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patfraley's avatar
patfraley
Explorer
Sep 20, 2014

where to put volt/amp meter in circuit

looking to install meter near WFCO. Currently, it is wired with RED & White into meter > WFCO and only reads AMPS when plugged into shore. Can someone please look at circuit diagram and tell me which wires to tap into to read volts/amps off 12V battery only (no shore)

thanks in advance!



  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Let me know if it works - I like the meter readout and the price is right. I might try it on my 200A setup in my OFF-ROAD POPUP for monitoring 4 batteries...

    I see the ebay seller has several different current meter models for sale...

    Roy Ken
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    My guess would be disconnect the RED WIRE line coming to the converter from the battery and connect it to the input + as shown in the below ebay diagram for the DCN 9030C unit. The - connection would go to frame ground.

    Then connect a new short lead from + OUTPUT terminals to the converter terminal that used to connect to the battery POSITIVE terminal. The - lead goes to frame ground again.


    This DCM9030C meter has to go in series between the converter and the battery. This means your total current load goes thru the meter panel which is only rated for 30AMPS I guess it is...

    When your converter is producing charge current it is already connected up like the CHARGING diagram shows on ebay so I assume it work just fine with no changes anywhere.

    To me that is alot of current to be running through those 10-32 screw heads on that terminal board??? Must be OK as that is the way the DCM9030C simple diagram shows from the ebay page.

    I would make sure there is an 30AMP IN-LINE FUSE right next to the battery terminal. I'm pretty sure your battery is capable of producing more that 30AMPS in the case of a short circuit. It should have this in-line fuse there already just check and make sure.

    I would just ignore the other battery leads that will also be connected to the same positive battery terminal. One is for emergency brakes and another maybe for your slide I see you have. Those other Positive + battey leads will just not be monitored...

    This is pure guessing hehe... If it blows up on you I know nothing as Sergeant Schultz says on METV Hogans Hero's

    I would run all of this by the ebay seller and gets his comments back...

    Roy Ken
  • RoyB wrote:
    I see this item is available on EBAY with SELLER elite.element

    Perhaps you might want to contact them for additional info on how to connect the unit up... The write-up says it has a built-in SHUNT so probably just connects between the converter and battery bank like shown in their simple application. Perhaps the INPUT goes to BATTERY Connection and OUTPUT goes to Converter connection...

    This would not be wise in my battery connections where I deal with up to 60AMPS or so of DC Current. My 1500WATT INVERTER is fused at 175AMPS DC current

    Not real sure what you have here.... May be too small values to use in your RV setup.

    DCM 9030C

    Just my thoughts
    Roy Ken


    thanks Roy. I'm just in a small pop up. No more than 20A if everything was running...not even that
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    I see this item is available on EBAY with SELLER elite.element

    Perhaps you might want to contact them for additional info on how to connect the unit up... The write-up says it has a built-in SHUNT so probably just connects between the converter and battery bank like shown in their simple application. Perhaps the INPUT goes to BATTERY Connection and OUTPUT goes to Converter connection...

    This would not be wise in my battery connections where I deal with up to 60AMPS or so of DC Current. My 1500WATT INVERTER is fused at 175AMPS DC current

    Not real sure what you have here.... May be too small values to use in your RV setup.

    DCM 9030C

    Just my thoughts
    Roy Ken

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