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...
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OP Update
Finished the install. I "calibrated" the volt meter with the multimeter reading across the battery posts. My install wasn't as clean as I had hoped it would be, but that's typical for my handiwork. Also, in hindsight I should have picked a better location in relation to eye level because the display is tough to read at this viewing angle. But the holes are cut and it is installed, so it is what it is. I'm at work so I can't access photobucket to make the photo the appropriate size. But here's a link.
Clicky
Clicky2
One thing I noticed that makes me a little nervous is the little blue LED on the toggle switch gets very hot. Like I would not like to leave my finger in contact with it. I've verified my wiring is correct (as far as I know, see the paragraph below). I have left it on for extended periods and it seems to reach a stable but hot temp. Anyone have a comment on that?
How I wired the switch and volt meter -> Behind a control panel I found positive and negative wires to tie into that give me an always-hot battery voltage reading. I tied the positive wire tap to one end terminal of the rocker switch, the positive lead to the volt meter into the center terminal on the switch, and the negative lead to the volt meter to the brass terminal on the switch which also ties into the negative lead behind the control panel.
Finished the install. I "calibrated" the volt meter with the multimeter reading across the battery posts. My install wasn't as clean as I had hoped it would be, but that's typical for my handiwork. Also, in hindsight I should have picked a better location in relation to eye level because the display is tough to read at this viewing angle. But the holes are cut and it is installed, so it is what it is. I'm at work so I can't access photobucket to make the photo the appropriate size. But here's a link.
Clicky
Clicky2
One thing I noticed that makes me a little nervous is the little blue LED on the toggle switch gets very hot. Like I would not like to leave my finger in contact with it. I've verified my wiring is correct (as far as I know, see the paragraph below). I have left it on for extended periods and it seems to reach a stable but hot temp. Anyone have a comment on that?
How I wired the switch and volt meter -> Behind a control panel I found positive and negative wires to tie into that give me an always-hot battery voltage reading. I tied the positive wire tap to one end terminal of the rocker switch, the positive lead to the volt meter into the center terminal on the switch, and the negative lead to the volt meter to the brass terminal on the switch which also ties into the negative lead behind the control panel.
