Volt Meter

Small digital 4 digit volt meters are cheap and plentiful on Ebay. A basic momentary push button from Radio Shack and some wiring and for less than 20 dollars you have what your looking for. Did mine several years ago. The hard part was cutting the precision holes for the switch and meter.

Thanks everyone.

tenbear, that's a nice setup. Those are the type I'm looking for. I just want to monitor the V so I'm not running the gen when not needed to recharge. I would like to limit it to only when 110v is needed for a/c or coffee pot. My tv is on a small 300w psw inv. But don't want to discharge the batt too much. Usually in the woods for 3/4 days.

Here is my power monitoring panel. These meters were bought on eBay, most between $5 and $10. The three switches in the lower left turn the meters on and off.

Mandalay Parr wrote:
If meters have a +/- 1% accuracy of full scale, the difference in readings can easily be .1 to .2 volts.
The length of the wire on a volt meter does not affect the reading. There is no voltage drop. Current is almost zero.

Jerry Parr

Thanks. So I will not blame the long wire. I still have to mentally adjust for the index error the same way though.

If meters have a +/- 1% accuracy of full scale, the difference in readings can easily be .1 to .2 volts.
The length of the wire on a volt meter does not affect the reading. There is no voltage drop. Current is almost zero.

Jerry Parr

Many to choose from: DC panel mount meters

I used analog meters and switched them, mostly because I had them. I also have a Victron amp hour meter that displays voltage and has other functionality.

I have one of those little meters you find dozens of on ebay. Only thing is it reads high on its long wire to inside the rig, so you have to use your real meter on the batts and then see what the little meter says to get the "index error." You apply that to whatever the inside meter reading is. Eg, if it says 13.8 and batteries are 13.7 on the check, then always subtract 0.1 from whatever the inside meter says after that.

Maybe do a search for 12volt panel meters

Hi,

If you get an lcd meter the current draw is darn near zero.

I know some people here like the panel ones on ebay. Someone should be along to tell you which ones.