I want to install a 12V digital volt meter
I wanted to install a digital LCD volt meter with LED backlight display that I bought off amazon. I'm familiar and comfortable with 12V electrical and I have decided to just tie into a 12V connection...
Forum Discussion
What you suggest would generally work fine and be simple enough. You would be measuring the voltage at your control center, which may not be exactly the voltage at the battery.
If your voltmeter has separate power and sense lines, you can get a more accurate reading of the battery voltage by connecting the sense lines directly to the battery connections (with an appropriate small fuse in the positive line) and just switching the power line on and off for the meter. The meter itself doesn't use much power at so circuit capacity for powering it shouldn't be a big concern.
The sense lines don't need to be heavy wire from an electrical point of view; they don't carry any appreciable current at all, only a few microamps. They should, of course, be heavy enough to be avoid breaking mechanically.
If your voltmeter has separate power and sense lines, you can get a more accurate reading of the battery voltage by connecting the sense lines directly to the battery connections (with an appropriate small fuse in the positive line) and just switching the power line on and off for the meter. The meter itself doesn't use much power at so circuit capacity for powering it shouldn't be a big concern.
The sense lines don't need to be heavy wire from an electrical point of view; they don't carry any appreciable current at all, only a few microamps. They should, of course, be heavy enough to be avoid breaking mechanically.
