Article [13] ST1300 - Add On digital voltmeter

Joined
Nov 29, 2015
Messages
49
Location
California
Bike
ST1100
STOC #
8882
Re: Add On digital voltmeter

I am doing a similar installation except that I have the volt/amp meter. I like to know my draw so that is the why on the amp meter. I am not sure why the industry (both auto and cycle) stopped doing ammeters but to me it is important. Anyway, I am looking at mounting it above the inner fairing on either the left (below headlight adjuster) or the right in a similar place. Is there room behind the panel there? I am going there for scanning purposes and that the middle inner on the left all ready has my power plug and heater grip switch
 
Joined
Jun 9, 2012
Messages
400
Location
Paris, TN
Bike
'99 ST1100
STOC #
8606
I had this meter installed in my ST1100 and noticed low voltage about 10 miles away from my house. I barely made back home reading with the meter reading just south of 10 volts. I consider this to be essential equipment and I am installing this meter in my new-to-me 2001 ST1100.
 
Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
98
Location
Jenks, OK
Bike
2017 BMW R1200GSA
Hey guys, I've had this voltmeter on my bike since 2011. Never had a problem with it until yesterday. It's connected to the ignition so it's supposed to turn off when I turn off the bike but now it's stuck in the on position even with the bike off. Any ideas as to what's going on? I do have a momentary switch on it that is connected directly to the battery (see my post on this thread from 2011). Not sure if that has anything to do with it. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
 
Joined
Feb 18, 2007
Messages
213
Age
46
Location
Canton, Ga
Bike
2004 ST1300
STOC #
7140
I would disconnect the momentary switch and see what happens. If it is just a two wire voltmeter there is no way for it to break and stay on if there is no power going to it.
 
Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
98
Location
Jenks, OK
Bike
2017 BMW R1200GSA
Good point. Maybe the momentary rocker switch took a dump and power is going right through it from the battery so it's keeping the voltmeter on all the time. I'll have to pull the plastic...ugh!
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2011
Messages
1,116
Age
70
Location
Ada ( Grand Rapids ) Michigan
Bike
'07 ST 1300 & '91 GW
STOC #
8421
What meter did you use?
It took me awhile to find the link to this , what I bought back in Feb.:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JOB790A/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ......( may have to wait until back in stock for yellow )

The yellow one is quite bright , would be too distracting in the dark on the ST , normally I would have put a resistor in the circuit to lessen the brightness but since this is a voltmeter , you can't , as that would affect the voltage the meter reads , so I put 2 pieces of tint filter material in front of it to match the other ST yellow readout intensities near by in the dash.
 

ST Gui

240Robert
Site Supporter
Joined
Sep 12, 2011
Messages
9,254
Location
SF-Oakland CA
Bike
ST1300, 2010
J. Hawkins said:
That is a great addition. Here's a simple one (if you have a power outlet in sight).
There're probably a lot of versions like that but do you have a link for that one?
 
Joined
Sep 5, 2018
Messages
1,769
Age
70
Location
Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall, UK
Bike
2000 ST1100Y
STOC #
9006

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.

    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.


  • 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.



  • 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.
  • 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:

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

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.
Nice neat job. looks like it grew there!
 
Top Bottom