Hi all,
Several times we spoke here about batteries... The best and the worst it happened...
As BMW F650GS (single) are known to get some troubles with their lead/acid battery (settled just upon engine head, close to engine oil tank and with not any realy good ventilation: what a hot area just there, and batteries don't like that for sure), I decided to install a "LEDs battery monitor" on my bike.
Obviously this device doesn't care the level of acid or maintain it in any way instead of you. It "only" gives you in real time the battery state of health it is connected to. Up to you to react in the right way...
Could be useful for some other BMW models or Honda Africa Twin or some others models/brands renown for their "battery troubles"...
I found a excellent (IMHO) diagram on the web (thanks to M. Sam from Greece), modified it a little bit and did the job by myself (one IC, one zener diode and a bunch of resistors plus the 4 LEDs), then found some place to add it to the dashboard...
It's a sort of voltmeter. Not accurate, but explicit for the use expected. Something like: warning, passable, good, alert!
Here are the two parts: the unit and the four 3mm LEDs display ready to install on the bike:
Not so big to be easily hiden somewhere though a smallest box could be used for the unit... Total cost less than 100 Bahts...
The fifth bigger "crystal" LED is a flashing red one that will be connected to a future alarm system I'm building too... Model tested with success yet, but has to be improved a bit...
So, four coloured LEDs display the efficiency of the charging system (when engine is running) AND/OR the condition of the battery (when engine is not running or stopped) as follows:
1) Yellow: 10.60 Volts to 12 Volts
- Engine running: no charge (loosen connexions/cables or problem with altenator)
- Engine stopped: very bad battery (please, for your comfort, check, charge or change it asap!)
2) Green ≠1: 12 Volts to 13.40 Volts
- Engine running: low charge in "normal condition" (check cables and alternator) or heavy load being used (many high power electric devices running at the moment: please be aware about this)
- Engine stopped: battery in good condition (please enjoy and cherish it!)
3) Green ≠2: 13.40 Volts to 14.80 Volts
- Engine running: good charge in "normal use" (happy biker!)
- Engine stopped: no matter...
4) Red: 14.80 Volts and up
- Engine running: alert! (you are toasting the battery), too high charge (usually rec/reg blown), please stop and check/replace the component asap!
- Engine stopped: no matter...
So, when riding, in "normal electric condition" we get 3 LEDs glittering: yellow+ green ≠1 + green ≠2. And if engine not running in same "normal electric condition" we get 2 LEDs glittering: yellow + green≠1.
If not so, see upper...
The dashboard as it is now on my F650GS:
On the right hand side in the black area under the clocks, the four coloured LEDs and the future "alarm warning" as a whole...
On the left hand side, two switches, the left one commanding the "LEDs monitor" on/off, the right one with its small LED ready here for a future use: maybe a manual command for the cooler fan or, through a relay, additional front lamps... don't know yet. But doing the job I did it "fully"...
To be automatic, the device can be connected to a + running after the "on" key-contact (sidelight on recent bikes for example). For my part, I don't need to have a "Christmas Tree" flashing all along the ride. So I choose to connect the device directly to the battery through a spare harness and fuse I already drew for different uses, and put a switch on its way to only check from time to time...
I have used the "thing" for some weeks now, and all seems OK with it. Meaning no failing or strange behavior... So I decided to install it a next time on my Fazer 600...
I don't know if all this is interesting, but as a "technique addict" I wanted to share... if sometime useful...
Cheers to all,
Gobs
Several times we spoke here about batteries... The best and the worst it happened...
As BMW F650GS (single) are known to get some troubles with their lead/acid battery (settled just upon engine head, close to engine oil tank and with not any realy good ventilation: what a hot area just there, and batteries don't like that for sure), I decided to install a "LEDs battery monitor" on my bike.
Obviously this device doesn't care the level of acid or maintain it in any way instead of you. It "only" gives you in real time the battery state of health it is connected to. Up to you to react in the right way...
Could be useful for some other BMW models or Honda Africa Twin or some others models/brands renown for their "battery troubles"...
I found a excellent (IMHO) diagram on the web (thanks to M. Sam from Greece), modified it a little bit and did the job by myself (one IC, one zener diode and a bunch of resistors plus the 4 LEDs), then found some place to add it to the dashboard...
It's a sort of voltmeter. Not accurate, but explicit for the use expected. Something like: warning, passable, good, alert!
Here are the two parts: the unit and the four 3mm LEDs display ready to install on the bike:
Not so big to be easily hiden somewhere though a smallest box could be used for the unit... Total cost less than 100 Bahts...
The fifth bigger "crystal" LED is a flashing red one that will be connected to a future alarm system I'm building too... Model tested with success yet, but has to be improved a bit...
So, four coloured LEDs display the efficiency of the charging system (when engine is running) AND/OR the condition of the battery (when engine is not running or stopped) as follows:
1) Yellow: 10.60 Volts to 12 Volts
- Engine running: no charge (loosen connexions/cables or problem with altenator)
- Engine stopped: very bad battery (please, for your comfort, check, charge or change it asap!)
2) Green ≠1: 12 Volts to 13.40 Volts
- Engine running: low charge in "normal condition" (check cables and alternator) or heavy load being used (many high power electric devices running at the moment: please be aware about this)
- Engine stopped: battery in good condition (please enjoy and cherish it!)
3) Green ≠2: 13.40 Volts to 14.80 Volts
- Engine running: good charge in "normal use" (happy biker!)
- Engine stopped: no matter...
4) Red: 14.80 Volts and up
- Engine running: alert! (you are toasting the battery), too high charge (usually rec/reg blown), please stop and check/replace the component asap!
- Engine stopped: no matter...
So, when riding, in "normal electric condition" we get 3 LEDs glittering: yellow+ green ≠1 + green ≠2. And if engine not running in same "normal electric condition" we get 2 LEDs glittering: yellow + green≠1.
If not so, see upper...
The dashboard as it is now on my F650GS:
On the right hand side in the black area under the clocks, the four coloured LEDs and the future "alarm warning" as a whole...
On the left hand side, two switches, the left one commanding the "LEDs monitor" on/off, the right one with its small LED ready here for a future use: maybe a manual command for the cooler fan or, through a relay, additional front lamps... don't know yet. But doing the job I did it "fully"...
To be automatic, the device can be connected to a + running after the "on" key-contact (sidelight on recent bikes for example). For my part, I don't need to have a "Christmas Tree" flashing all along the ride. So I choose to connect the device directly to the battery through a spare harness and fuse I already drew for different uses, and put a switch on its way to only check from time to time...
I have used the "thing" for some weeks now, and all seems OK with it. Meaning no failing or strange behavior... So I decided to install it a next time on my Fazer 600...
I don't know if all this is interesting, but as a "technique addict" I wanted to share... if sometime useful...
Cheers to all,
Gobs
