I have this multi-function digital gizmo on my bike, giving me time/ stopwatch, air temp (usually reads 10 degrees high), and an engine voltmeter, giving a running reading of what your electricals are doing. Also has an ice warning which I don't use much in Florida. :-) Costs about $25 and well worth it. Easy to install. One wire to battery, one to ground, plus a suction cup sensor for the thermometer.
http://www.cyclemaxohio.com/inc/sdetail/342 Jay S 92 NH750 South Florida On Sep 3, 9:21 am, "Gene Henry" <[email protected]> wrote: > Some observations from my experiences: > > I have had an ongoing and intermittent difficulty with starting my bike - an > '84 CB650SC - due to low battery . I have a home made jumper cable that I > used to beg jump starts when the bike wouldn't start! A local Honda dealer > checked it out this spring and put in a new Honda/Yusa battery, and said that > my regulator/rectifier had a slow discharge to ground, which I could not > verify with an ammeter. As my problem continued, I purchased a new > regulator/rectifier from BikeBandit. (Info below.) Honda price: OEM = > $200+, Aftermarket = $140) > > I had previously purchased an alternator/batter tester from HarborFreight > tools (info below - $3.99) that consists of a series of different colored > (idiot?) lights that indicate the voltage level present in the system. I > attached it to my gas tank with double-stick tape. You can tell at a glance > what the charging level is at any RPM. Appearance? Perhaps not the best, > but OK, and it keeps me up to date on charging and battery conditions. > > It appears that as the battery/system voltage increases, the alternator > output also increases. With a well charged battery, (12 to 12.5 volts) I now > know that at 2500-3000 RPM my alternator output is in the 14 volt range. If > for some reason the battery is below the 12 v. level, the alternator output > also is lower, in the 13 volt range, until the batter is fully charged up. > Even a short run around town brings the battery up to a fully charged level. > The original (25 year old!) Honda regulator/rectifier did not produce these > voltage levels. Even after an extended run the charging voltage would not be > above the 12.5 volt level. > > It also appears that my ignition system requires the higher voltage level to > function. With the batter at a lower level, it will crank but not fire(no > spark?) With a fully charged battery it starts instantly. (Cold engine: full > choke, NO throttle.) > > If you don't object to the appearance of the tester, it will tell you a lot > about what is going on in your system. It could be used temporarily to test > you system, but with my past experience I find it very reassuring to know > what is going on all the time. I hooked it up to my battery through a > two-contact disconnect cable so I can remove it easily if unwanted. > > Gene > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
