Ignition switch and charge light on LS

[Tomcat]

Here's what I've done on my '48 A7.  Original cut out on end of magneto.
Reco standard generator, 12 volt negative earth, electronic reg inside old reg. Gutted an old amp meter and fitted an LED volt gauge inside. Also a hidden switch on the battery negative wire to save the battery when not in use. When I switch on that switch the volt gauge fires up and tells me that the 12v electrics are on, how flat the battery is and after starting the engine that the battery is being re-charged. I also have the same set up on the Super Rocket but with the magneto cut out switch on the 'bars.

[duTch]

 

Here's what I've done on my '48 A7.  .............

oh yeah ? I've seen yours- here's mine.. ...I bought a high quality(cheap Jaycar) analogue V meter and temporarily zip-tied it to the whatever cable 5 years ago...still running well...

 all in fun...I'm interested in this- I recall a couple of threads a while ago where LED's were discussed as charge indication, and in one thread,I think was GB showed off his u-Beaut 'Gizmo'(?) and I went off on a tangent wondering if this or similar concept would work with another LED wired in the other way to show discharge...at that point I think (one of the's ) Trev queried 'what I was trying to achieve' ..... ....but now we're making progress.......

   

mine is red, red means trouble.

    I suggest yours would be on constantly..

 I'm still keen to chase up Rookies idea as a way to illuminate the amp meter (which I have done, but only does colours- kinda, work in progress, also discussed and used ~260Ω ? resistors- thanks Chater-John)

[muskrat]

Good one duTch.
I admit to have done similar many times. Gee those cable ties are great.
Cheers

[Greybeard]

The little gizmo, (not much larger than a bean) I bought is wired into the speedo light. This is necessary unless you fit a battery switch. My bike has the cowpat around the headlamp and instruments. I've stuck the device, out of sight using BlueTac to the clear plastic on the side of the ammeter. It is an integrated circuit that has a tri-colour LED that shows by red/amber/green the state of charge. If I'm not using the lights I can see from the ammeter if I have charging, in poor light I can see the glow from the LED in the ammeter. I love subtle modernisations like this.

[bsa-bill]

any idea where you purchased said doo dah GB

[duTch]

 

Gee those cable ties are great.

out of sight using BlueTac to the clear plastic on the side of the ammeter.

 

 I've never bought any of either, but figured out how to undo and reuse zippies, other than that I have a stockpile of unused ones I've found discarded on jobs -can't stand waste

 

......... It is an integrated circuit that has a tri-colour LED that shows by red/amber/green the state of charge.........

 I think that was the essence of my previous query...based on Rookies setup, if GB's shows green when charging & red when discharge, it should be....and that's about when brainfart set in....

[Greybeard]

any idea where you purchased said doo dah GB

EBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12v-LED-Battery-Voltmeter-Charge-monitor-Indicator-Alternator-warning-light-lamp/201338527109?epid=1488730382&hash=item2ee0b61d85:g:URoAAOxyRhBS2H1r

Please note, they work OK on 6v as well. The plastic bezel is removable if not required.

[RoyC]

any idea where you purchased said doo dah GB

EBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12v-LED-Battery-Voltmeter-Charge-monitor-Indicator-Alternator-warning-light-lamp/201338527109?epid=1488730382&hash=item2ee0b61d85:g:URoAAOxyRhBS2H1r

Please note, they work OK on 6v as well. The plastic bezel is removable if not required.

Where did you put this in the charge wiring circuit ? (Mine is + earth)

[Greybeard]

Where did you put this in the charge wiring circuit ? (Mine is + earth)

Roy, all the info is up there ↑ and on the item Ebay page. 

My bike is 6v + earth.  As I have no way of isolating the feed I just powered the device from the bulb in the speedo*. This means I only see the faint glow in the ammeter if it is dark. If one wanted to see the LED nice and clearly at all times it could be mounted more obviously but you'd need to arrange an off switch to avoid draining the battery.

* The gizmo is only interested in the voltage in the machines wiring. It changes colour depending on its built-in parameters; eg., on my 6v machine: <6v = Red light, >6v = Green light, 6v = yellow light.

[bsa-bill]

Cheers GB, just ordered, will be working on the RGF this year and it's just what I need, (it's 12 volt )

[RoyC]

I don't think I will be doing this one if it depends on remembering to turn a switch on and off. 

[Greybeard]

I don't think I will be doing this one if it depends on remembering to turn a switch on and off. 

It doesn't on mine; but then, it's only useful when the lights are on.

If you wanted to fit a, (possibly hidden) double pole switch you could use one set of contacts to kill the Mag and the others to turn this device on. I've knocked up a schematic diagram. Anyone see any problems with it?

For clarity; the contact pairs are 1 & 3 and 2 & 4

[RoyC]

I am hopeless at electrics but, what has the magneto got to do with seeing if the dynamo is charging ?

[chaterlea25]

Hi All,
Just a notion for one of you guys with spare time to try ?

What about connecting the LED gizmo to the "D" of the voltage regulator ?
This will only show voltage when the engine/ dynamo is charging ??
It may flick on and off during daytime running ?? as the regulator switches on and off ?????
No switch needed LOL

John

[RoyC]

Hi All,
Just a notion for one of you guys with spare time to try ?

What about connecting the LED gizmo to the "D" of the voltage regulator ?
This will only show voltage when the engine/ dynamo is charging ??
It may flick on and off during daytime running ?? as the regulator switches on and off ?????
No switch needed LOL

John

What wire is that on a DVR2 ?