Morning adventure..

[hop along]

Thanks for the comments and links everyone.
I am fine with a brightness that isn't too bright at night, I can cover it at day to get a glance as needed. 
Heaven knows you have to do that enough to kill glare from the speedo/tach faces when riding anyways!
Hop Along, who is neglecting the Magna for the new DR650, but also happy his favourite Frozen Custard stand has a new flavor... mixed berries, called "The Purple People Eater".  Which is what I call my bike!!

[haditanv45]

Hi Terry

May I know how do you hook up yr VM on the bike ? I use the 2 wires VM that look similar as your to the headlight of the 3rd gen. magna but I am getting non true voltage reading of the battery. I only at 10 to 11.5 V but I measured the battery and there is difference of about 1.5 to 2 V.

Thanks
Hadi

[TLRam1]

Hadi,

I don't remember which wires I used, since I have accessories up front it could have been several different wires. It is on a circuit that is a Switched circuit (power is cut with ignition off).

I would keep trying different circuits, not sure why yours is acting that way. You probably already tested but make sure your VM when connected straight to the battery reads correctly.

If all else fails, post up again and I will go see what I can find on mine.

[hootmon]

Hadi,

I don't remember which wires I used, since I have accessories up front it could have been several different wires. It is on a circuit that is a Switched circuit (power is cut with ignition off).

I would keep trying different circuits, not sure why yours is acting that way. You probably already tested but make sure your VM when connected straight to the battery reads correctly.

If all else fails, post up again and I will go see what I can find on mine.

I used an Auxiliary wire I ran from the battery thru a triple switch box on my master cylinder. I used the switch that powers my phone charger (low draw). This means my meter only works when I flip the switch, but also works whether the key is in the ignition switch or not (i do have a kill switch on this feed elsewhere. I almost always have my phone mounted and charging when I ride, and it's ok if I don't I can still turn on the switch without hurting anything.
I thought about the head light circuit, (it is switched) BUT 1) it is a high draw circuit 2) when you go to the other beam, you loose your meter.
You could use the wire that feeds the background lighting for the gauges, that would be low draw and switched.

[hop along]

Hoot-I like your idea.  I think I have the same 3-switch pod thingie on top of the master brake cylinder perhaps...
Hop Along

[hootmon]

it's a little distorted, but See video of Volt Meter...
Running at cruising speed, two green lights on.
Usually around 1500 - 1700 with the aux. lights on the meter is in the yellow.
Should I worry about the high drain while sitting at a light? I know it's always been like that before I had the meter, but now I know..
It's a pain to turn off and on the Aux light when I stop.
But I like the meter better than the Digital display. The Digital is hard to see during the day and I think the Analog display of this meter makes it easy to determine what's going on at a glance.
It is a little (just a little) at night, but it is mostly red and greens which does not effect your night vision.
I think a couple of times I had a weak regulator for a while before it failed.. It will be much easier to detect with this meter!

Let me know if you can not see the video
VIDEO

[LIMagna]

I think you should be good as long as it's in the green zone most of the time.  It's when it stays yellow (or red) no matter what rpm your at that you've got a problem. 

[hootmon]

I think you should be good as long as it's in the green zone most of the time.  It's when it stays yellow (or red) no matter what rpm your at that you've got a problem.

So, I guess that means you can see the video..

[Jerry G Turner]

I could not see vldeo.

[TLRam1]

Now do I have to do a video of mine?

Why is your video squished down, looks like the ratio is off. 

[haditanv45]

Hi Hootman, Terry

Thanks for sharing and upload of the video.
Think maybe tapping from the headlight will voltage drop. Maybe the best way is tapping from battery source with a switch or relay.
I'm no good with electrical so maybe for now I will stick to current way the voltmeter is connected. Knowing the difference I can at least monitor the norm of the daily battery voltage fluctuations for now. Should be able to see if one day if voltmeter display strange reading and look for rectifier or battery failure.

[hootmon]

I could not see vldeo.

Did it look like you needed a password? Or did you need some type of player that you don't have?

[hootmon]

Now do I have to do a video of mine?

Why is your video squished down, looks like the ratio is off.

The video is fine on the phone. When I finally got it to my PC, it was sideways.. I couldn't upload it directly because the forum doesn't accept .PM4's. So I uploaded it to TinyPic. I think their software realized it was sideways and rotated it, but did not change the aspect ratio for the rotation.
It's hard to tell in it's squished format, but there is a can of SeaFoam on the ground in front of the windshield..

[LIMagna]

I think you should be good as long as it's in the green zone most of the time.  It's when it stays yellow (or red) no matter what rpm your at that you've got a problem.

So, I guess that means you can see the video..

Yes, I could see it well enough to discern what was going on.  I've got the Kuryakyn meter on my Magna and it will sink into the yellow from time to time at idle but always returns to one or two green when running unless the RR is starting to go.  Last time that happened it was intermittent for a while (would stay yellow for a brief period even at higher rpm's but return to green eventually), then basically just stayed yellow no matter what.  Shortly thereafter, I found myself stuck after taking the bike out for a short spin (no start).  I think you're good 

[hop along]

I'm just glad I got to see the Seafoam!!!
Hop Along