Voltmeter

The voltmeter was wired directly to the battery for an always-on state while indicating the actual battery voltage. The voltmeter draws less than 2 mA and even if a battery maintainer is not used, it would deplete the battery by less than 1.5 Ah per month. Wiring of the voltmeter to the battery couldn't be easier. The following photos show how the voltmeter cable was routed. The voltmeter cable used is Belden 8451, 2-conductor (red-black), 22 gauge (7 x 30 gauge). The outer insulation is black with a nominal diameter of 0.138". The voltmeter cable coming out the back of the voltmeter was routed between the carpeting and lower edge of the ashtray. The how-to to fabricate the voltmeter can be found on my Technical Stuff page in the Motorcycles section of my SmugMug site (link below). http://edelweiss.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Technical-Stuff/Surface-Mount-Datel-LCD/7261107_7G2RBB#466706719_xovAp

The voltmeter cable was placed along the front side of a wiring harness that runs across the driver's side above the pedals. One tie wrap was used at the console and four existing tie wraps (solid yellow dots) that had ample room for the voltmeter cable were used by feeding the voltmeter cable though. The cable can be seen exiting the front of the wiring harness (yellow circle).

The voltmeter cable was placed along the front side of a wiring harness that runs across the driver's side above the pedals. Four existing tie wraps (yellow circles) that had ample room for the voltmeter cable were used by feeding the voltmeter cable though.

The voltmeter cable was placed along the front side of a wiring harness that runs across the driver's side above the pedals. Four existing tie wraps (yellow circles and arrow) that had ample room for the voltmeter cable were used by feeding the voltmeter cable though.

Exiting the wiring harness at the far left, the voltmeter cable (yellow circles) was then run forward and between a duct and the body to an existing black rubber grommet in the body slightly above the clutch pedal. The black rubber grommet had two existing holes; one of them unused that the voltmeter cable was run through. The cable was wiped down with vinyl protectant to make pulling of the voltmeter cable through the grommet easier.

The voltmeter cable exiting the black rubber grommet in the body within the luggage compartment. It was then run forward along the left frame rail alongside the existing wire harness.

The voltmeter cable was run through existing cable ties (yellow circles) to the plastic trim panel at the front of the luggage compartment before looping down and back towards the battery. There are a total of 5 cable ties.

The voltmeter cable (yellow dots) was run through existing cable ties (yellow circles) to the plastic trim panel at the front of the luggage compartment before looping down and back towards the battery. There are a total of 5 cable ties with one to the left of the brake fluid reservoir not seen in the above photo (see previous photo).

The voltmeter cable (yellow dots) is fed forward behind the plastic panel and then down towards the battery. It is a good idea to leave an extra length of wire looped behind the plastic panel should new crimp connectors be needed in the future.

Each 22 gauge wire conductor was covered with black heat shrink for added insulation and was laid under the battery handles in my case (your routing may vary). Where the individual conductors split (large yellow circle at the top), a 1" length of heat shrink was used to finish the wire. The fuse holder (large yellow circle at the bottom) was made using two female crimp-on connectors which were covered with red heat shrink. The fuse harness was then laid flat against the side of the battery where it is out of the way. The connectors at the battery (small yellow circles) are crimp-on eye connectors, each covered with the appropriate coloured heat shrink.

The finished product as far as wiring at the battery goes. The fuse is out of view and has been laid flat against the side of the battery.

At least install one of these that plugs into the cigarette lighter outlet. Due to voltage drops in wiring, it might indicate 0.1V or so lower than battery voltage.