Datel vs. Clearwater Voltage Sentry

[Fontanaman]

My motorcycle trip was cut short by a dead battery.

Lesson Learned: The batteries ability to spin the engine is NOT a good indication of a good battery. By that time it is too late, way too late.

I have avoided installing a Datel meter cause I don't like cutting plastic or futzin' with electrical relays. Although I did install a relay on my Vstrom but, like most things these days, I barely remember that.

Instead of a Datel why not use a Clearwater Voltage Sentry. Here is a review from webBikeWorld. This seems to do the same thing without all the installation issues.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Rotten way to start the day Jim...good job limping back home!

You'll see a few installed Datels next weekend to get an idea for placement. AuburnFJR is pretty handy with a dremel and the install looks factory. You think it would have provided any warning this time?

Have some ideas for battery replacement. Give me a shout if you're interested.

--G

 

[CAJW]

The Clearwater Voltage Sentry looks very interesting. Any idea as to how long the LED lead is from the box? The review said it was shorter than the 1 meter length of the other leads, but they don't mention what the length is. This appears to be a very good idea seeing as my Gen I is powering my Solteks, Glenda LEDs, Heated gear for me and the Mrs., Autocom, GPS, Kenwood radio, Radar Detector.... geez, I need a second battery!

 

[Fontanaman]

The Clearwater Voltage Sentry looks very interesting. Any idea as to how long the LED lead is from the box? The review said it was shorter than the 1 meter length of the other leads, but they don't mention what the length is. This appears to be a very good idea seeing as my Gen I is powering my Solteks, Glenda LEDs, Heated gear for me and the Mrs., Autocom, GPS, Kenwood radio, Radar Detector.... geez, I need a second battery!

No I don't know how long the lead is. I just like the idea of easy installation.

 

[PanAmerican]

I have never had a battery go dead on me. Although I do keep my bike plugged into a battery tender all winter. What's the poblem with the FJR that a lot of you want a digital voltage readout? Is this something I should be worried about?

 

[SacramentoMike]

The Clearwater Voltage Sentry looks very interesting. Any idea as to how long the LED lead is from the box? The review said it was shorter than the 1 meter length of the other leads, but they don't mention what the length is. This appears to be a very good idea seeing as my Gen I is powering my Solteks, Glenda LEDs, Heated gear for me and the Mrs., Autocom, GPS, Kenwood radio, Radar Detector.... geez, I need a second battery!

No I don't know how long the lead is. I just like the idea of easy installation.

Read on. There's an update in the review dated Sept. '11 that reads in part "The CVS is now shipping with brighter LEDs and a longer connection cable to the LED." The first one tested said only that it was shorter than the 1-meter other leads. If you really want to know, suggest calling Clearwater. They'll certainly answer this and any other questions you might have. Good folks.

 

[CAJW]

The Clearwater Voltage Sentry looks very interesting. Any idea as to how long the LED lead is from the box? The review said it was shorter than the 1 meter length of the other leads, but they don't mention what the length is. This appears to be a very good idea seeing as my Gen I is powering my Solteks, Glenda LEDs, Heated gear for me and the Mrs., Autocom, GPS, Kenwood radio, Radar Detector.... geez, I need a second battery!

No I don't know how long the lead is. I just like the idea of easy installation.

Read on. There's an update in the review dated Sept. '11 that reads in part "The CVS is now shipping with brighter LEDs and a longer connection cable to the LED." The first one tested said only that it was shorter than the 1-meter other leads. If you really want to know, suggest calling Clearwater. They'll certainly answer this and any other questions you might have. Good folks.

I emailed Glenn (@ Clearwater) Saturday and got a reply stating that the LED lead is 24". Looks like I'm adding yet ANOTHER farkel to my beast. It just never ends!

I have never had a battery go dead on me. Although I do keep my bike plugged into a battery tender all winter. What's the poblem with the FJR that a lot of you want a digital voltage readout? Is this something I should be worried about?

Probably nothing for a Gen II owner to worry about as they have approx 200 watts extra available vs. the Gen I which is about 120. With all the electrical crap I run, I'll like having a quick look at the LED to tell me my current charging situation.

 

[TomInPA]

Anyone running an Escort 8500 X-50 has a built in voltage readout. Just change the display. I use it as the default display and get a pretty good idea of the electrical state of the bike. It does seem to show about 0.04-0.06 volts higher than actual as compared to a voltage meter.

 

[Pepperell]

A less expensive alternative HERE that reads in tenths, although it would still require cutting. It's also 3 wire so no relay would be needed.

 

[Fred W]

A less expensive alternative HERE that reads in tenths, although it would still require cutting. It's also 3 wire so no relay would be needed.

+1 - I really like that ADV monster panel meter.

I just installed one of these on bbdig's bike last week. Very easy to install and nice bright digital display, just like my Datels. We did wire his into his FuzeBlock so it is key switched. But you don't really need to cut any of your panels like for the Datel. The little meter is fully encapsulated in smooth red plastic, even in the back, so it can just be surface mounted with velcro. You will have to figure a way to get the wires through the dash panels (we notched the edge of his "C" panel). Sorry I do not have a picture of the install, but we mounted it up on the upper convex curved part of the C panel to the right of the instrument cluster, so you get a really good view of the meter at all times. Some other folks have mounted their Datels up there, but again, that requires some panel butchery.

edit - I just read your blog. I am not fully convinced that you have a battery problem. It could be some other charging system problem. Either way, having a panel voltmeter would have shown you that.

PS - I don't like the series of LEDs type of indicator. It would not be my choice for this application.

 

[Fontanaman]

I had a loose battery terminal screw. In over 40 years of motorcycling this has never happened to me. It would have taken 10 minutes to fix it on the side of the road. I didn't want to stop because I was convinced I had a dead or near dead battery. Sure hurts to admit that.

 

[Fred W]

That actually makes more sense, based on your symptoms. When the battery is the culprit it almost always shows up by having trouble turning he engine over, because that is the highest draw that we put on the batteries.

But don't feel bad. This exact same thing happened to one of the guys at EOM last years and everyone had his bike half torn apart before they found the loose battery terminal. Thanks for following up and letting us know. It will undoubtedly help other folks find this faster in the future.

 

[Just Passing Thru]

Instead of a Datel why not use a Clearwater Voltage Sentry. Here is a review from webBikeWorld.

Because the Datel which I use on my motorcycles and car tell you what is really going on with your battery (when parked) and charging system (when riding).

webBikeWorld and any other magazine do not have any technical staff capable of making sound product evaluations, because they are journalists. Magazines should be more responsible and provide facts!

The Voltage Sentry and another I just came across in a magazine (Heads-Up Voltage Monitor) are feel good devices that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling, but they are quite uselss based on the voltages they selected.

If you want to get into the details, I am more than willing to take the time.

 

[PJ4863]

I have the koso.. wired up through a keyed circuit. Mine is velcroed right to my brake master cylinder.

 

[fjRaven]

What about one of these as a cheap basic voltmeter to attach to the pigtail?

Battery Tender

 

[08FJR4ME]

A less expensive alternative HERE that reads in tenths, although it would still require cutting. It's also 3 wire so no relay would be needed.

Link does not work for me. Some bogus site comes up.

Dave

 

[Fred W]

That link was posted several years ago, Dave.

This is the current link to the ADVmonster meter that Pepperell was linking to.