GL1200 Voltmeter Installed

[desertrefugee]

I published this on another site, but this corner of the net is 1200 specific, so it fits here and I thought I'd post it up.

After "Poorboy'ing" my '84 Aspencade a couple of years ago, my charging issues "should be" a thing of the past, but it's always good to keep tabs on what's going on with the electrical system, so I began a quest to find a decent gauge.

(Here's a link to a thread I ran detailing that conversion. Unfortunately, the pics were lost in the forum upgrade).

http://www.gl1200goldwings.com/gl1200/sh...p?tid=9113

..........

Anyway, I've been working through my GL1200, firming everything up - since I plan a long three week trip up and around Utah in the Spring.

Even though I don't worry about my stator going out, it's never a bad idea to know what the charging system is doing. So, after some investigating, I discovered a few references to a Honda voltmeter available in marine supply stores. Well, I found one (says Honda on the face and is backlit). Pretty cool. I have also been intending to install a 12V accessory plug for my cell phone charger or whatever. (Can't go on the road without a cell phone!)

My Aspy has the CB block-out plate with just the radio volume/tone controls. Decided to mount the stuff there. I had to keep to the extreme bottom of the plate since there's a 45 -degree brace holding the heavy radio module. I was actually surprised at how big that auxiliary radio module turned out to be!

So, I got them both items done at the same time and am pretty pleased with an afternoon's work:

[Chas]

Looks nice! Getting a Honda meter is a nice touch.

[desertrefugee]

Looks nice! Getting a Honda meter is a nice touch.

Thanks - and sorry the image is so ridiculously gigantic. Not sure why that happened...

[1060dsl]

It does look nice - I have always liked a voltmeter on any vehicle I drive. On my Goldwing I put one of those led bulbs with a rubber grommet it fits nicely into the cigarette lighter hole on my handlebars. Sorry I can not post pictures here but I bought it on eBay for a song.
Under normal conditions it stays on green when the bike is discharging it goes yellow and then red as the battery drops the good thing about this feature is it catches your eye when it changes color that gives you time to assess. I kept my bike OEM (no car alternators) so the voltage is something I keep an eye on.

[fysty-1]

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/sto...&langId=-1

This is the unit that I got for Baby Blue. As it is a Marine voltmeter, it will be quite moisture resistant. I got a neat panel from Sierra that covers the left pocket, but it is no longer offered. Where the eagle is is where I planned for a power outlet.

[GWdan]

Maybe you will have better luck than I did with the meter mounted on the face of the left fairing, but on mine the plastic cracked radially out from the 2” hole on the first long ride I made after adding it. The ABS plastic that our bikes are made of has gotten very brittle over the 28 yrs. and the vibration with the extra weight was just too much.
A good friend of mine who owns a machine shop made replacement face out of ¼” aluminum with the holes and support mount for the automatic volume control and the voltmeter. The voltmeter I found on amazon.com is called “Sunpro CP7985 CustomLine Electrical Voltmeter - Black Dial” for less than $15. Although I wasn’t looking for one with needle and numerals angled down, I think with them that way it kind of looks like it was meant to be mounted facing down, just a matter of taste. Take a look at the picture – you be the judge.
I compared its accuracy to my digital volt meter and that all seems good. I use the cigarette lighter outlet in the upper right fairing for the accessory juice, so I didn’t need the real estate on the panel.

I've had the meter through one riding season and it is easy to read and has a little needle bounce occasionally from engine vibration. It gives me the good feeling that my little GEO Metro alternator is AOK.

[bs175dths]

I installed one of those Honda Voltmeters back in July of 2011 after two years worth of spare time resurrecting a bike which hadn’t been used for two years.
It has told me when my battery needed replacing, when my regulator had quit and when it was time for a Poorboy alternator kit.
Priceless!
Marine grade, back-lite, ‘HONDA’ on the face, and it is made for Honda by Faria!

Well worth the investment.

http://www.boats.net/parts/detail/honda/...000ZA.html

[Scot Thompson]

I installed one of those Honda Voltmeters back in July of 2011 after two years worth of spare time resurrecting a bike which hadn’t been used for two years.
It has told me when my battery needed replacing, when my regulator had quit and when it was time for a Poorboy alternator kit.
Priceless!
Marine grade, back-lite, ‘HONDA’ on the face, and it is made for Honda by Faria!

Well worth the investment.

http://www.boats.net/parts/detail/honda/...000ZA.html

I put one on my Aspy when having troubles on the road and had to milk it home for 900 miles. Wally World, $16. It is on, but engine not running. Hence the dot light on the left is lit...no amps. If the dot light on the right also goes on, the battery is below 12.vdc. When all works as it should, the dot lights are out and the meter reads 14.2 vdc. It sticks to the plastic covering the gauge cluster.

[fysty-1]

I installed one of those Honda Voltmeters back in July of 2011 after two years worth of spare time resurrecting a bike which hadn’t been used for two years.
It has told me when my battery needed replacing, when my regulator had quit and when it was time for a Poorboy alternator kit.
Priceless!
Marine grade, back-lite, ‘HONDA’ on the face, and it is made for Honda by Faria!

Well worth the investment.

http://www.boats.net/parts/detail/honda/...000ZA.html

Kewl little unit. Never know where you find the bargains. Cheers Angela
I put one on my Aspy when having troubles on the road and had to milk it home for 900 miles. Wally World, $16. It is on, but engine not running. Hence the dot light on the left is lit...no amps. If the dot light on the right also goes on, the battery is below 12.vdc. When all works as it should, the dot lights are out and the meter reads 14.2 vdc. It sticks to the plastic covering the gauge cluster.