Why no voltmeter on my 2011 GSA?

On my reicent ride to the annual bmw rally, then around the west coast before returning to Illinois. Charging my laptop for less than 30 min. while packing up, at an RV grounds.. Wouldn't start, lucky someone had a portable jump start battery, compressor tote.... My fault the 2nd low battery, left parkers on... All this electronics and no volt meter..

MIght consider carrying a BATTERY CHARGER while on extended trips.
Don't rely on 'others' to save your own bacon.

Have simply plugged mine into an outlet at a RV campground...after turning off the bike with the KILL SWITCH...but leaving the IGNITION ON. Oops! :huh Human stuff happens.

Was good to go...and on my way in about 30 mins (enough charge to just get the bike to start). Battery fully charged while riding next 300 miles.

Are they still putting volt meters on any modern vehicles?

The 2013 R1200GSW has one.

Colleen had a flat battery on her 1200 at the Salem rally as did another guy next to us..wierd..we didn't do anything unusual.

Definetly need to carry a charger or at least booster cables.

The cables one guy bought at the rally did not work. Another guys home made cables worked a treat.

Mine has one! (thanks to some JVB handiwork)

How would a voltmeter prevent either of these events?

Might suggest that the battery was about to give up the ghost?

Any links to a good one to buy?

And relay install or direct? You would not want it to be another parasitic draw, how do you disconnect it?

Serously???

Is there another add on we need??

OK so I put on a Datel volt meter (waste of $$)
JHC is the no charge light not enough??

You use switched power. It is not on unless the key is on.

http://www.datelmeters.com/cgi-bin/webshop.cgi?config=ent-home

We used a small box from Radio Shack (IIRC) and made a simple 90° angle bracket to attach it.

It was a very easy install.

I have photos of the install at home.

Jim

Yes, it was the Radio Shack project box, about $4 or so. Sandwiched window tint to cut down on the display brightness.

I don't have the dimensions handy, but probably was this one:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...gclid=CPi2tNOVkbkCFUSE4AoddggAAA&gclsrc=ds.ds

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R6zzbpnZlmI?feature=player_embedded" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe>

Works like a charm!
Engine is NOT running in the above demo...so showing 12.XX volts...not 14.xx you'd expect while engine/alternator in operation.

Installation PICTORIAL for R1200GS:
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=870449

You guys have a champagne taste and budget. An $8 ebay voltmeter works just fine. It uses so little, I wired it to an "always on" wire. When camping I charge my phone and headset through bike powered USB outlets and with this voltmeter I can always see the state of the charge.



Voltmeter: http://www.ebay.com/itm/0-28-waterp...Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3fc87170&vxp=mtr

Thank you.


Bought it. Hopefully the yellow one :) should go nicely with the color of the bike.

have to ask : where is it ?

Your joking

Bwahahahahaha

I put an AdvMonster voltmeter on mine. About $22 from memory

...you must be joking?

from memory it's the display option after RDC on the computer, can;t remember if you have to enable it within the custom config or not though, but it is definitely there.