Voltage monitoring LED

[Rick448]

I have just purchased a Voltage monitoring LED which changes colour depending on the voltage the battery is being charged at. It shows green above 13.2V, Amber @ 12.45 and red below that. I am fitting it to the Bird to give an early warning of impending Reg/Rec or other charging system failure. I dont know if anyone else has fitted one of these, or if they are interested in my feedback or even wanting to buy one. But if so please let me know and i will give you details. I am not making anything out of it and only paid ?8 for it. It is just i know a few people were looking at these from the USA for a fair bit more money.

 

[bmwdumptruck]

w08th

More info required. how many functions do they perform? do they dim at night? where from?

 

[Rick448]

I'll post pics once it is fitted. Along with a list of functions.

 

[Oldbull]

I'll post pics once it is fitted. Along with a list of functions.

nice one Rick... looks interesting

 

[silverfox.xx]

Interested Rick, please fwd details...

oh ah if its ebay, email me; cwroper@hotmail.co.uk

 

[ScottyUK]

I'd like some info on how to interpret the lights.

i.e. if they're green 50%, amber 25% and red 25% is that ok, good, bad?

Indicators are useful but only if you can understand what they're saying.

 

[silverfox.xx]

I'd like some info on how to interpret the lights.

i.e. if they're green 50%, amber 25% and red 25% is that ok, good, bad?

Indicators are useful but only if you can understand what they're saying.

Green... charging, amber discharging, red, its gonna stop very soon.

 

[andyBeaker]

Hmmm... I looked into this a while back and found quite a few small LED display voltmeters that could have been nailed onto the Bird. Including EBaY (no link as I do not want to be banned).

Never got round to taking forward, mainly as I wasn't convinced that the information would mean anything to me personally:dunno:

 

[kennymact]

I bought one off e bay for a computer and it works but under reads!!! glows blue with black numbers....

 

[John Mack.]

i know a few people were looking at these from the USA for a fair bit more money.

The USA one's may be more expensive if they give warning of overcharging, your's will not.?......judging by your description of said product.bl4hbl4h

J.

 

[ianrobbo1]

put a link up Andy, PLEASE!!

:-0) beat me to it!!:-0)

 

[walesyg]

http://www.customdynamics.com/LED_battery_gauge.htm here's one of the yank ones.

 

[andyBeaker]

John, you can see from above that I have been bullied but will still not post EBaY links cos you will ban me. And that despite messing me round mercilessly on the FI wheels.


For those that can't think for themselves (IanRobbo) tap in

12v volt voltmeter
on EBaY search - 12 results at present, from way cool plasma dials to simple LED displays.

Item number 390246120203 fron Aus looks neat and might work well on a bike?


My problem with this is that I didn;t know how to interpret what the information being diplayed would mean - if someone can help me out on this I might take the plunge as don't want to fall foul of the alternator/ regrec/battery woes again!!

 

[Rick448]

The USA one's may be more expensive if they give warning of overcharging, your's will not.?......judging by your description of said product.bl4hbl4h

J.

>15.2V green /red alternating (overcharging)

I have the sellers email address if i am allowed to put it on here.

Here is a description of the product. As i say i haven't had chance to fit it yet, though i have tried it by connecting the wires to the battery.

Brand new product! Sparkbright was the first to bring you a fully integrated tricolour voltmeter, and now we bring you the smallest.

The LED and circuit board slide inside the panel mount holder (supplied) - it has a depth behind your panel of only 22mm behind a typical panel. The printed circuit board is just 16mm x 10.4mm x 4.9mm thick (including protective insulation). This unit has exactly the same specifications as my slightly larger unit.

Voltmeter using a single three colour LED with multiple output modes and over-voltage warning:

• high brightness 10mm three-colour LED (n.b. my other single LED unit is available in 5mm, 8mm or 10mm LEDs)
  
• complete with mounting holder (holder requires 14mm hole in panel)
  
• indicates the charge state of your battery
• in vehicles, gives a confirmation that your alternator is charging your battery
  
• fully customisable thresholds, with over-voltage indication
  
• available for 12v or 24v applications (please state when ordering)
  
• fully insulated and protected (no bare circuit board or components)
  
• reverse polarity and overload protected
• software helps prevent LED moving rapidly from one output to another at change-over point
• accuracy to better than 0.1v
  

Output table

15.2V red / green alternatinf (overcharging)
>13.2v green charging 100%
12.45v amber charging 50-100%
12.24 Red 25/50%
12 red low



The voltage thresholds (see table below) can be custom-programmed to your specifications during the build, if you feel the standard thresholds don't suit your application.



The standard cut offs for a 24v module will be exactly double the values above unless you specify otherwise.

 

[bmwdumptruck]

http://www.customdynamics.com/LED_battery_gauge.htm here's one of the yank ones.

I have bought a few of these. This one to be precise.

http://www.customdynamics.com/LED_b...ttery_Gauge_with_Remote_Flush_Panel_Mount_LED

Very simple single 3 colour led, green is good, yellow is warning over or under charge and red means problems(something like that anyway, the links explains it correctly). Only needs about a 5-6mm hole, which I plan to mount inside the speedo. It also dims at night which it doesn't sound like Ricks one does, so might be glaring at night.
Also, 4 cost me £75, so not as dear as rick suggests. Not sure when I will get to fit mine, very busy at work at the moment so could be a while. But if someone else wants one its a 4th of £75 plus a couple of quid post.

 

[silverfox.xx]

Cheers Rick, mines ordered £8.56 inc P&P

Used this in the search engine (copy/paste) and it was the first search found on a certain well known auction site..

Voltmeter using a single three colour LED with multiple output modes and over-voltage warning


>15.2
Green/Red alternating (over-voltage)
>13.2
Green (charging)
>12.45
Amber (50% to 100%)
>12.25
Red (25% to 50%)
>12
Red 2 flashes, repeat
>11.8
Red 3 flashes, repeat
<11.8
Red 4 flashes, repeat



:bow::bow::bow::bow:

 

[andyBeaker]

Item 150481634975 looks very neat.

Sparkbright_Products on EBay UK based seem to have a nice range.

Presumably these things can be wired into any circuit that is permanently live when ignition on??:dunno:

 

[andyBeaker]

nad just twigged that this looks loke Silverfox's bit of kit as above....:wank:

 

[Rick448]

Wire it in as per sat nav etc so it reads when ignition is on. Glad you found it ok. The guy is really helpful.

 

[John Mack.]

For the money it's gotta be worth a try.
Think I'll give it a go as well. @tu*

J.