Latest Farkle - Digital volt gauge CHEAP!

[finless]

Thought I would share my latest farkle.

Got this on Ebay for $16 shipped! It's exactly the same as some of the $50 models sold on gauge only web sites!

Be aware, there are a few models of these that are cheaper but the LEDs have over glow and thus can be seen through the smoked glass. This model was the best of the bunch. It's made by Xtune even though the Ebay ad did not say that. Here is the link I got it from. It's NOT shipped from China.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121347773499...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

BUT!!! I see he raised the price since I bought mine! I got it for $15.99 and now he wants $29.99. Oh well....


This took me all of 10 minutes to install using posi-taps to the original analog gauge wires (black and orange).



Here is a video of what it looks like:




Enjoy,
Bob

[Chupaca]

Good choice of gauge to replace stock ones...looks great and thanks for the info...

[finless]

By the way, first person that wants the Harbor Freight analog volt gauge I removed, ask. First person gets it. Send me $5 to cover shipping and it's all yours. Much better than throwing it away.

For an analog gauge it works well and has a backlight (not LED but a bulb) so you can see it at night.

Bob

[M109Dreamer]

Wow that is the same one I have been watching for months waiting to see if it went down any. I saw it for $40, might still have to get one.

[finless]

Wow that is the same one I have been watching for months waiting to see if it went down any. I saw it for $40, might still have to get one.

There are several gauges almost exactly the same with the same look and functionality on Ebay. They can cost as low at $18.
However, MOST of them have terrible bleed through of unlit LED segments. The first one I bought I returned because it was just ugly with the bleed through. If you look at the pictures or videos posted by these sellers you will see the bleed through on them. AVOID THEM! Way too cheap looking in my opinion....

This one by Xtune is freaking perfect and seriously looks stock!

Bob

[M109Dreamer]

There are several gauges almost exactly the same with the same look and functionality on Ebay. They can cost as low at $18.
However, MOST of them have terrible bleed through of unlit LED segments. The first one I bought I returned because it was just ugly with the bleed through. If you look at the pictures or videos posted by these sellers you will see the bleed through on them. AVOID THEM! Way too cheap looking in my opinion....

This one by Xtune is freaking perfect and seriously looks stock!

Bob

Thanks for the info. I didnt consider the bleed through issue. I guess I will narrow my search for the brand as well.

[finless]

OK please do not PM me... the analog volt gauge is gone. Spyderlover user spacetiger got it....

Bob

[bmwlarry]

Finless

I removed my gauges a while ago So I could see the gauges on the digital screen and the plugs are simply disconnected. When Installing this digital gauge, what wires do I connect to what? Will this affect what shows on the digital center screen?

I ordered on of the gauges!
Thanks
Larry

[M109Dreamer]

I was hoping you could set the warning light to a voltage yourself. I just bought one. I guess Ill find out when it gets there.

[pegasus1300]

the ebay seller shows out of stock but I found the same gauge on Amazon at the same price(29,94) including shipping. i have one coming. I am thinking of putting USB power sources in the other gauge hole. Has anyone done this and are the water proof USB power ports out there?

[pslawing]

the ebay seller shows out of stock but I found the same gauge on Amazon at the same price(29,94) including shipping. i have one coming. I am thinking of putting USB power sources in the other gauge hole. Has anyone done this and are the water proof USB power ports out there?

JT Spyder store has them

[pegasus1300]

Thank you

[latony007]

Woo Hoo i did it, LMAO
Thanks to Finless and CruzerJoe

[Cruzr Joe]

Woo Hoo i did it, LMAO
Thanks to Finless and CruzerJoe

Looks Good.

Cruzr Joe

[finless]

Bob

[M109Dreamer]

I tried reading on the wesite about the gauge but it doesnt give any info about the warning light and at what voltage it would come on. I would assume it would come on when it gets too low and also if it gets too high.

[Cruzr Joe]

I tried reading on the wesite about the gauge but it doesnt give any info about the warning light and at what voltage it would come on. I would assume it would come on when it gets too low and also if it gets too high.

Instructions say lower than 11V or Higher than 16V for 3 seconds or more and the warning light will come on, i am assuming that means if all three wires are connected.


Cruzr Joe

[M109Dreamer]

Instructions say lower than 11V or Higher than 16V for 3 seconds or more and the warning light will come on, i am assuming that means if all three wires are connected.


Cruzr Joe

I am wondering if it is staying on because the yellow wire is not ran back to the battery. I bet thats what that wire is suppose to do.

[machead]

I tried reading on the wesite about the gauge but it doesnt give any info about the warning light and at what voltage it would come on. I would assume it would come on when it gets too low and also if it gets too high.

According to the 1 page doc that comes with the gauge, the warning light is supposed to only come on when the voltage drops below 11v or rises about 16v for more than 3 seconds. Other than that, I see nothing else about the light. No adjustment that I can see.

When I connect the gauge to my bench dc power supply, connection of the yellow wire (constant 12v positive) made no difference. Tried it with the yellow wire connected and not connected. The warning light stayed on all the time.

[machead]

Ok I may have solved the non-issue that I've started here. Looks like the warning light stays on all the time UNTIL the voltage drops below 11v (at least that is all I can test with my bench).

Here is what I have done.

Connected the gauge to my DC power (red to positive, black to negative and yellow to positive). I disconnect/connect the red wire to turn the gauge off and on.

My DC power outputs 13.9v and that is what is read on the gauge. Warning light stays on.

I put a 100ohm resistor inline with the red wire. This brought the voltage down to 12v as read by the gauge. Warning light stays on.

I put another 100ohm resistor inline with red wire (total of 200 ohms inline now) and that brought the voltage down to 10.7v. Since that is below the preset 11v low end, the digital number display flashes and the warning light flashes.

So it looks like when the voltage is within 11v to 16v the warning light is meant to stay on all the time.


I then did the tests again with the yellow wire disconnected. Got some same results and some interesting results.

Test 1: 13.9v read, warning light on steady
Test 2: 100Ohms inline = The digital numbers flashed between 11.0v and 10.3v. Back and forth between the two numbers. The warning light also flashing.
Test 3: 200Ohms inline = The digital numbers flashed between 9.4v and 8.3v. Again back and forth between the two numbers and the warning light also flashing.

To me it looks like the yellow wire needs to be connected to get an accurate reading. That is my .10939 cents worth (adjusted for the economy of course)

[M109Dreamer]

Ok I may have solved the non-issue that I've started here. Looks like the warning light stays on all the time UNTIL the voltage drops below 11v (at least that is all I can test with my bench).

Here is what I have done.

Connected the gauge to my DC power (red to positive, black to negative and yellow to positive). I disconnect/connect the red wire to turn the gauge off and on.

My DC power outputs 13.9v and that is what is read on the gauge. Warning light stays on.

I put a 100ohm resistor inline with the red wire. This brought the voltage down to 12v as read by the gauge. Warning light stays on.

I put another 100ohm resistor inline with red wire (total of 200 ohms inline now) and that brought the voltage down to 10.7v. Since that is below the preset 11v low end, the digital number display flashes and the warning light flashes.

So it looks like when the voltage is within 11v to 16v the warning light is meant to stay on all the time.

Thanks for figuring it out. Kinda makes since. I guess you really wouldnt need the little light to come on when the voltage drops if the digital indication is blinking as well?

[finless]

The instructions suck. That is not really a warning light.

What actually happens is this and YES you need the yellow wire connected to always on power if you want this to work.
Remember what I said, if the yellow wire is not connected then you wont get the fancy power down animation.
You also will not get the low voltage warning when the key is off (red wire has no power).
But that yellow wire is what powers the gauge when the key is off (red wire has no power).

Anyway what actually happens is if the voltage drops below the threshold, the gauge will remain ON and flash at you EVEN if the red wire is off (key is off so no 12V to it). That is the actual warning! The red LED is always on. If you do not have the yellow wire hooked to always on 12V then it has no way to stay on and warn you if the key is off!

Make sense now?

I did not hook the yellow wire up as
1) I did not like this idea. It means the gauge is probably drawing a little power when the key is off. If you store the bike a long long time it "may" drain the battery!
2) I don't care about the power down animation
3) I don't need a gauge to power up drawing power to warn me, especially if the battery is already low! It will just drain it lower if I am not there to see it warn me!
That is my thinking anyway.

So yes if you want this low voltage warning you need to hook the yellow wire to always on power! If you hook the yellow to the red and it's goes off with the key, then you wont get the warning feature!


Hope that all makes sense? And also yes I had to do the same tests as I did not understand the red LED and the instructions. I have a variable volt power supply so that is how I tested.

Bob

[M109Dreamer]

Just got mine today. Will put it in this weekend. Now to decide what she wants on the other side.

[finless]

Just got mine today. Will put it in this weekend. Now to decide what she wants on the other side.

I swear and please have a look....

A RAM ball on the other side allows Sooooooo many options for things. See my video on my GPS/12 volt setup. When nothing is on the RAM ball it looks kind of ugly but if you really need a RAM mount it's freakin perfect because things with "screens" are "under the hood" of the dash and out of the sun.

Otherwise a few guys have added an oil pressure gauge but that is not as easy as popping in a 12V gauge. I personally do not need that info on my dash as it does not mean a lot. I also was considering a clock but we have one on the cluster. After looking at a lot of other gauges... I never found something that floated my boat and was worth while. If you find something PLEASE let us know. In the mean time my RAM ball will be in the "other" spot.
Special thanks to Stevedfive for the idea!

Bob

[M109Dreamer]

I swear and please have a look....

A RAM ball on the other side allows Sooooooo many options for things. See my video on my GPS/12 volt setup. When nothing is on the RAM ball it looks kind of ugly but if you really need a RAM mount it's freakin perfect because things with "screens" are "under" the hood of the dash and out of the sun.

Otherwise a few guys have added an oil pressure gauge but that is not as easy as popping in a 12V gauge. I personally don not need that info on my dash. I also was considering a clock but we have one on the cluster. After looking at a lot of other gauges... I never found something that floated my boat and was worth while. If you find something PLEASE let us know. In the mean time my RAM ball will be in the "other" spot.

Bob

I was thinking of a Ram Ball but she already has 2 on the handlebars. But I think she would like one for her phone better there like you said. What did you use for "blank" plate for the hole? I have read that that the stock plates are too flimsy and was worried if it would a phone on a XGrip there securely?