LED volage monitor

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LED volage monitor

Postby phsDommie » Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:43 pm

I purchased a Clearwater Voltage Sentry, an LED voltage monitor which is very unobtrusive, accurate and waterproof - at least as described in the February 2012 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News. The questions I have include: has anyone tried one out on a positive earth (ground) machine? Since it only measures battery voltage output, shouldn't I be able to attach the "hot" wire to the positive post as the instructions describe?

I'm unable to ride or even kickstart my bike for a couple more months as I've just had neck surgery, so was hoping someone else could let me know how/if it works. Thanks in advance.

Paul.
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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby rvich » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:43 pm

If the case of the unit is not grounded then you should be able to connect the red lead to the frame (ground) and the black lead to a power source in a positive ground system. I have not seen their diagram but I am assuming here that red goes to positive. If the case of the unit is grounded then it would need to be isolated to run it this way.

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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby mikegray660 » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:09 pm

yes
i have something similar rigged up in my headlight and replaced one of the useless idiot lights for the LED readout (took the bulb out and put the LED into it and silicone'd it in - so it is easy to monitor while driving)- depending upon where you want to mount it your + will be a ground if stock set up - if you have a voltmeter easy to figure out
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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby swooshdave » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:27 pm

I wrote to them and the response was:

"Yup! You bet. And you are not the first to ask!"
You probably want to go into town, and find a up to date Jap Bike store,
With a full spares department, a clean workshop, and kean young mechanics.
And ask them if theres a Grumpy Old Bloke out in the Hills, who knows how to fix Real Motorcycles.

Matt
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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby bluto » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:41 pm

Will probably be OK, I have a very similar unit from another manufacturer and it works fine on my positive ground bike and the case is plastic so it is not grounded, looks like yours is too....in fact a friend said his worked wired either way so the unit evidently has a bridge rectifier input to provide reverse polarity protection. FWIW the monitor I'm using is
http://signaldynamics.com/index.php?pag ... &Itemid=77 a good deal at $27 though the voltage indications are pessimistic for a Lucas equipped bike but does the job of indicating charging system health. I put the LED itself inside the amber indicator in the headlight shell and can still see the various colors clearly

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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby phsDommie » Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:08 pm

Thanks for all the answers. As I suspected, it should work either way.
Paul.
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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby mikegray660 » Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:10 pm

swooshdave wrote:I wrote to them and the response was:

"Yup! You bet. And you are not the first to ask!"


did you ask them for a picture?
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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby swooshdave » Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:28 pm

mikegray660 wrote:
swooshdave wrote:I wrote to them and the response was:

"Yup! You bet. And you are not the first to ask!"


did you ask them for a picture?


I did, they sent me a picture of you so I just deleted it. :mrgreen:
You probably want to go into town, and find a up to date Jap Bike store,
With a full spares department, a clean workshop, and kean young mechanics.
And ask them if theres a Grumpy Old Bloke out in the Hills, who knows how to fix Real Motorcycles.

Matt
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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby Diablouph » Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:39 pm

did you ask them for a picture?



Thanks mikegray660. Good shot. Just reach through the ropes and tag me when you want help. We have to keep him pinned until he paints that tank.
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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby mikegray660 » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:15 pm

Diablouph wrote:
did you ask them for a picture?



Thanks mikegray660. Good shot. Just reach through the ropes and tag me when you want help. We have to keep him pinned until he paints that tank.


Deal - hell if he rode it as much at he does taken pictures of it it be ready for a rebuild! :mrgreen:
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Re: LED volage monitor

Postby swooshdave » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:53 pm

mikegray660 wrote:
Diablouph wrote:
did you ask them for a picture?



Thanks mikegray660. Good shot. Just reach through the ropes and tag me when you want help. We have to keep him pinned until he paints that tank.


Deal - hell if he rode it as much at he does taken pictures of it it be ready for a rebuild! :mrgreen:


Since it rains here more than it's shine there is plenty of time to take pics. Sucks for you but you'll survive. :mrgreen:
You probably want to go into town, and find a up to date Jap Bike store,
With a full spares department, a clean workshop, and kean young mechanics.
And ask them if theres a Grumpy Old Bloke out in the Hills, who knows how to fix Real Motorcycles.

Matt
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