connections? Are they color coded ? Is there a fuse connected to the pos. wire ?
Many Thanks....Gerry
There is a red wire w/green stripe. Look at this album and you'll see where to the the + connection:
https://www.st-owners.com/forums/album.php?albumid=384

As far as the - connection, that's up to you, I already had a wire for a different accessory going to the battery - so I tapped into that.
 
Joined
Dec 26, 2007
Messages
15
Location
Montreal,Canada
Bike
ST 1300 a 2007
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

It is me again Mellow...I have a wire from my power outlet going "directly" to the battery.
Am I right that if I tap into that wire the voltmeter will stay on all of the time ????.................Gerry
 
OP
OP
Mellow

Mellow

Joe
Admin
Joined
Dec 1, 2004
Messages
18,815
Age
59
Bike
'21 BMW R1250RT
2024 Miles
000540
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

It is me again Mellow...I have a wire from my power outlet going "directly" to the battery.
Am I right that if I tap into that wire the voltmeter will stay on all of the time ????.................Gerry
Yes, if your power outlet is always on then so with the voltmeter.
 
Joined
Jul 18, 2008
Messages
258
Location
Arlington,TX
Bike
97 ST1100A
STOC #
7643
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

Joe-

How easy is it to see the LED in sunlight? I was trying to decide between analog and digital for my 1100. Visibility and location are key considerations.

I've seen serveral installations of an analog meter in the headlight adjustment dash location on 1100s. in those instances do you simply delete adjustment knob or reroute it to another location. If anyone has any comments they would be welcome.

dave
 
OP
OP
Mellow

Mellow

Joe
Admin
Joined
Dec 1, 2004
Messages
18,815
Age
59
Bike
'21 BMW R1250RT
2024 Miles
000540
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

Joe-

How easy is it to see the LED in sunlight? I was trying to decide between analog and digital for my 1100. Visibility and location are key considerations.

I've seen serveral installations of an analog meter in the headlight adjustment dash location on 1100s. in those instances do you simply delete adjustment knob or reroute it to another location. If anyone has any comments they would be welcome.

dave
I haven't been in any sunlight lately but the identical one I had on the wing was pretty easy to see.
 

Rossi

R.I.P. - 2014/08/28
Rest In Peace
Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
484
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Bike
2000 ST1100
STOC #
7236
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

I've seen serveral installations of an analog meter in the headlight adjustment dash location on 1100s. in those instances do you simply delete adjustment knob or reroute it to another location. If anyone has any comments they would be welcome.

dave
Go about 1/3 the way down on this link. He's mounted the adjustment knob inside the left pocket.

http://www.my-mc.com/messages/1/53399.html
 

STill STylin

Red is ALWAYS faSTer
Joined
Mar 10, 2005
Messages
289
Age
82
Location
Pasadena, CA
Bike
2005 ST1300A
STOC #
1038
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

Joe,

Great job with the pic's and the STep-by-STep inSTructions.

You might recall several years ago when the "Datel" digital volt meter was the rage for the ST1100's? Well, at the time I purchased two of 'em, inSTalling one on my then ST1100 and "holding" the other.

Your write-up has inspired me to do the inSTall on my ST1300. I've juST completed an hour search for the "other" Datel . . . . with good fortune smiling into my garage - I found it! (a miracle - to say the leaST)

By the way - I muST confirm - Red is the faSTest ST1300! :)

Thank you.
 
OP
OP
Mellow

Mellow

Joe
Admin
Joined
Dec 1, 2004
Messages
18,815
Age
59
Bike
'21 BMW R1250RT
2024 Miles
000540
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

Joe-

How easy is it to see the LED in sunlight? I was trying to decide between analog and digital for my 1100. Visibility and location are key considerations.

I've seen serveral installations of an analog meter in the headlight adjustment dash location on 1100s. in those instances do you simply delete adjustment knob or reroute it to another location. If anyone has any comments they would be welcome.

dave
I haven't been in any sunlight lately but the identical one I had on the wing was pretty easy to see.
Dave, wanted to give you an update. I was able to ride in some sunlight over the weekend and given the location I have this installed it is NOT easy to read in direct sunlight. You can put your hand over it to shade it and you'll see the reading.

This is ONLY for certain angles, there are some times when the sun was in a different spot in the sky and you could see the meter just fine. I'm still okay with my location, lol I sorta have to be now lol, but I wasn't able to find a location on the dash that I was more satisfied with vs where it is now.

Hope that helps.
 
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
8,536
Age
77
Location
Kingman, Arizona
Bike
2000 ST1100 ABS TCS
STOC #
004
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

I just got one of the cheap one. It'll go into STick soon's she gets her major maintenance. I inherited a Datel with ReSTored, installed on the left knee panel, never had a problem reading it.
 
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
8,536
Age
77
Location
Kingman, Arizona
Bike
2000 ST1100 ABS TCS
STOC #
004
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

On ReSTored, the meter is hooked to my aux power circuit (directly off the battery) but has a micro switch in line. That way, I can check the battery voltage with the bike _off_, and also check the alternator function occasionally.
 
Top Bottom