Bluetooth battery monitor.........

[Donal]

I've seen a few ads recently for these things...

Here

and

Here

Has anyone tried one yet?

 

[RossKean]

Voltage is important when riding down the road at "normal" rpm with all of your "normal" loads (extra lights, heated gear etc.) running. I'm not usually looking at the phone at such times. I don't have one but if I felt the need, I would get something with a direct readable digital display like the Datel meters lots of people are using. I guess the other would have some value in looking at history etc. and give you some advance warning of an impending problem but not a good device for an instantaneous look at what's going on.

 

[RaYzerman19]

If you have to hook up a wire anyway, why not have a voltmeter on the end of it rather than a bluetooth module...... instant read, no need for cell phone.

 

[Donal]

I have a Datel hooked up but when I mounted it I deliberately put it in a place where it would be difficult to see while riding. Just didn't want to to be focusing on something not directly related to riding.

The only (slight) advantages I can think of is it's cheaper (because it uses the phone screen) and the display might be more readable YMMV

 

[John d]

I wouldn't want to introduce another parasitic electrical draw to the battery. I just monitor with a volt meter occasionally, to a pigtail from the battery during winter storage.

 

[PJ4863]

I'm pretty sure it's not cheaper... 40$US.

I have this one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0041QJQNQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474899897&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=koso+voltmeter&dpPl=1&dpID=41y%2BxiR12SL&ref=plSrch

Amazon free shipping and no customs!

I don't think I'd intoduce another Bluetooth device when there's questionable need to be wireless. I'm with Ray on this one.

 

[TomInPA]

My volt meter is built into the Escort Radar Detector. It's accurate to + 0.2 volts and serves some other important functions. A bluetooth volt meter seems better suited to a car.

 

[rbentnail]

Since I have a Battery Tender cable permanently installed I just got one of these from my local Honda dealer. Small, $16.

 

[RossKean]

Since I have a Battery Tender cable permanently installed I just got one of these from my local Honda dealer. Small, $16.

Looks interesting. One could easily mount it temporarily with Velcro. I am surprised that the green light activates at 12.0 Volts indicating "charged". I would consider a lead-acid battery to be mostly discharged at 12.0 V. While running the bike, voltages should be at least in the upper 13s but in the upper 12s for fully charged (after surface charge bleeds off). The LCD readout would provide the appropriate information even if the trigger points for the lights are wrong.

I assume that the parasitic draw for the Bluetooth device is minimal (microamp to low milliamp range) or that it turns itself off when bike is shut down. I know that the Datel meters should be installed with a separate switch or relay if connected to the unswitched part of the bike i.e directly to battery.

 

[dcarver]

I like it. Gonna get me one.

 

[Bugman]

Not sure what you learn about your battery. I think it tells you more about your alternator and whether your shunt or series regulator is doing something. See https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_measure_state_of_charge And a good practical visual of measuring a battery with commentary https://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/battery_state_of_charge