Review: Digital 5-Function Volt Meter 4-239

CaSportTouring.com and other merchants have been selling these for motorcycles for a while now.

some reviews have been good, others not so much. I put one on the 81 Kaw so I could see if the 2nd headlight would kill my battery. the temp and clock were added pluses.

First, It is not designed for outdoor use, in fact, cars would be the best home for it. In fact, if they had been designed for motorcycles like all of the online ads read, why would they have an 'inside' and 'outside' thermometer switch?

Anyways, I wrapped mine in plastic to shield it against anything, and to be safe:
www.twtex.com/forums/attachment.php?atta...id=1717&d=1169392129

Performance:
CRAP. the voltmeter is off by a half volt in most cases, often reading low versus a real volt meter.

The temp gauge read between 61* (actual) and 110* while stopped. this was on both sensors, too.

The clock is the best part tho, it changes time every time you start or rev high. I set it last night. Today we left at 125 pm (when it was actually 12:30), and came back at 12:48 am on an hour and half ride.

Hmmm, time sure does fly when your having fun.

All in all, its somewhat worthless. To me its OK because it does give me somewhat of a reference to voltage to know that I am still charging and such.

Post edited by: steell, at: 2007/01/21 21:54

I saw this thing at Autozone one day that caught my eye.
About 3x5 inches. Blue backlit digital compass,clock and thermometer. About $35 as I recall. It was designed to be used in a car but I was thinking of trying to mount it somewhere near my gauges..just don't know how.I looked a fair bit on the net for something specifically for bikes but never really found anything similiar to it at that price.Thats looks good though. Functions not so hot though?

I picked one up at Autozone similar to the one pumps described for about $13, but it didn't have a compass.

Although it's designed for a car/truck, it works OK on my ZN.
Battery operated (2 AAA's I believe), inner sensor for inside temp and remote sensor (on a 6' wire) for outside temps, slide switch to change between outside temp/inside temp/clock, button operated backlight that stays lit for about 5 secs - plenty of time to see what I need to see.
I have it mounted on top of the handlebar clamp just below my gauges, which is very easily readable.
I have the remote sensor attached with velcro to the back of the headlight bucket, which is hidden by the gauges.
When riding it's fairly accurate to within about 2 degress (+or-). But once stopped for any longer than 30 secs (engine running or not), the temp starts to rise pretty fast!

Very anti-moisture and anti-direct sunlight friendly! :ohmy:
It will fog up if it gets rained on or the dew point is low enough, and the sun causes the readout to dissapear for a brief while.
In either case it eventually clears up though, and hasn't changed in how it works at all.

Overall, not to bad of a gizmo for a measly $13.

So, let me see if I got this right.
Youse guys think you need a clock,
a compass, and a thermometer on your
bike? :pinch: :S

Yeah, and a cupholder and an ashtray.

Nevco48 wrote:

Yeah, and a cupholder and an ashtray.

Don't forget cruise control, radar detector, GPS, and who could do without the highly desired 4-shot missile launcher to fend off those inattentive-soccer-moms-gabbing-on-their-cell-phones-while-plodding-along-in-an-SUV-that-they-can-barely-see-over-the-steering-wheel-in!


Perhaps I just a little over the top and that last request, eh? :S :whistle: :laugh:

Clock (You better be home before my mother gets here for dinner!) Or until she's GONE!
Compass so i don't get lost out in the sticks.
Thermometer so I know what temperature my fingers go numb, teeth chatter and the need to remember to put the thermal liner back in my jacket!
Cupholder I'm still working on.Ashtray I no longer need as I have stopped for 18 months and 18 pounds ago!

Post edited by: pumps, at: 2007/01/22 10:07

Post edited by: pumps, at: 2007/01/22 10:08

If you're just checking voltage for the 2nd headlight, just get a cheapo $4 (on sale) digital meter from Harbor Freight Tools and strap it to the tank for a few days.

yeah, I kinda like having it to ensure that the charging system is still alive and well.

it works well enough for that purpose. I did watcht he voltage go from 14.6 to 14.3 to 12.8 between Lo-Hi-Added Second Bulb.

knowing that, I'd say that the 2nd light is a power suckin' b-stard! now to be used sparingly.

What RPM was that at? It shouldn't drop down to 12.8v at higher RPMs. I'm running two 55w and the voltage is low at idle, but off-idle it's fine.

if you get the 3.99 DVOM from harbor freight make sure you buy a new 9volt with it. mine has been all over the country with me in the saddlebag, and works pretty good, not as good as the fluke, but hey it was 4 bucks

And if it gets stolen it is still 4 bucks instead of $100 which is what I paid for my fluke.As long as it does the job.